It appears the feedback from the AI coach is broken with regards to heart rate zones.
My zone 2 appear to be set as 117 to 135 bpm. I spent roughly 53 minutes of an 80 minute run in that range. I spent another 24 minutes in Zone 3a which for me is 135 to 142.
Prior to this run, I had a couple of other runs this week where the coach feedback I received was to run 130 to 140 bpm. This was because there was a breakdown in feedback between myself and the AI coach. On a run a couple of days ago, the AI coach first insisted that I had too much time in zone 1 (which for me is below 117, and I had less than 1 minute of time in Zone 1 during that particular run). At some point in the feedback correspondence the AI coach realized in fact that I did not have too much time Zone 1, I had actually split time between Zone 2 and Zone 3a during that run. During the course of this back and forth, the AI coach wrote that I should target 130 to 140 bpm. Which is exactly what I did today, with pretty much averaging 133 to 134 bpm overall. That comment about 130 to 140 is now gone, and it’s back to complaining that I split too much time between Zone 2 and Zone 3a.
So, the initial problem was in my run on Friday, it incorrectly interpreted my results as being too much time in Zone 1. Then after back and forth, indicated to target 130 to 140 bpm. Then after following that during today’s run, “forgot” about the 130 to 140 bpm suggestion.
Just a little more information. One of the latest comments from my run yesterday (3/16/25) from the AI coach was, “You spent significantly more time in Z1 and Z3b than prescribed, which diverges from the aerobic goal of enhancing endurance primarily in Z2” However, if you look at the Analysis portion of the Run, and the Heart Rate Zones v Planned, you will see I spent roughly 2 minutes total between those 2 zones (out of an 80 minute run).
It’s really bizarre feedback. I also noticed while looking there that the Pace Zones v Planned are way off. The Analysis has me running paces for significant portions of time that I got no where near. Training Peaks and Garmin have the correct paces, and the paces shown in Athletica’s Pace Zones are fast enough that I can confidently say there’s no way I was running that fast for that long.
Not sure if that’s related or not. The heart rate data does look correct in Athletica. And mostly the feedback I’ve seen has been more heart rate oriented.
As far as the paces, is it possible there is some elevation problem? I have a Forerunner 945 in case that matters.
I would like to link another issue which seems similar.
Heart Rate to Pace does not match for me either.
From my feeling an experience my pace should be way slower to the heart rate.
Which for a workout resolve in a bad compliance. For me it looks like pace is what counts, even if running based on heart rate.
I’m having a similar problem, in fact I think a lot of the feedback from the coach at the moment has gone a bit haywire. I just did an easy ride on the bike and got this feedback:
Surely a few times (normally when having to stop/slow down in traffic) shouldn’t bring out such a statement, especially when overall I’ve hit the correct load for the session?
Also seeing this, I first wanted to post about my V02 session feedback but in that feedback the AI also complained about my earlier aerobic zone 2 session and said my compliance was low so I checked that as well, here’s the feedback (which is clearly off the mark) and zone analysis:
Similar experience on coach feedback. 40 minute run prescribed by HR yet the feedback is relating to pace, this was mainly a trail run which can’t (yet?) be accommodated in feedback, so the pace would be lower than a road run, the feedback is that time spent in zone 2 is significantly lower than prescribed, while you spent too much time in zone 1.
The screenshot attached shows the HR zone distribution as pretty much compliant with the plan but pace varies far more, which would be expected for a strength endurance run on rolling terrain anyway?
The zone compliance feedback is becoming a bit annoying!
Being nagged at to improve my compliance otherwise I risk lower fitness or injury…. Because I spent a minute in lower zone 3a instead of 2?
It’s still bringing up swims from days ago, in feedback from a run today, to bug me about watching my zone compliance.
It is well intentioned, but as AI is not yet able to reliably comprehend the context of the data it is using for feedback, it is worse than useless. New athletes may take it to heart and think they should be able to manage their heart rate to stay in the correct zone for 100% of a run, with no time spent outside of the prescribed HR. This is obviously impossible, and may cause some to become disheartened.
It would also be great to make the “actionable parts” (like “Consider to…” or “Aim to…”) of the feedback more prominent. The feedback is one big chunk of words and valuable information feel hidden inbetween.
Okay, interesting to see others are having the same issues. The feedback may be disheartening to some, as pointed out. My biggest issue is when I see feedback like this, that doesn’t make sense, I begin to doubt the plan. I begin to doubt that it is indeed optimizing my training in the coming days / weeks. Is it now retargeting upcoming training? The feedback implies for some reason it is unhappy or concerned, therefore makes me personally question how it is prescribing future sessions. To me, that’s a pretty big concern.
Having the same issue, had a workout today and was running in the precribed heartrate zones. As it was a strength session with up and downhill (as precribed) pace went down.
Well the coach complained that I spend most of the time in L1 instead of L2.
So either we are again at pace vs heartrate matching or L2 is actually telling I should run in L2 but why did my training on Garmin did a heartrate based workout.
I get more confused with ever day and I already bought a chest strap as I got told this could be th3 issue - does not solve it fully.
So I am concerned too, especially as a hobbyist and not a semi-pro athelete
Today the feedback was completely wrong for my run. It told me I spent less time in zones Z3a and Z3b, when I actually spent more time in them than planned!
At least my load compliance was spot on this time. Well it was, until I checked back later and it had gone up by 10 and all the comments changed. I give up with the coach for a while
I have similar reactions to the changes in coach feedback. It was rock steady for months giving valuable information pulling post workout stats like efficiency, FTI, load, and workout reserve in one easy to follow paragraph. However, for the last few activities I’m not getting those, but things like workout compliance, time in pace zones where my focus on an aerobic run has been HR (and dead on!), and things like my nutrition during super easy paced runs.
Yeah, the zone compliance is drowning out any other messages. It complained I hadn’t done enough Z2 start of week, and too much Z3a. Conscious of that, I did more Z2 today. Then it complained I had done more Z2. Plus the thing with SE is that the lower cadence means lower HR, and HR will not align with the zones that it might at a higher cadence.
I do also wonder if the tolerances were set based on power from a session on an erg managed smart trainer, rather than what you can manage outside. Outside I am trying to stay within the power range as best, not a precise power target. The power ranges can be over 26%, somewhat more than the 15% tolerance for compliance,
I had it set to professional and detailed but I’ve now changed to casual and simplified.
and I already bought a chest strap as I got told this could be th3 issue - does not solve it fully.
