In many cases I have seen (on the TR forum and elsewhere) AI training apps are getting the blame for something that I don’t think they are primarily aiming to solve - consistency.
It doesn’t matter that the AI can give you a series of workouts that will give you 0.3% more FTP than the series of workouts in a static plan, if you don’t ride them.
I haven’t yet seen an AI training platform that overtly says its AI is optimising to give you a workout plan that you are more likely to follow than any other plan, and then taking steps to help you complete the plan - e.g. if you normally start your workout between 0700 and 0730, but haven’t started today’s at 0735, to give you a few nudges to get it done.
Does it exist?
In many cases on the TR forum where users are complaining that their FTP is not getting close to the initial prediction, a quick look at their calendar shows that a big contribution to that is them not doing the planned workouts (by that I don’t mean failing them, I mean not starting them).
For sure "consistency” can be a problem. The issue I hit, in the four AI plans I tried, results came, intensity climbed, which ultimately pushed me beyond recuperation ability. Sleep quality suffered, and decline was the result. This happened each time.
I’m not as fit as I was in my 30’s and 40’s, but most importantly I don’t recovery as well. Max HR and RHR is still quite good, 174 and low to mid-40’s. A few days in Kauai RHR drops to upper 30’s, which is either a clue I should move there or a little more rest would do the body good. Anyway the substrate is good.
Coming up with a plan is much easier than providing suitable feedback and adjustment, which is individualized and what I’d like to see. TR AI plans do highlight days that ought be rest / restorative, which I appreciate, but they were not enough for me.
if you normally start your workout between 0700 and 0730, but haven’t started today’s at 0735, to give you a few nudges to get it done.
Side note, I noticed my Apple Watch knows my routine without it being on Apple Calendar. I’ll look at the watch around 7pm, and see a Cycling icon. I don’t need the reminder, but appreciate it knowing.
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One of the things I am curious about with TR AI is the fact that it only chooses workouts from the existing catalogue.
I don’t know why it uses the catalogue at all.
Why doesn’t it just create the optimum next workout for the plan on the fly? Personalised workouts for every athlete based on their specific requirements and performance, not something “close enough” from the catalogue.
With high intensity intervals for instance, it could tailor the interval lengths based on W’Bal, rather than knowing 3’ isn’t enough and 4’ might be too long (especially for the last interval), but they are the only options in the catalogue, so there has to be a compromise.
This could also be used to address a significant gap in the catalogue - workouts where the intervals follow a period of fatiguing work.
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