{
  "id": 3267380,
  "title": "Exclusive: Runna just announced a new partnership, so I sat down with the Head Coach to find out more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/exclusive-runna-just-announced-a-new-partnership-so-i-sat-down-with",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-25T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/running/exclusive-runna-just-announced-a-new-partnership-so-i-sat-down-with-the-head-coach-to-find-out-more"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Runna, a running app that creates personalized training plans, has announced a new partnership with Loughborough University. This collaboration will integrate the latest sports science into Runna's coach-designed training plans, helping runners of all abilities achieve their goals while minimizing the risk of injury. The app's algorithms are developed by real-life coaches, and since its acquisition by Strava in 2025, Runna has continued to add new features.\n\nTo sign up for Runna, users answer questions about their running experience and goals, allowing the app to develop a tailored plan. The partnership with Loughborough University aims to keep the training plans up-to-date with the latest research and ensure they are tailored to each runner's individual needs, particularly in reducing the risk of injury. Runna's Head Coach, Steph Kessell, highlights that injury is a significant risk with AI-generated training plans, as these plans do not account for individual biomechanics and running styles. For example, Kessell, a marathon runner, found that her body could not handle the high mileage of other Olympic athletes, emphasizing the importance of personalized training plans.\n\nRunna's data can estimate a 43% lower self-reported rate of injury per 1000 hours of training compared to a 2015 Sports Medicine benchmark. The app analyzes a user's data to determine if a plan is still suitable for them, advising them to slow down or increase their training if necessary. Kessell stresses the importance of balancing volume and intensity to minimize injury risk, advising runners to focus on building their mileage or speed, depending on their goals.\n\nLooking ahead, Runna's coaches hope to see more personalized features in the app, such as incorporating female health into training plans, educating users on aspects like fuelling, warming up, strength training, and building mileage or intensity. The ultimate goal is to provide runners with consistent and high-quality training plans that cater to their unique needs and goals.",
  "summary": "Here's what you need to know about Runna's new partnership.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}