Before you jump into training for your next race with an AI run coach app, read this first.

(Feature photo by iStock.com/PrathanChorruangsak)

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We live in a time with advanced technology and so many apps at our fingertips to help us with just about anything. Artificial intelligence (AI), in many ways, increases efficiency and assists in certain projects that might otherwise be too complex or time-consuming.

But how savvy is an AI-powered run coach app in coming up with the right training plan and getting you to the finish line of your next race?

There are cases for these run coach apps, such as the lower cost and data analysis capability. But there are also cases where a human coach is irreplaceable, particularly when it relates to adjusting the training plan amid life’s variables.

Whether you should or shouldn’t use an AI-powered run coach app is not a simple yes or no. Below, seven professional running coaches, certified through the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA), share the factors runners should consider before making the decision.

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AI-powered run coaching isn’t 100% good or 100% bad.

AI-designed training plans can be great. They make a daunting process feel approachable for new runners who might be reluctant to invest in a professional coach right away. If getting a little boost from AI helps more people gain the confidence to begin running, then I’m all for it.

But a human coach can connect on a human level and draw out the best performance in an athlete. AI has never had a bad run. AI has never fought for a PR. AI cannot sympathize, advise, and support a runner from a place of shared experience. Those nuances are what make a real coach invaluable.

Lilith Uhler, UESCA Running Coach, Ultramarathon Coach, and Injury Prevention Specialist
1-3 years coaching experience
Race Ready Run Coaching
Find Race Ready Run Coaching on Facebook

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Understand AI’s limitations in creating bespoke plans.

With the boom in AI running apps, it’s important for runners to understand their limits. Yes, they will provide you with a plan based on your current goal, giving you a structured plan to follow, which, for some people, is all they need.

But what they cannot do is bring the human touch that is so important, or provide a bespoke plan based on all the individual has going on in life, such as work and family commitments, changes to daily plans, etc. Only a human coach can provide this bespoke plan.

Aside from the training plan, there is the support and accountability a real person brings to the coaching relationship: working on the mindset and mental resilience with the runner, working on how to overcome challenging situations in training or on race day. Only a human coach can really understand what the individual person needs.

If all you need is a plan to follow and you have the discipline, AI apps could be for you. But if you need the real-world support of a human to get the most from your running and help you prepare physically and mentally for your upcoming goal, a human coach would be your better option.

Phill Young, UESCA Ultrarunning Coach; UK Athletics Endurance Coach, CiRF, LiRF
4-6 years coaching experience
Phill Young Coaching
@phillyoungcoaching | Find Phill Young Coaching on Facebook

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A holistic view of a runner’s life is critical.

AI apps will happily and super-efficiently spit out a training plan at 2 a.m., with zero judgment. Most of them make decent plans for a single marathon, for example.

But can they build smart, year-round training for someone running 12 marathons in three years, like I did? Can they tell if you’re truly tired, stressed, or just being a little dramatic?

The app tracks your mileage, but it won’t notice when your motivation’s running on empty. The real coach sees your messy life, not just your pace, and adapts to it. Still, you can use both: the app for structure and stats, and a human coach for the stuff that makes you human.

Anna Grigorova, UESCA Running Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
ActionSage
@actionsagerunningcoach | Find ActionSage on LinkedIn

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Real emotions bring real magic.

While the price point of AI running programs and coaches can be alluring, running and training sustainably is heavily nuanced, like an art. Data is easily influenced by metrics that your watch is unable to read — things like your mindset, your current stress, what you’re eating, your overall environment.

Human coaches are (should be) better prepared to integrate all facets of your life throughout training and adapt your training to complement your life. Furthermore, their emotions are real.

Growth occurs through connection, and while AI is going to give you feedback, kudos, and summarization of the raw data, it can do very little to elicit the same magic and meaning that connecting with a ‘learned other’ can.

Nelle Fox, UESCA Ultrarunning Coach, Running Coach, and Endurance Sports Nutrition; USATF Level 1; V.02; RRCA Level 1; IIN integrative nutrition health coach; NASM personal trainer; RunDNA gait analyst
10+ years coaching experience
Magnum Opus Coaching
@magnumopuscoaching | Find Magnum Opus Coaching on Facebook

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Curveballs happen, and training plans need to adjust.

Coaching apps and AI are improving all the time. Currently, I think their advantages include suitable training-day settings, intensity distribution, and the ability to change your plan right now.

However, they are not as effective in crisis situations. What if an athlete is unable to train? What if they have a temporary or long-term limitation? What should they do? Is there time for rest, or should they do something different?

AI and other tools lack sufficient experience. All their advice is based on random data collected from the internet that may not be relevant to you. These days, I advocate choosing a coach based on their empathy. I prefer them to have basic coaching and therapeutic skills, rather than being up to date with the latest Instagram trends. At the end, be critical and always choose a coach based on your goals.

Rastislav Srnánek, UESCA Ultrarunning Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Coach Rastislav Srnánek
@srnanek_rastislav_s_k_trener

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Firsthand experience matters.

For ultrarunners, training plans from an experienced ultrarunning coach are a key to success. Race terrain considerations, climate, and fueling are conditions that vary from race to race. This is where personal experience outweighs AI-based algorithms.

Only a coach’s personal experience allows program modification that strengthens an athlete’s weaknesses while periodizing an athlete’s strengths according to specific race circumstances. For example, a flat Florida-based terrain may require runs to be integrated on the treadmill for elevation gain, and a local coach who has ‘been there, done that’ provides invaluable insights.

Olita Layton, UESCA Ultraunning Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Blue Horizon Endurance
@bluehorizonendurance

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Apps and coaches can complement one another.

AI-powered running coach services/apps are everywhere, and have the big attraction of being very accessible. Sometimes, the cost is very reasonable compared to the cost of a regular running coach. However, there are a few cons that exist with AI coaching apps:

• AI apps lack a human connection. Running is more than just numbers and mileage. A great coach will be a mentor, your biggest cheerleader in your training and races, and ultimately something AI will never be able to replicate.
• Although AI can adjust your training plan based on data points, it can’t understand how life can be unpredictable: stressful week of work, sudden illness, family emergencies, etc. A human coach can empathize and adjust accordingly.
• AI is meant truly for beginner and casual runners. Those who want structured guidance and don’t need as much emotional or specialized coaching.

There is definitely a place in the future for AI to be a part of everyday running coaching regimens. AI training can be beneficial for analyzing data, while human coaches focus on the strategic, psychological, and analytical parts of running.

Although a lot of people have been jumping on these apps and services due to the cost and ease of accessibility, AI will never be able to replicate what a human coach can do for you: provide emotional support, be a sounding board for anything on your mind, and account for the unexpected in life!

Chris Poole, UESCA Running Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Poole Running Lab
@PoolRunningLab | @CPooleRuns

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical guidance. Before choosing to follow the running advice provided in this article, be sure to consult with your physician about your health and medical concerns. Running and exercising are done at your own risk, including any injuries or health issues you may encounter.

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