Should athletes turn to blood tests to improve their performance? Blood tests can help athletes measure specific biomarkers related to performance and give them an edge over the competition. Blood analysis provides a unique window into an athlete’s health and performance. Certain biomarkers like vitamin D and ferritin can directly impact athletic performance, while others like cortisol and creatine kinase can provide insights into overtraining and injury prevention. Athletes can now rely on ...

It’s no secret that many athletes or active individuals feel pressure to look a certain way or hit a specific number on the scale. But this mindset can often lead to overtraining or underfueling, both of which are harmful to an individual's mental and physical health. And though the occasional skipped snack or gel won't substantially affect long-term physical health, consistent underfueling, particularly during bouts of intense training, can impact performance, recovery, and overall health in ...

As the current health crisis unfolds, endurance athletes around the world are seeing races cancelled. This decision is appropriate and necessary to do our part in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19, but, understandably, a number of athletes have expressed feeling that their training has been ‘lost’ or 'wasted' and are unsure of how to approach life without the structure and planning training provides. So we caught up with two professional athletes from the InsideTracker community to learn ...

We’ve talked about how including both cardio and strength training is key to a well-balanced fitness routine. But which activity should come first when you step into the gym? Well, how you prioritize these depends on what your personal goals are. You should start your routine according to what you’re looking to improve—whether that be your endurance, strength and power, or if just overall health. So while there isn't a single answer, it's easy to come to the right one for you. Here's how.

You may have heard that sea-level-dwelling endurance athletes head to the mountains during training season to gain a competitive edge. This is because a body primed to race at grueling altitudes is one that can perform more easily at more forgiving, sea-level ones. Been wondering how to safely train at altitude? Doing so requires much more preparation and planning than a simple trip to the mountains and logging miles. Here are some considerations and calculations you should make before taking ...

You may have noticed a great divide in the fitness world between strength and endurance athletes and their approach to training routines. Avid runners and triathletes focus on their aerobic fitness for upcoming races—often to the point of neglecting the weight room. The same holds true for any strength athletes who spend little time away from their lifting routine to to focus on aerobic fitness. But the truth is, if you’re looking for a new PR on the race course or PB in the weight room, or if ...

It seems like phrases like "stay hydrated" and "drink plenty of water" are some of the lowest-hanging fruit when it comes to health and wellness advice. But what does that mean? How much water do you really need during exercise? In short, it ultimately depends on the duration of your workout and how much you sweat.

Spring is here, and that means race season is in full swing; after months of enduring winter training, it's finally time to put your hard work to the test! Whether you're looking for a better result the next time you toe the line, an edge over the competition, or even a shiny new PR, your biomarkers can make all the difference. Here's how some of the key markers we test can help you have your healthiest and strongest race season yet.