I started to explore Athletica and it seems really interesting! I tried to set-up my test-account, but I struggle with the parameters. At this moment I don’t really believe the plan
To give an impression: last year I did my first triathlon, a 70.3 in Belgium in 4h56. And on April 13, 2025 I ran my first marathon (European Championship in Belgium) in 3h23. All winter I did 3 running training sessions per week + cycling + swimming as preparation. I think on average I do sports 6/7, about 11h-15h per week. In 2024 I cycled about 15000km. So I’m used to volume and consider myself to have to large and strong endurance base.
When I filled in my availability + goal (70.3 in june '25 in 4h30 or faster), I don’t get the impression the plan is going to take me there. It just looks too easy to improve. In Athletica I read that I’m already at race level and it will be maintained. This was not my goal. I just wanted to use Athletica to get more from my available time and make progress. Am I doing something wrong? What?
Also some bug examples: I also did a swimm test (400m-50m), but didn’t get any results + I get a Run of Bike session plan, but there is no bike session planned.
Could I get some advice as I really like to get a subscription but for the moment I’m in doubt.
One aspect of the “availability” constraints that Athletica has incorporated into the platform is that, while working seemingly super well for folks that would rather have the platform explicitly acknowledge time and discipline constraints, it seems that, as the initial math optimizes against those constraints, the plan that results may look like a training “ceiling”.
But that’s probably not how the plan would work over time; the prescriptions that the platform made for you likely still would adapt to your progress over time (lifting the ceiling) with your fitness achievements improving along with.
To be more comfortable with the platform, though, you may find a different approach more suited to your expectations.
Earlier this year, I sought to explicitly incorporate daily time (e.g., 2 hrs weekday, 4 hrs weekends) and discipline (e.g., swimming only on Sunday) constraints once they were made available. The result was as you have noted: “race ready” and what looked like a long-term plan plateau.
So, after a discussion with Coaches Paul and Marjaana during one of our weekly HIIT sessions, I decided instead to just let the platform supply it’s ideal plan. I then have subsequently altered the plan each week to fit my constraints by deleting/moving sessions. Same result in terms of weekly load…but via this approach, the plan laid out over the long term seemed more fitting to the target (Wildflower next weekend!). The platform, too, has since incorporated expansions in both the amount (hours) and the level (power) of work prescribed as my performance improved. So the initially proposed path subsequently elevated as I met/exceeded plan targets over time.
That might have happened, too, under the earlier constraints, but I preferred to have the longer-term vision set out in advance.
Perhaps you might try removing the constraints to get a glimpse of the long-term evolution of the program, while moving around sessions each week to adapt to your constraints. I imagine that…as was my case…you may be pleased with the results over time.
So if my interpretation is correct (not native English)
If I look at this moment to the long term progress of my plan, it seemt to be on a plateau and hit a ceiling. But you say that the plan will adjust itself ongoing (day by day, week by week..) and there will be progress over time. So the ceiling will be lifted over some time, but I don’t see it right now.
Your suggestion (based on @Paul and @Marjaana ) was to only enter a minimum and maximum amount of hours/week and no further restrictions and let AI do the rest. Afterwards you play yourself with the suggested workouts to fit your agenda. → Could work, but than I’m back to where I was: doing everything myself. I just thought It was a conventient solution: I provide the system insights of my availability per day per sport and my goals for races → the system gives me a scientific plan to reach that goal and changes it based on what I do.
I also have the feeling the system “freaks out”. For example: just dit a 1h40 ride, tomorrow a 6h ride and Sunday a 3h30 ride. I’m used to these back-to-back longer rides with a lot of load, but the system doesn’t like it And I know from the past I can deal with it and it make me better. → I already know in advance that the system will tell me by the end of the weekend to rest, rest, rest… I agree wit hit, but sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to improve, not? Not it all seems to be too comfortable. Can I change settings?
Here’s where we may need the Athletica folks to jump in, but my thoughts on your response…
Your first point seems accurate to me.
For your second point, I should elaborate on what I do. I mostly just delete swims and otherwise move the workouts that the platform suggests around to fit my schedule. I don’t necessarily change the workouts (with the exception of modality sometimes, when subbing in rowing for riding). And when I delete workouts (usually swims), the platform tends to boost the hours elsewhere to maintain the overall load requirements. So, I’m not really doing much myself except, 1) deleting extra swims, 2) moving the cycling HIIT session that the system normally places on Wed to Thurs, and 3) swapping my Sat/Sun sessions.
And on the “freak out” bit…it’s true the system is keen to provide warnings. Interestingly, even as it was suggesting I was overtraining over the past few weeks (most likely because I was doing the prescribed sessions at higher intensity, but for the prescribed duration), the platform added time to many of the sessions (probably because I was deleting swim sessions).
I do tend to ignore the platform warnings and go by feel. I’ve tended to feel stronger lately, so I’ve gone harder/longer in some sessions. Those efforts may have led to the warnings. But I’ve felt OK enough, so I’ve maintained the momentum. My HRV values (which I understand to inform some of the AI reviews, but not necessarily the prescribed sessions) are generally worthless as I am terrible at sleep. Of course, pretty much no matter the day, my Forerunner tells me to rest when choosing a run session, so there’s that.
As for the higher loads…the good thing is the platform doesn’t seem to limit going-forward workout intensities based on prior efforts. Seems, actually, to do the opposite. As one proves the ability to go harder/longer, the platform seems to adjust to those higher levels of potential effort over time (which you can track using the Workout Reserve metric).
Thanks! Would be nice indeed if someone from Athletica (@Prof) could reflect on the items above?!? Anyone?
Main take away I read in your answers is that the system provides a framework with which to work and secondly listen to your body and feeling. (bit like with Garmin: if I would listen to my Edge, I should rest for 3 days )
When you first look ahead of your plan, it does look easy. Once you start ticking off planned workouts, Athletica will give you a little more load according to the principles of overload-supercompensation. If you miss sessions, it will try to reel you back, but if you miss too many sessions or don’t comply, there’s so only so much the program can do… it is a conservative approach because the most important aspect of any responsible coach is to do everything in its power to keep the athlete healthy and injury free.
Having said that, please consider making these adjustments:
increase time on workouts to see quicker uptick of load as you train. For example, add some time to your runs weekly, even 5-10 mins is good. And think about what your long run should be? Many of our athletes can back us up by saying it is the overall weekly frequency of runs more so than the length of your longest runs that accounts to their success. Same with bike session. If you are used to riding long - just extend those longer rides in your training plan.
Run off the bike without the bike - can indicate the plan is restricted by the constraints in your settings. The title should be something else (like a tempo run if L3) but essentially the AI coach is trying to give you a run within your time limits.
No increase in fitness : sounds to me that your time constraints are limiting the possible load. I am happy to have a look at your settings, would you mind sending me a DM here with your email and I will have a look. I can then recommend you personal tweaks.
Swim test: Let me know your 400m and 50 m times and I will calculate your CSS.
Best, MJ
And I know from the past I can deal with it and it make me better. → I already know in advance that the system will tell me by the end of the weekend to rest, rest, rest… 
)