Vertical

Vertical is an AI-powered running coach that creates personalized training plans grounded in sports science. It connects to your wearable device (Garmin, Apple Watch, etc.) and uses metrics like HRV, sleep score, and training load to adjust your workouts daily. Unlike static training plans that fall apart when life gets in the way, Vertical reshuffles your schedule based on how you're actually recovering and feeling.

The tool starts with a conversation — you hop on a voice call or chat to tell it about your goals, injury history, and schedule. Then it builds a plan you can tweak: move a long run, swap a tempo for an easy day, and the coach recalculates everything. It references a library of 500+ peer-reviewed papers on periodization, recovery, and injury prevention, so the decisions aren't just generic AI guesses — they're backed by real coaching experience and research.

Vertical is best for runners who want a coach that actually pays attention to their life. If you've ever felt guilty for missing a run because your plan didn't account for a bad night's sleep or a busy weekend, this tool is for you. It's also great for runners coming back from injury or trying to hit a specific time goal without getting hurt. The app is available on iOS and Android, and you can connect your watch in seconds — no credit card required to start.