Kotcha turns 1: a year of building your AI running coach app

Kotcha turns one today. On October 23, 2025, during New York City Marathon week, we launched our AI running coach app on iPhone, built with Eliud Kipchoge and the NN Running Team. One year later, Kotcha runs on iOS and Android, coaches everyone from first-time 5K runners to trail and marathon athletes, welcomed Kilian Jornet as a second legend, and has grown a social side with friends, maps and medals. Here's the year, month by month, and a big thank you to every runner who trained with us.

Launch: the elite method, made personal

Kotcha started with a simple idea: the way the best athletes in the world train should be available to every runner. We first met Eliud Kipchoge and coach Patrick Sang at the training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, and built the product with them.

On launch day you got an adaptive plan from 10K to the marathon, rebuilt every week by Coach K, a brief before each run and a debrief after it, and a team of four AI coaches: head coach, nutritionist, data analyst and personal trainer. Garmin and Apple Watch were there from the start. Read the full story in Kotcha is live.

Winter: talking to your coach, and Android

In December, you started debriefing your runs and your week by voice or text, and your training paces began to adapt to how each week went. Coros joined the list of supported watches. See voice and text debriefs.

In January, Kotcha arrived on Android, and we opened the door to beginners with My First 5K and My First 10K plans, plus a finish-time prediction. Starting from zero runs a week was finally an option. More in Kotcha lands on Android and first 5K and 10K plans.

Early spring: a coach that acts

February brought Huawei watch sync and a big step for the AI: Coach K could now change your plan right from the chat (read more). Then came B-races, so tune-up races fit inside your build, and five new languages: Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch and Portuguese (B-races and new languages).

In March, strength training became part of the plan, later growing into guided video sessions (strength training for runners). In April, Goal Checkpoints told you whether you were on track (Goal Checkpoints).

Late spring: fuel and mountains

In May, race-day fueling with Maurten landed in your plan, down to the gram, along with a new Progress tab and streaks (race-day fueling).

In June, Kilian Jornet joined Kipchoge on Kotcha. Two GOATs, road and mountains. Trail running plans arrived, shaped by Kilian's approach to terrain and mountain strategy (trail running training plan).

Summer: your week, your days

July redesigned the Weekly Wrap, the Sunday recap where your coach plans the week ahead, now animated and shareable, and Suunto watches joined the list (Weekly Wrap). In August, you could choose your training days and run on the treadmill without losing progress (training days and treadmill mode).

Autumn: maps, Siri and friends

September was big. The Scratch Map started uncovering the world one kilometre at a time as you run (Scratch Map). Kotcha was built for iOS 27 with Siri, Spotlight and full chat history (Siri and iOS 27). A runner profile followed, then the Community Map, showing where the Kotcha community runs.

In October, Kotcha became something to share: friends, invite links, friends on the map and a Wall of Fame for your medals (running with friends). Then came coach annotations on your charts after every run, and a layout designed for iPhone Duo.

Thank you

None of this happens without you. Every debrief you recorded, every message you sent Coach K, every bug you reported and every idea you shared shaped what Kotcha became this year. From the whole Kotcha team: thank you for year one.

Year two starts now, and we're just getting warmed up. Want the full story behind Kotcha? Read our story.

FAQ

What is Kotcha?

Kotcha is an AI running coach app co-founded with Eliud Kipchoge and joined by Kilian Jornet. It builds a personalised plan for road and trail races and adapts it every week based on how you train and feel.

When did Kotcha launch?

Kotcha launched on iPhone on October 23, 2025, during New York City Marathon week. The Android app followed in January 2026.

Is Kotcha for beginners or experienced runners?

Both. Kotcha has My First 5K and My First 10K plans for beginners, and plans up to the marathon and trail races for experienced runners.