Apps for running plans have now been in existence for 15 years or so, and as a highly qualified and experienced running coach, do I think they are a good thing? A question I get asked on repeat.
It may surprise you to hear that yes, I do think they are good thing, mainly because if they get people running through motivation and structure then that is something to be celebrated. Running is one of the most healthy things you can do for your physical, aerobic and mental health.
The real question is though, why am I not out of a job? In fact, the opposite is true, since 2021 I have never been so busy, to the point that my focus is now on run coaching, plus strength and nutrition training for runners and not on being a general PT, as I just don’t have the capacity anymore to do both.
Another fact that I can also share is that every year I coach between 50-90 runners for the London Marathon alone, and every year I also get between 10-20 runners who come to me because the app isn’t working for them or, sadly, they have picked up an injury from using it. On the flip side, I have never had a runner leave me because they feel the app will give them more.
So, what might help you decide if employing a coach or an app is the best decision for you?
Let’s deal with the elephant in the room straight away. Cost. As an independent coach I can not and will not compete on cost. It is cheaper to use an app, however, the reason I still get plenty of runners who are ok to pay the difference is because I am still well within in the realms of affordable and, crucially, they can see the value for that extra spend. If cost is your only goal and it being as cheap as possible, then the app is for you. In fact you can even download generic running plans for FREE on the internet.
Running Is Not Linear
Meaning you are not just another runner, you are unique, you have a life and a lifestyle with commitments and responsibilities so training needs to adapt to that, not the other way around. As a coach I can relate to that, adapt to that and take a great deal of time to understand the detail around your life. This can be 3-6 months of your life, so its important that it fits and fits well.
An app will assume you never feel unwell, that life is moving along without a hitch, and that each run is exactly as it was planned. That is not real life. You are then left to pick up the pieces to try and adapt it yourself, with little or no knowledge that you are doing the right thing.
Spotting Patterns
An app can not spot if you are over training, this leads to injury. It can not spot if your aerobic capacity is improving or becoming increasingly fatigued, this can also lead to injury and increased risk of illness. If your aerobic system is tired out, you will be more susceptible to colds and infection. It can’t detect issues with your pacing, or advise and teach you the importance of pace management. I does not have the ability to see the early warning signs of HR change or fatigue patterns.
In app world everything is rosy in the garden, but when it isn’t, its you who needs to decide what to do about it. This is normally when I get a call by runners who feel lost, who feel anxious about the right thing to do, or have lost complete faith and confidence in themselves because it feels like they are failing.
Aerobic Capacity
This is the most crucial element that an app just can not do. To run efficiently, and to maintain a load structure that will stop you getting injured, you must build your aerobic capacity and resilience and to be able to do that, your training needs to be specific to you. So many people fail to understand that your training schedule is a result of simple algorithms based around the most common runner type, hence why apps can not achieve this function, a function of training that is CRITICAL to your health, fitness, wellbeing and enjoyment of running.
It’s Personal
Runners need to feel like they have accountability and someone in their corner that is fighting for them, teaching them and being there when things get tough. Someone who understands why you are doing this, what it means and the struggle some days to even keep going. Talking about your training with a real person will never be bettered.
In Summary
A runner recently summed it up to me…”At the start I thought I just needed a running plan, but I quickly realised I needed guidance and support on the big picture, not just the running”
As a running coach, of course apps take business away from me, but I can’t deal with 150,000 runners a year anyway. I am not in competition with an app, they offer something very different to me. An app is akin to the pile them high selling them cheap strategy, and that has it’s rightful place, its what Tesco was built on after all.
I am for the runner who wants bespoke, who wants to be treated as a unique Individual and wants to unlock their full potential. I am for a runner who wants to learn the key elements of successful running and wants to get the maximum enjoyment from running. I am for the runner who needs their running to fit their life, not disrupt it. I am for the runner who wants someone in their corner when the going gets tough.
I am for the runner who wants to learn training, strength, nutrition and racing techniques for life.
So, a coach or an app? The choice is yours.
Ps. An app won’t high five you or hug you when you’ve just ran the race of your life, it doesn’t care. I do! 🙂