Richard C. Blagrove , PhD, SFHEA, ASCC, CSCS is Lecturer in Physiology and Programme Director of the MSc Strength and Conditioning at Loughborough University, UK. Richard is an Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and was previously Director of the UK Strength and Conditioning Association. He has provided coaching support to middle- and long-distance runners for almost 15 years, including several Olympians and athletes who have won medals at major international championships. He gained a PhD from Northumbria University investigating the utility of strength-based exercise in post-pubertal adolescent distance runners and has delivered over a dozen invited presentations on the physical preparation of runners.

Philip R. Hayes , PhD, CSci is Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University, where he gained his PhD and has worked since 1991. During that time, he has spent 14 years as Programme Leader on the BSc. (Hons) Applied Sport and Exercise Science. His main research interest is the role of muscular strength (acute and chronically) and its role in (i) running performance, (ii) offsetting fatigue-related changes in gait, (iii) overuse injuries. Phil is a UK Athletics Level 4 middle-distance running coach, coaching for a local athletics club. He has coached GB U23, GB Students, GB U20, and GB U18 runners, along with Inter-Counties, British Universities and England Schools medallists. Previously, he has been the UK Athletics Regional Coach (North East England) for Endurance Events. Phil has also provided sport science support to numerous local athletes, some of whom have competed at international championships including the Olympics, World Cross-Country Championships and Commonwealth Games.