The Runner's Edge

Stephen J. McGregor, PhD, is a pioneer in the development of training concepts and software designed to maximize the benefits of running with a speed and distance device. Most notably, Dr. McGregor created the normalized graded pace (NGP) algorithm and the run training stress score (rTSS). The NGP algorithm accounts for changes in grade that affect running speed and reports an adjusted pace that is more reflective of the actual effort exerted by the athlete and helps runners determine the true physiological stress level of each run. Dr. McGregor is the director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory at Eastern Michigan University and has published and presented numerous research papers examining muscle injury, nutritional supplements, performance modeling, and running physiology. 

Dr. McGregor is a former intercollegiate soccer player, triathlete, and elite competitive cyclist. He has coached endurance athletes for almost 15 years and has a doctorate in exercise physiology. He is on the science and education faculty for USA Cycling and serves as a consultant to numerous international-caliber cyclists and runners, including Olympians. 

Matt Fitzgerald is the author of numerous books on running, triathlon, nutrition, and weight loss. A prolific health and fitness journalist, Fitzgerald writes regularly for such national publications as Bicycling, Experience Life, Her Sports, Maxim, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Health, Outside, and Runner’s World. He is currently a senior editor with Triathlete, is a featured running expert on Active.com, and contributes to the Active Runner e-mail newsletter. Fitzgerald has written extensively on performance-enhancing drugs and how to excel without them for publications including Muscle Media and Running Times.

Fitzgerald serves as a communications consultant to a number of sports nutrition companies. He is the editor of PoweringMuscles.com, an online nutrition information resource for athletes and exercisers. In 2006 he became a certified sports nutritionist licensed by the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Outside of writing, Fitzgerald is a featured coach with TrainingPeaks, the leader in providing online training services to endurance athletes and coaches. In this capacity, he creates interactive training plans for runners and triathletes.