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Ive always defended doing things the old-fashioned way and using a bit of imagination.
But I have to eat my words.
I turned to ChatGPT to build a race day strategy for theLondon Landmarks Half Marathon.
So, what led me to climb down from my high horse?
Im currently training for a full marathon usingCoopah, one of thebest running appsfor personalized race plans.
That meant I had no guidance on how to pace it.
So, I opened up ChatGPT and asked it to build a race day strategy for me.
My full marathon was three weeks away.
I figured: why not let the robots decide how fast I should run?
It was surprisingly reassuring.
I was weirdly into it.
Can you structure it so I can aim for negative splits?
How do I program this race plan into myGarmin?The more detailed and dialled-in the responses became.
Even though I felt good, I stayed a little skeptical.
Surely an AI-generated pacing plan wasntthattrustworthy?
But somehow, it was on this occasion.
I crossed the line in 1:37, shaving 14 minutes off my previous PB.
The flat course, friendly crowds, and well-organised race also helped.
Still, having that structured plan in place made a notable difference.
The Verdict
Would I recommend letting ChatGPT pace your race?
Cautiously, yes, but with a big asterisk.
Its not a coach, and its definitely not a guaranteed route to a PR.
Be specific and honest about your training, health, and goals.
Cross-reference the plan with trusted sources or your training app.