AI's Place In Endurance Coaching

Veteran coach & ultra-endurance athlete, Kurt Madden, joins Peter Defty to explore how AI-driven training platforms like TriDot are changing endurance coaching. Learn how adaptive data, recovery insight, and real-world coaching intelligence combine to help athletes avoid overtraining and build consistent, sustainable performance.

That being said, AI is not a replacement for a Coach nor does it eliminate the “fourth discipline of Triathlon”, nutrition.

From Old-School Volume to Intelligent Training

Kurt begins by reflecting on his days as a professional triathlete, when training meant one thing: volume. “Back then,” he says, “it was all high mileage, all aerobic. You’d push hard, taper for a few days, and then race as hard as you could.”

That approach got results, but it also led to fatigue and burnout.

Everything changed when Kurt discovered TriDot in 2016. “The first six weeks were tough,” he recalls. “I struggled to finish sessions. But the AI was adjusting my training based on my age, sleep, nutrition, even where I lived. Within nine weeks I raced three Ironmans—and got faster each time.”

This shift from guesswork to data-driven programming transformed his philosophy: train smarter, not harder. TriDot’s algorithms monitor thousands of data points each workout and automatically adjust intensity to match recovery and readiness levels. Predictive programming is a powerful tool. 

AI and EQ: The New Coaching Partnership

Peter notes that what makes the platform powerful isn’t automation—it’s partnership. “Predictive fitness adjusts training automatically,” he says, “but it still needs the back-and-forth between athlete and coach.”

Kurt agrees: “AI gives us IQ—the data—but great coaching requires EQ—the emotional intelligence to understand what an athlete feels.”

He sees himself as more than a trainer. He’s a guide who helps athletes navigate confidence, fear, nutrition, and recovery. “Most coaching happens from the shoulders up,” he explains. “The AI can’t yet read emotion. That’s where the coach comes in.”

Preventing Overtraining and Building Consistency

For years, endurance athletes operated under one rule: if it didn’t go well, train harder. Peter laughs, “That was the ethos.”

But TriDot flips that mindset. If an athlete misses a key workout or fails to hit targets, the platform automatically adjusts future sessions to allow recovery—helping prevent the downward spiral of fatigue and injury.

“It’s like having a second coach watching the data,” Kurt explains. “The AI catches things before they become problems.”

This approach builds consistency—the true key to long-term progress.

Coaching in the Age of Technology

Even with advanced data, Kurt insists that coaching remains a deeply human craft. “To be a triathlon coach,” he says, “you have to be good at a lot—swim, bike, run, recovery, strength, race tactics, nutrition, psychology. It’s like preparing Thanksgiving dinner.”

Technology enhances that skillset but doesn’t replace it. “AI gives us the tools,” Kurt adds, “but it’s still our job to teach, guide, and inspire.”

Key Takeaways

• AI is a tool to enhance, not replace, coaching. Data reveals patterns, but coaches provide context and support.

• Adaptive training prevents overtraining. Algorithms help athletes stay healthy and consistent by preventing overtraining.

• Consistency beats volume. Smart, sustainable effort outperforms brute force and/or huge volume over time.

• Data + dialogue = results. Coaches and athletes interpreting data together create the best outcomes.

📌 Conclusion

This conversation between Kurt Madden and Peter Defty captures how endurance coaching is evolving. It’s no longer about logging endless miles/hours—it’s about combining intelligent data with emotional insight to create smarter, stronger, more confident athletes. Most of all it is about sustainability. 

The future of endurance isn’t purely digital or purely human—it’s where AI meets EQ.