FORDY RUNS Podcast

FORDY RUNS Podcast is back with a big one: are AI chatbots quietly replacing running coaching apps?

We've noticed more and more of our own runners moving away from paid coaching apps like Runna, Coopah, and URNN — and instead building their own training plans using free AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. In this episode we dig into why that's happening, what people are gaining, and what they might be losing along the way.

We'll cover the pros of coach-built apps (Runna, Coopah, URNN) — personalisation, watch integration, and adaptive plans built on real coaching principles — versus the appeal of free, flexible AI chat tools that can build you a plan in seconds but don't actually see your training data unless you feed it to them yourself.

We're not here to tell you AI is the enemy or the saviour — this one's a genuinely open discussion about where the running app + AI space is heading, the risks of self-coaching with a chatbot, and whether the two worlds might actually end up merging.

In this episode:
Why runners are switching from Runna, Coopah, and URNN to free AI tools
Can ChatGPT or Claude actually build you a safe, effective training plan?
What coaching apps do that a chatbot can't (yet)
The injury and overtraining risk of self-coached AI plans
Our honest take as coaches on where this trend is heading

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Prompts mentioned in this episode:
Prompt 1 — Beginner Marathon (20-Week Plan)
I'm a beginner runner training for my first marathon, 20 weeks away. Create a detailed 20-week marathon training plan for me. Here's my context: [current weekly mileage, longest run so far, running experience, any injury history, how many days/week I can train, and race date]. Please structure the plan week by week with: easy runs, one long run per week (building gradually, with a taper in the final 2-3 weeks), rest/cross-training days, and a couple of quality sessions (tempo or intervals) once I'm past the base-building phase. Explain the purpose of each type of run, flag any weeks with a step-back/recovery mileage drop, and give me general pacing guidance based on effort level rather than exact paces, since I don't have a recent race time. Also include tips on fueling for long runs and signs of overtraining to watch for. Tip: Fill in the bracketed details with your actual mileage, race date, and experience level for a more tailored plan.

Prompt 2 — Half Marathon, Sub-1:30 Goal
I'm training for a half marathon and my goal is to break 1 hour 30 minutes (roughly 4:16/km or 6:52/mile pace). Here's my context: [weeks until race, current weekly mileage, recent race times or time trials, days/week available to train, current easy/tempo/interval paces if known]. Build me a training plan up to race day that's structured around this specific goal pace. Include: a weekly mileage progression, one long run per week with some marathon/half-marathon-pace segments built in as the plan progresses, dedicated threshold/tempo sessions, VO2max or interval workouts to build speed, easy recovery runs, and a taper in the final 1-2 weeks. Give me target paces for each workout type based on my sub-1:30 goal, and tell me how to adjust the plan if I'm falling behind or ahead of schedule based on how key workouts feel. Tip: The more specific your recent race times and current paces, the more accurate ChatGPT's target paces will be.
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This week a special Adidas livestream as we take a look and early review the new Adidas Adizero EVO SL 2, Adizero EVO SL 2 Elite, Adizero EVO SL 2 Exo and Adizero Prime X 4!

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals. I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.
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Our Chicago Marathon 2026 preview is here, but first, what a week it's been in running! We break down the Berlin Marathon 2026, the durability issues people are reporting with the adidas Pro 5, our first thoughts on the new Nike Apex, the Vitality 10K, the new Boston Marathon qualifying times for 2027, and the London Marathon's rock, paper, scissors moment over whether the men's or women's elites go first in 2027.

Then we finish with our Chicago Marathon preview: who we think wins, what to watch for in the elite races, and our top tips if you're running it yourself. Running Chicago? Drop your goal time in the comments and we'll be cheering you on!
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Is running still fun, or has it turned into a numbers game? In this episode, we dig into the growing obsession with running times, pace, and PRs — and ask whether social media (Strava, Instagram, TikTok) is to blame for shifting the sport's culture away from enjoyment and toward performance metrics.
We talk about:

Why so many runners are fixated on times over the experience of running itself
Whether social media has created unhealthy comparison and pressure around pace
If chasing a PR is actually a good thing — or if it's taking the joy out of running
How the running community can find a better balance between performance and fun

Whether you're a casual jogger, a marathon runner, or someone training for your first 5K, this conversation explores a question a lot of runners are quietly asking themselves: are we running because we love it, or because we're chasing a number?

🎧 Listen and subscribe for more honest conversations about running, training, and the culture around the sport.
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This week a special Nike live Adidas Adizero Pro 5 and Alphafly 4 Review! With the Adidas Pro 5 launching this week and the Nike Alphafly 4 in for review, we answer your questions live!

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals.

I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Each episode covers topics like:
Which running shoes are right for you
Daily trainers vs. race shoes
Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them
Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation
Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners

🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM
🎥 Streamed live on Youtube, released after as video + audio podcast
💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air

No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running.

👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.