Running Coaches vs Running Apps

Everyday, I talk to someone who is using Artificial Intelligence to help them do their job more efficiently. And I am all for it.

Just not when finding a coach to help me train for my first marathon.

Running apps are all the rage, and they have helped lots of people. But I don't think you can ever beat the wisdom and encouragement of a human.

Every app and online marathon training plan said I should be running 3-5 times a week. But as a leg amputee who had never run over 5km, it wouldn't work for me. The skin on my stump would break down and I wouldn't make the start line.

Enter Sonia. An Olympian and professional coach who helps athletes across the spectrum, from total beginners to elite racers who will finish the marathon before most have even started,

She made a plan where I only ran 2 times a week.

She incorporated my figure skating lessons and chaotic work schedule into the training plan.

She thought I was a little crazy attempting a world record wall sit 4 days before the marathon, but she went with it!

She showed no signs of panic when I couldn't run for 3 weeks in February because of pressure sores.

Or when UPS didn’t deliver my running leg with 3 weeks to go.

Sonia was the reason I didn't quit any of my long runs. I could justify going home early to myself, but I couldn't bear the thought of having to tell her "I didn't feel like finishing today."

On the day it was hot. Much hotter than you want for a marathon. Not ideal, but manageable if you have a plan. I wasn’t worried because Sonia had drilled into me from the start the importance of practicing your hydration and fuelling on every long run.

All of this to say, guidelines and norms and standard practice definitely have a place. And so does artificial intelligence.

But it doesn't beat a human interaction.