Coach Leo — AI Running Coach
An AI running coach that connects to your Strava, builds training plans from your real data, and adapts daily based on how you actually feel.
Available as a web app, on Telegram, and as an MCP server for ChatGPT, Claude, and Mistral. Every recommendation draws from 65+ peer-reviewed sports science papers.
Try it free · About · MCP Documentation · Smithery
What is Coach Leo?
Coach Leo is a full AI running coach application at coachleo.ai. It connects to your Strava account, reads your real training history (pace, heart rate, elevation, cadence), and uses 12 specialized coaching tools to make decisions — like a real coach with access to your training diary.
Leo is not a chatbot that generates generic plans from what you type. He deduces your training patterns from Strava, derives your actual paces from 8 weeks of data, and adapts your plan daily through conversation.
How to get started
- Create an account at coachleo.ai (7-day free trial)
- Connect your Strava account (read-only)
- Start chatting — Leo already knows your training
What makes Leo different
Strava-first coaching
Leo never asks "what's your weekly mileage?" — he already knows. Strava syncs every 30 minutes. When you open a conversation, Leo has already analyzed your last 10 activities, your training load, your acute-to-chronic workload ratio (ACWR), and your weekly patterns.
Plans built from YOUR actual paces
Leo derives your easy, tempo, interval, and long-run paces from 8 weeks of real Strava data. No generic templates. Your Zone 2 pace comes from YOUR heart rate and pace distributions.
Plans that fit your life
Hard constraints are enforced, not just preferences. "I can only run Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday", "maximum 40km per week", "no intervals" — Leo respects these in every plan. When your schedule changes, Leo restructures through conversation while keeping it coherent with your race goal.
Multi-indicator overtraining prevention
Leo never relies on a single metric. He cross-references ACWR trends, volume increase speed, rest days, subjective fatigue, recurring body signal patterns, and plan adherence. Response is graduated: observation, session modification, week restructuring, professional referral.
Biomechanical shoe wear analysis
Not just mileage tracking. Leo inspects 6 wear zones (outsole, lateral midsole, medial midsole, upper, heel, insole) with visual scoring. Wear patterns reveal biomechanical signals — pronounced medial wear suggests overpronation, which feeds back into body signal tracking.
Race preparation with web search
Say "I'm doing the UTMB CCC" and Leo searches the web for real race data: date, distance, elevation, terrain, participants, GPX file. No manual entry. Leo then analyzes the GPX profile and predicts your finish time using 4 models (VDOT, Riegel, Cameron, Tanda).
Sports nutrition guidance
Evidence-based race fueling adapted to your weight, duration, elevation, and gut tolerance. IOC/ISSN guidelines. Recovery nutrition timing and carb periodization. Per-session nutrition plans included.
Scientific knowledge base
65+ peer-reviewed papers with hybrid semantic search (BM25 + pgvector). Covers training methodology, overtraining prevention, trail-specific training, biomechanics, nutrition, psychology, and cross-training.
Persistent coaching memory
Leo searches past history before advising. He references specific conversations: "Last week you reported calf tightness and your ACWR was 1.4 — volume is up 30%, let's be cautious." After 3 months, Leo has a coaching dossier no new app can replicate.
VO2max and race time predictions
VO2max from 3 methods (ACSM, Jack Daniels VDOT, HR-Pace regression) cross-validated with confidence intervals. Race time predictions using 4 models with personal Riegel exponent. Trail-adjusted estimates that account for elevation.
Running character system
9 animal archetypes (Wolf, Mountain Goat, Turtle, Phoenix, Hawk, Bear, Fox, Cheetah, Otter) computed from 9 real training dimensions — not a personality quiz. Calculated from your Strava data. Evolves through 3 stages. Your character shapes how Leo coaches you.
Cross-training as strategic lever
Cycling, swimming, hiking, skiing — each session gets a specific role: recovery, aerobic development, muscular reinforcement, or injury prevention. Integrated into weekly training load.
