Lactic Acid: Friend Not Foe

You've felt the burn and been told that it was the lactic acid buildup that made your muscles tired. But now scientists are saying that lactic acid is a fuel, not a caustic waste product. "It's one of the classic mistakes in the history of science," said George A. Brooks, a professor in the department of integrative biology at the University of California-Berkeley. The reason trained athletes can perform so hard and so long is because their intense training causes their muscles to adapt so they more efficiently absorb lactic acid. New York Times story.