The battle of AI

So… AI running apps are taking a bit of a battering just now, eh? Not AI fight we were all expecting. I mean, let’s face it, Terminator would’ve been a bit shit if big Arnie turned up just to give all the Sarah Connors a stress fracture.

This isn’t so much theory today, but I wanted to throw my 2p worth in.

Here’s the key question: as a running/fitness coach, do I think apps like Runna (which seems to be getting the most heat) are terrible and dangerous?

Honestly… it’s not that simple.

Rumblings about AI‑generated plans being terrible have been around for years, but it’s recently blown up because a number of high‑profile influencers have picked up injuries. Lower‑limb stress fractures in particular.

Before answering the question, you need to think about what these AI apps actually do. They take your data, usually from a short questionnaire, and create a plan. That plan then adjusts depending on your performance data and the choices you make (that last bit is crucial).

The data includes your goals, biometrics, feedback (all self‑reported), and performance. The app then says “yeah, good” or “not so good”. If you perform well, it might ask if you want to progress.

Given the experience level of most people using these apps, combined with our now instant‑gratification culture, 99 times out of 100 you’re going to say yes. Probably 100 out of 100 once your favourite runfluencer tells you how great it is and how it helped them achieve their goals (which may be true… but there’s often a tidy wee monetary incentive behind it — “Sign up using code STRESSFRACTURE15 for 15% off your first month!”).

Here’s the kicker: endurance running isn’t a quick fix. Progress takes ages, and it sure as shit isn’t linear.

This is where the argument for coaches comes in.

Any coach worth their salt isn’t adjusting your plan based on one or two runs. Any adjustment is a two‑way conversation. The coach provides quantitative feedback on how things are looking; the athlete provides the qualitative context. Together, this forms a conversation where they discuss changes and recommendations.

An app isn’t going to know you slept like shit because the kids were unwell. Or that you’ve got a stressful job with tight deadlines. Or that you got shitfaced at the Old Firm, smashed a king‑sized kebab on the way home, and now can’t face your 6×1 mile reps without the thought of spewing your ring.

A coach has to consider your life and constantly scan between your historic data and your path toward your goals.

If you’re serious about your training (and if you’ve signed up for an app, you probably are) then your approach needs to be holistic. For example, the two most common things I’ve spoken about with athletes this year have been regarding mindset and nutrition. An AI app doesn’t consider any of that. The fact you can increase your training load without any consideration of what’s happening outside the app is wild.

For me, apps like Runna aren’t terrible at the planning side. What they lack is the ability to consider the other factors in their athlete’s lives and they seriously lack the ability to support athletes to critically think about their performance and lifestyle before making decisions.

Each week I check in with my athletes and ask what’s gone well and where we can improve. That’s not a wee conversation starter, it’s key information I use to plan the upcoming weeks. If someone is struggling to hit paces and tells me they’re exhausted, we need to talk about why and ease off next week, or chat about sleep habits. If they’re smashing it and improving faster than expected, we might adjust goals… or ask for a random drug test (jokes! it’s the West of Scotland, we don’t need to test).

AI apps aren’t designed to injure you. Hate them if you want, but they were created with good intentions. Their business model isn’t “break as many runners as possible”. They genuinely want to help but they will always be limited in their offering. And for people with less experience, that limitation can become very risky.

That’s why a good coach is worth the money. Yes, apps are cheaper. If you’re confident you understand recovery, nutrition, strength, stress, mindset — then go for it. It’ll help keep you accountable.

If you don’t have that knowledge, you’ll benefit far, far more from joining a local running club and learning from the mountain of experience there (and it’ll likely be cheaper). But if you can afford it, invest in a coach. And it is an investment. Coaching is not just a plan, or at least it shouldn’t be in my opinion.

You might think, “Ah Ben, you’re a coach, you’re just trying to sell your coaching business…”

My response? I have a coach.

I have a coach so I can learn and be better for my athletes. Someone to challenge me. Someone to help me balance my goals with the rest of my life. Someone I trust to free up mental capacity so my training stays a priority amongst my busy life. And most of all because I genuinely believe in it.

However, you need the right coach for you. I’m not the best coach for everyone. Whether that’s due to my expertise, personality, or philosophy etc, you need to find that fit. I’ve referred people on because I didn’t think I was the right fit.

I have the best bunch of athletes going. Yes, I’m biased, but I believe it. Some will come and go, and that’s normal. But my main goal is that when they do move on, they’re significantly better informed about their running, health, and fitness than when they joined.

For me, that is the purpose of a coach, and why I will always recommend a coach over an AI app.