EDITOR’S LETTER

ISSUE 257 SEPTEMBER 2021

If you used the renewed summer freedoms to take your foot o the gas and put serious exercise ambitions to one side, this issue is your chance to relight that ame and set new goals for the months ahead. Our Outdoor Fitness & Adventure Guide is an introduction to four di erent sports: mountaineering, ultrarunning, swimrun and climbing. Across each, we’ve got expert insights and essential kit suggestions to help get you started. ere is, of course, much to be said for exercising outside, but sometimes you just want to stick your headphones in and chuck some weights around, which is why our lead feature covers the recovery- and muscle-assisting method of blood ow restriction (BFR) training. Once reserved for elite athletes, BFR is becoming more accessible for everyday gym-goers, and the research suggests it’s an impressive route to strength, size and even bouncebackability. We’ve also got an inspiring interview with triathlete Max Poplawski – who has overcome severe in ammatory arthritis to compete for Team GB – as well as an exclusive chat with undisputed boxing champ Josh Taylor, who discusses the secrets to his phenomenal, worldbeating success. Elsewhere this issue, we’re introducing a dedicated Mental Health section. You’ve read the headlines and seen the statistics, but while too many men continue to su er in silence, awareness is nothing without action. So while we want to draw attention to some of the key issues a ecting modern men, we also want to o er as much practical advice and support as possible. After all, physical tness is nothing without a calm, healthy headspace.