Dr Richard Blagrove

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, SFHEA, PGCE, ASCC, CSCS

  • Reader in Applied Exercise Physiology and Athlete Performance

Research groups and centres

Publications
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Richard Blagrove

Richard completed his undergraduate degree in Sport Science with Management and his master's in Exercise Physiology at Loughborough University. In 2008, he was appointed as a Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning Science at St Mary’s University, where he also held the position of Programme Director of the BSc Strength and Conditioning Science for six years. Richard then went on to work at Birmingham City University for two years as Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science and in 2018 was awarded Senior Fellowship status with the Higher Education Authority.

Richard returned to Loughborough in 2019 to take up a role as Lecturer in Physiology, became a Senior Lecturer in 2022, and was promoted to Reader in 2026. Richard is also the Director of Studies for Postgraduate Taught Programmes and contributes to teaching on several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the School.

Richard's research interests broadly relate to the physiology of endurance running and how overuse injuries can be prevented in endurance athletes. From a performance perspective, he is interested in the determinants of middle- and long-distance running performance and particularly how strength-based exercise can be used as a tool to improve the metabolic cost of running. His recent research explores the value of strength training in offsetting the risk of injury in runners, with a focus on improving markers of bone health in endurance athlete populations. His work also investigates the interaction between energy availability and strength exercise, and how strength training can be used to maximise outcomes during rehabilitation from the relative energy deficiency in sport syndrome and/or from an eating disorder. 

Richard’s contribution to research and education in the strength and conditioning industry was reflected in being awarded the Coach of the Year (Research and Education) 2023 by the UK Strength and Conditioning Association.

Innovation activities

  • Richard is an Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), master International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (mISCP), and previously a Director of the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). He is also a tutor and assessor for the UKSCA and a member of their research and community grants panel.
  • He has provided strength and conditioning coaching support to numerous athletes over the last 20 years, including several Olympic and Paralympic finalists. 
  • In 2015, he published a book entitled 'Strength and Conditioning for Endurance Runners’ (The Crowood Press) and in 2021 co-edited ‘The Science and Practice of Middle and Long Distance Running’ (Routledge). He has also contributed eight book chapters to various textbooks.
  • Richard has completed consultancy work for many national governing bodies and organisations including the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Tottenham Hotspur FC, England Athletics, Northern Ireland Institute of Sport, and the Royal Air Force.
  • Richard is an invited member of the Royal Osteoporosis Society exercise expert steering group and previously managed the sport science support to The Royal Ballet Company in London.

Invited talks and scholarly activity

  • Richard has been an invited speaker at several national and international conferences including the Royal Society of Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Italian Strength and Conditioning Society, Ministry of Defence Rehabilitation Conference, International Universities Strength and Conditioning Conference, and European Athletics Association Conference. 
  • Richard has been invited to appear on over 50 podcasts and webinars and regularly provides expert commentary for national newspapers and magazines on a range of topics related to athlete performance.
  • Richard has held the position of External Examiner at six Higher Education Institutions and has been the invited expert panel member at two programme validation events.
  • In 2026, Richard was part of the QAA Advisory Group for the Sports and Exercise Science Subject Benchmark Statement. He also contributed to developing the 2026 International Qualifications Framework white paper for Strength and Conditioning Coach competencies.

Featured publications