Runna Announces Partnership with Loughborough University to Bring The Latest Sports Science to Runners Globally

London, UK - 25th August, 2026 - Today, Runna has announced a partnership with the world's leading academic institution for sports-related subjects, Loughborough University. The collaboration will see the latest sports science insights from Loughborough University embedded within the top-rated running coaching app in the world, Runna.

Runna's training plans are developed by experienced and qualified coaches using established training principles, personalised to each runner's history and have progressive load building and structured recovery built-in. This new partnership with Loughborough University will embed the very latest sports science and academic research within Runna's training logic. Specifically, the partnership will review how the plans progress pace and distance, and incorporate recovery, against the latest academic research on training load, intensity distribution and recovery protocols.

In a sport where injuries are common, this new partnership will help ensure robust and thorough academic rigour is represented within Runna's coach-designed training plans. This collaboration is a reflection of Runna's commitment to continually investing in its product, and the development of its training plans to best support the needs of its global community of runners.

The commissioned review will be led by Dr Richard Blagrove, Reader in Applied Exercise Physiology and Athlete Performance at Loughborough University's School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Dr Blagrove's research specialises in the physiology of endurance running and the application of strength and conditioning to distance runners. His work focuses on practical ways to improve running performance and reduce injury risk, with his research exploring the factors that underpin running performance, training strategies, and preventing health-related issues in runners. He is also a published author of 'Strength and Conditioning for Endurance Running', and has consulted numerous national sporting organisations and governing bodies.

Dr Richard Blagrove, Reader in Applied Exercise Physiology and Athlete Performance at Loughborough University's School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, said: "Running can be a demanding activity with a high risk of overuse injury. Several factors, including training load, training progression and recovery, play an important role in helping runners achieve their goals while managing their risk of injury. Our work with Runna will build the latest sports science on those specific areas into their expert training logic that has been developed by their qualified coaches. By combining sports science alongside Runna's coach expertise, it will offer a unique, best-in-class training experience for runners around the world that cannot be replicated by generic AI training plans."

"Our ambition is to help make running training more effective, enjoyable and easy for everyone, and we love that more people are taking up running than ever before. We're proud to make expert coaching accessible and affordable for everyone." said Steph Kessell, Runna Head Coach and Former Olympian. "Runna estimates a 43% lower self-reported rate of injury per 1000 hours of training when compared to a 2015 Sports Medicine benchmark*. Through this partnership, we are ensuring our training plans incorporate the ever-evolving and latest sport science research, which will go one step further to best support runners at all levels to train sustainably."

This partnership builds on the collaboration Strava has with Stanford University to bring leading sports science to 195 million athletes worldwide. It will be the first-step in a long term collaboration with both Strava and Runna.

About Runna
Runna, the world's top-rated running coaching app on iOS and Android, was founded in 2021. Officially launching in March 2022, the subscription-based app helps runners worldwide complete anything from their first 5k to an ultramarathon. Now available in over 180 countries, Runna was selected as one of three finalists for Apple's App of the Year in 2024 and acquired by Strava in 2025.

From beginner runners to PB chasers - Runna's got you covered with a personalised training plan. To learn more about the company and follow along on the journey, check out the latest by following us on Instagram, Reddit and LinkedIn.

About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the UK's leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2026 QS World University Rankings - the tenth year running.

Loughborough has been ranked eighth in the Complete University Guide 2027 - out of 130 institutions. The achievement means Loughborough remains among a select group of universities that have maintained a top 10 position for more than 10 consecutive years, alongside Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, St Andrews, Durham and Imperial.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally-excellent'. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded eight Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

Sources:
*Methodology Note: Based on recent data, users training with Runna reported 4.38 injuries per 1,000 hours. In comparison, a 2015 Sports Medicine meta-analysis found weighted rates of 7.7 injuries per 1,000 hours for recreational runners. These are observational data and do not establish that Runna reduces injury risk.