Ashley Walters knows himself

Ashley Walters is at the height of his

THE REINVENTION OF THE LADS’ HOLIDAY

Brits abroad are swapping sunbeds and booze-ups for Hyrox comps and ultramarathons, with the global wellness tourism market now primed to surpass the £745bn mark. Has the runner’s high replaced hedonism for good?

Raising expectations

Despite what Reddit threads might suggest, successful men falling below the national average are not in short supply

Go big

PHOTOGRAPHY: STUART HENDRY. MODEL: JAMES STARK AT W

News you can use

We’ve sifted through science journals to bring you the latest health and fitness intel

Is weighing myself every day a good idea?

In recent years, there’s been a shift away

The write idea

A self-improvement silver bullet with zero barriers to entry or a glorified diary? Here’s the chapter and verse on journalling

Ross Edgley

Some athletes were born to run faster, others to jump higher; Edgley was born to eat. As he tells MH , it’s his superpower

Sole mates

If your training is varied, you need a pair of kicks that can do it all too. Thankfully, these hybrid training shoes will take you from squat rack to sweat session, with no missteps

I leave the gym?

Finishing your workout isn’t all about high fives and cold showers

‘I’m aiming for a 120kg deadlift because my younger, 77-year-old friend can lift that’

Mick Wadge, 87, took up weightlifting later in life after the death of his wife. He explains how he’s gained strength from it in every sense

The new shredding session

Ditch the snow for shred at BikePark Wales, a ski-inspired resort in the Welsh mountains that might just be Britain’s best-kept MTB secret

Why all men should take a fertility test

(even if they don’t want to be a dad)

ASHLEY WALTERS IS DIRECTING THE SHOW

Words by Daniel Davies Photography by Hamish Brown Styling by Abena Ofei

BREAKING 200

A seemingly superhuman ultrarunning barrier is tantalisingly close to being shattered. So close, in fact, that we could see it happen this year. Here’s what it will take to push beyond the edge – and who has the grit to do it

Are super-gyms the future of healthcare?

Come for the squat rack, stay for the comprehensive fitness routine customised according to your blood tests. Gyms around the world are providing members with access to doctors, trainers and high-end therapies at a cost roughly equivalent to the average annual salary. Excessive? Perhaps. Worth it? Just ask these guys...

EXTREME LENGTHS

Short stature has long been shrugged off as a harmless punchline. But for a growing number of young men, height has become a source of existential angst – driving some to explore surgical solutions. Are the extra inches worth it?

THIS MEAL IS WILD

Going off-grid this summer? These campfire-friendly recipes will satisfy both your taste buds and nutrition targets

DOES FOOD ORDER MATTER?

TikTokers are dishing up the idea that good nutrition is all about timing. Our dietitian takes a sceptical look at ‘sequencing’

THE BUZZ ABOUT BEE POLLEN

Factions of the internet’s hive mind claim the supp boosts endurance, recovery and even muscle mass. What does the evidence say?

ON THE TRAIL WITH THE UPF DETECTIVES

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, but we know weirdly little about which ones are the most dangerous. These scientists are trying to crack the code

Is this the era of overdiagnosis?

Medical labels have undeniable upsides, but a new book argues that the increasing pathologisation of everyday differences can do more harm than good… and doesn’t always lead to better outcomes. What’s the solution?

‘I remember learning that you shouldn’t talk about money’

Youth worker Nick Morgan only got a credit card for emergencies ahead of a big trip abroad. Before he knew it, he was £50,000 in debt and spiralling mentally

How to make braver, bolder, better decisions

When you learn to weigh the benefits of new options versus familiar standbys, those big questions (about work, life and, yes – lunch) become easier to answer

THE 6 MOST COMMON MUSCLE-BUILDING MISTAKES

And how to stop them from sabotaging your efforts

IRON MONGER

After a life-altering car crash, double-amputee Billy Monger broke the Ironman record at one of the world’s toughest races

JASON FOX

Build mission-ready muscle, whatever your assignment, with a comprehensive training plan from the former Royal Marines Commando

NO PAIN, NECK GAIN

Trainer and physio Barry Sigrist reveals how he prepared Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, stars of summer blockbuster F1 , for the fast lane

The latest movements in the world of watches

In the Pitt lane

The newsfeed

Usain Bolt

The GOAT sprinter, once the fastest man on earth for his record-breaking 100m and 200m times, takes a fuss-free, comfort-first approach to getting dressed

Driving force

The latest racing timepieces coming off the watchmaker’s bench offer a perfect excuse to take a new model for a spin

Swell gear

Pro big-wave surfer Nic von Rupp’s active life of riding the breakers and frequent flying means he needs the most trusty kit

Peak performance

Working in hostile and often unpredictable environments, mountaineer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin has no room for error. Here’s how he keeps his mind and body primed

Rock stars The faces to watch this summer

Breitling Top Time B31, £4,550, breitling.com Bremont Altitude

CAPITAL GAINS

Six runners. Twenty-four hours. One wildly overambitious mission: to visit all of London’s most iconic landmarks on foot. But can they outrun the clock?

WILD RIDE

The ultimate in off-road performance, Land Rover’s powerful Defender Octa turns everything its predecessor does well up to 11. Our writer took it for a test drive

Josh Widdicombe

If you spot the 42-year-old curly-topped comedian on his usual London running route, don’t be offended if he doesn’t stop for a selfie: he’s lost in a world of Cyndi Lauper bangers