AI Coaches and Digital Twins: The Future of Running Post-London Marathon

As a part-time runner and full-time futurist, the recent TCS London Marathon was not just a physical challenge for me, but also a glimpse into the future of running. With over £1k invested in various technologies to monitor my progress, I have witnessed firsthand how AI, digital twins, sensors, and more are reshaping the world of sports.

The UK government’s investment of over £100 million in advancing AI in healthcare highlights the growing influence of technology in our daily lives, including sports. Even Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee President, believes that AI will revolutionize sports, with initial innovations set to be unveiled at the 2024 Games in Paris.

Consumer-grade wearables now allow us to better understand our bodies, from heart rate to nutrition, enabling us to optimize future performance through scenario planning and data-driven insights. The concept of a digital twin, an exact virtual replica of oneself, is at the forefront of this technological revolution, providing granular information to maximize performance.

For example, TCS created a digital twin of two-time Olympian Des Linden’s heart to evaluate her training, performance, and recovery. This digital twin can predict potential challenges during a run and provide recommendations to optimize performance in real-time.

The future of running lies in personalized AI coaches that can make sense of wearable data and run simulations on digital twins to create optimal training programs. This level of accessibility has the potential to revolutionize not only sports but also the entire healthcare sector.

As technology continues to converge, the integration of AI, sensors, and wearables will break down barriers of knowledge, empowering individuals to take control of their health and wellness like never before. Running a marathon will always be a human endeavor, but the preparation and performance will increasingly rely on the training mechanisms organized by technology and data.