Training Apps vs 1:1 Coaching Pt 2 - Which Is Right for You?

Training Apps/AI Training vs Real 1:1 Run Coaching - the concluding comparison and analysis from Chris Lucas in part 2 of this two-part series.

Chris Lucas is the NZ Nomad Runner Podcast Host and Head Run Coach at CMF Running, where he and his team of endurance coaching specialists coach runners and athletes who want to level up.

Who Is Best Suited to a Running App?

Let's be honest, 1:1 Run Coaching - especially from an experienced coach offering high levels of contact and truly bespoke training - is an investment in yourself. Cost is a genuine factor, and not everyone is willing or able to invest at that level. That's where running apps have a real advantage. They're affordable, accessible and instant.

You can decide at 9pm on a Tuesday night that you want to run a sub-3 or 3:30 marathon and, within minutes, have a training plan on your phone that syncs with your watch. Compare that with working alongside a coach, where there will naturally be communication and planning before your training begins.

For many runners, that's all they need. You're motivated, you don't need accountability, and while you want to improve, you're not trying to squeeze every last percentage point from your performance. Maybe you've only been running for a year or two and you're still making consistent gains. You don't regularly suffer from injuries or illness, and you're comfortable making sensible decisions when life gets in the way. If you've had a poor night's sleep because your child is sick, you're happy to swap a hard workout for an easy run without second-guessing yourself.

The underlying theme is that you're comfortable self-managing your training. You may not take your running too seriously, or perhaps you're an experienced runner who enjoys navigating your own programme as situations arise. You like the structure of following a plan, you're making steady progress, and you're not overly concerned about optimising every aspect of your training. For runners like this, an app or AI-generated programme can be an excellent fit.

Who Is Best Suited to 1:1 Run Coaching?

Coming from my Run Coach lens, this is fairly simple. A runner or athlete at any level who is competitive with themselves and wants to see what they're truly capable of. Someone who wants to invest in their running, improve their outcomes and have a coach in their corner throughout that journey.

Many of the runners who engage us at CMF Running have already tried everything else. They've used the apps, followed online plans, prescribed their own training, watched YouTube videos, read the blogs, asked ChatGPT, and listened to advice from mates at the group run. Eventually they reach the point where they're done second-guessing and are ready for a more individual approach.

Their goals have usually become more ambitious too. They want to break three, three-and-a-half or four hours for the marathon. They want to finish a 100km or 100-mile ultra, or see how far they can go in a Backyard Ultra. These are the runners who often gain the greatest value from working with a coach who understands not only the destination, but the best path to get there.

Another group ideally suited to coaching are runners who simply can't seem to train consistently without getting injured or sick. Having experienced my own autoimmune health journey, I know how frustrating this can be. There's a common misconception that you need to be injury-free before engaging a coach, but in my experience the opposite is often true.

We regularly work with runners who are rehabbing injuries, returning to running and rebuilding safely with the support of a coach, often alongside a physiotherapist or other health professional. Just as importantly, we help provide the confidence that you're making the right decisions when progress feels slow or uncertain. That guidance can make all the difference during rehabilitation.

If you're competitive with yourself, value expert guidance and want to remove the guesswork from your training, 1:1 Run Coaching may be exactly what you need.

What Is Best for You?

At the end of the day, I don't think there's one universally "best" option. There's simply the option that's best for you, based on where you are in your running journey.

If you're using a running app or following a ready-to-go programme, you're enjoying your running, staying consistent and getting the results you want - brilliant. Keep doing it. You don't need a 1:1 Run Coach just because coaching exists.

But many runners eventually reach a point where they want more. Their goals become bigger, they're chasing smaller performance gains, they're tired of wondering whether they're doing the right training, or they simply can't string together consistent months of running without setbacks.

That's where I believe real 1:1 Run Coaching comes into its own.

A training plan tells you what to do. A coach helps you navigate what happens when real life meets that plan. Training rarely unfolds perfectly. We get sick, pick up niggles, work becomes busy, kids keep us awake and motivation comes and goes. Having someone in your corner who knows you, understands your goals and can adjust your training as life changes is where coaching provides its greatest value.

So rather than asking whether a running app or a 1:1 Run Coach is better, perhaps the better question is:

What do I actually need from my training right now?

If you've reached the point where you're ready to stop second-guessing, invest in yourself and discover what you're really capable of with a coach in your corner, maybe it's time to take that next step.

Ready to level up your running?

Book a free coach call with Chris and the CMF Running team. You'll complete a short training questionnaire and be matched with the CMF coach who best suits your personality, ability and running goals.

Email: chris@cmfrunning.nz