Roy T. Benson, MPE, CFI, is an exercise scientist and distance-running coach. He has run competitively for more than 40 years, and he has coached professionally for 46 years for military, club, university, and high school teams. From 1993 to 2008, his boys' and girls' cross country teams at Marist High School in Atlanta, Georgia, won a total of 16 state championships and his cross country and track runners won 21 individual state titles.

Benson has been a consultant about heart rate training for both Polar and Nike and has written three books for runners on the subject. He also serves as a special contributor to Running Times magazine and has been a contributing editor for Running Journal magazine. Benson lives on Amelia Island, Florida.