Using AI to Create Your Own Endurance Coach and Running/Triathlon Training Plans

On Substack, I recently wrote an article on how to use the Custom GPT feature in ChatGPT to create your own endurance coach that can (1) understand your current age, level, and goals, (2) create a training plan based on your race calendar, and (3) adjust that training plan daily based on your wearables data such as Whoop, Oura, Apple, Garmin, etc. In about 20 minutes, you can have something very useful! 

I'm currently using ELEO, my AI endurance coach for my 2026 race calendar, which includes marathons, ultramarathons, and 1/2 and Full Ironman races. So far, it's been really helpful.

Read more here.

Tidbits - Faceplants, Legend Bernd Heinrich, and more

A couple of tidbits for your Sunday reading:

1. Have you ever bonked in the last mile of an endurance race? It ain't pretty. Kayako Fukushi, Japanese 5k/Half Marathon superstar, demonstrates at the finish of the Osaka International Women's Marathon after going out too hard with the lead pack.



Note, however, that her time was still in the low 2:40's! Thanks to Mark Remy for pointing me to the video.

2. If you haven't seen Dave's (of Altanta Trails fame) interview with ultralegend Bernd Heinrich (recently inducted into the Ultrarunning Hall of Fame), be sure to check it out. 12:27 for the 100-mile distance...that guy is amazing! He also has a great interview with 100-mile/100k champion Janice Anderson.

3. John Fors pointed me to this site for a new theory on cooling your core by keeping your hands cool. Although the fancy technology may be too much for the trails, perhaps there are some lessons in there for us. John had suggested ice water in the handheld bottles, for example.