Available everywhere
| Channel | Description |
|---|---|
| Web app | Full chat interface with training dashboard, character visualization, race countdown, and performance metrics at coachleo.ai |
| Telegram | Message Leo directly for quick coaching on the go. Same memory, same tools, same coach. |
| ChatGPT, Claude, Mistral | Connect Leo as an MCP server. Your favorite AI assistant becomes your running coach with full access to your data. |
Community (coming soon)
- Packs — Your character determines your pack. Join runners worldwide who share your training DNA.
- Solo quests — Personal challenges tied to your training dimensions.
- Pack battles — Weekly and seasonal competitions between packs.
- Expeditions — Run together across iconic routes worldwide. Every kilometer counts.
Activity tracking
Coach Leo syncs all your Strava activities — running is the primary coaching focus (road, trail, track), but every other sport you log (cycling, swimming, CrossFit, hiking, skiing, etc.) is tracked with a specific role to give the coach a complete picture of your training load and recovery needs.
Pricing
- Founding member: $9.99/month (limited spots, locked for life)
- Regular: $12.99/month
- 7-day free trial included — no charge if you cancel before it ends
- All features included. No tiers, no feature gates.
MCP Server (for developers)
Coach Leo also works as a hosted remote MCP server — no installation required. Connect it to any MCP-compatible client (ChatGPT, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, and more).
Quick setup
- Open your MCP client's settings
- Add a new remote server:
https://mcp.coachleo.ai/mcp - Authenticate with your Coach Leo account
- Start chatting — 12 coaching tools are ready
JSON config
{
"mcpServers": {
"coach-leo": {
"url": "https://mcp.coachleo.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
12 coaching tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
get_coaching_briefing | Complete coaching context: profile, recent activities, training load, alerts, readiness, character status. |
manage_athlete | Runner profile and running character management. Body metrics, preferences, character recalculation. |
manage_activities | Query and annotate Strava-synced activities. Filter by date, sport, impact. Record feedback. |
manage_training | Create and manage personalized training plans. Modify sessions, track adherence. |
track_body_signals | Log body observations, record physical setbacks, daily readiness check-ins. |
manage_shoes | Track shoe collection, wear inspections across 6 zones, mileage stats, and retirement. |
manage_races | Full race lifecycle: discovery via web search, registration, preparation, results, post-race analysis. |
search_knowledge | Hybrid semantic + full-text search across 65+ peer-reviewed papers. |
coaching_memory | Persistent memory across sessions. Logs decisions, prevents contradictory advice. |
estimate_vo2max | VO2max estimation using 3 scientific methods with cross-validation. |
calculate_training_zones | Pace and HR zones (Z1-Z5) from race performance or physiological data. |
analyze_gpx | GPX file analysis: elevation profiles, terrain segmentation, diversity scoring. |
11 coaching workflows
Predefined workflows that chain tools together for complex scenarios:
- Onboarding — Strava-first setup: Leo deduces your patterns before asking anything
- Post-activity analysis — Automated debrief with shoe deduction and sensation logging
- Body signal analysis — Injury risk assessment backed by knowledge base citations
- Overtraining monitoring — Multi-indicator load analysis with graduated alerts
- Weekly review — Training summary with character recalculation and plan adjustments
- Adaptive plan creation — Plans from real paces with constraint validation
- Race planning — Web search for race data, GPX analysis, taper protocol
- Deep research — Knowledge base enrichment from web search
- GPX pattern analysis — Terrain and elevation profiling for race preparation
- Shoe wear assessment — 6-zone inspection with biomechanical pattern detection
- Character reveal — Running character assignment ceremony
Authentication
Full OAuth 2.1 implementation:
- Discovery:
/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server - Dynamic Client Registration (DCR)
- PKCE with S256
- Token refresh and revocation
Privacy & data
- Hosted in Finland (Hetzner, EU)
- HTTPS/TLS encryption
- Strava data is read-only
- Strict user data isolation
- GDPR compliant — export and deletion on request
- No data used for AI model training
Links
Made in the Alps.
Server Config
{
"mcpServers": {
"coach-leo": {
"url": "https://mcp.coachleo.ai/mcp"
}
}
}