Meet My Good Friend, ChatGPT!

Allow me to introduce you to my good friend, ChatGPT. We’ve known each other less than a year, but I have to say that I have come to appreciate the expertise Chat provides.

Are You Crazy?

That’s for you to decide. I mean, I am quite aware of a number of serious concerns about Artificial Intelligence. Add me to the list of those who are greatly troubled by the economic and environmental impact of data centers. And don’t get me started on the absolutely frightening fears of what an unregulated AI could do in the wrong hands.

Let me put it another way. I’ve not only watched all the Terminator movies but also read every Avengers comic book where Ultron - the personification of an evil AI - nearly destroys the world. I’ve had more than one nightmare regarding all of it.

But for me, AI has become a helpful resource.

ChatGPT in My World

My first adventures with AI occurred with this blog when I used it to craft several pictures into a comic book images in a post last October. I was totally amazed at the images it created from pictures I attached.

The fun continued in subsequent post last December, culminating in my fun take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” where AI crafted a number of clever images, including a series of delightful movie posters that I had to choose from.

Around that time, I also started asking ChatGPT about healthy meals for certain occasions. A fun example AI developing a “Laura Nyro Dinner” when my wife said she’d never heard of this singer-songwriter. ChapGPT offered the recipe for an amazing and nutrient-rich dinner. Since then it’s developed cards for a multitude of recipes, including wine and musical recommendations.

What Does This Have to Do With Running?

I first utilized AI following my recovery from surgery on my torn meniscus. Out of curiosity, I asked it about the training schedule provided by the physical therapist I was working with. To my relief, it’s guidance mirrored that of the therapist.

Raising the bar, I then asked about the origins of my torn meniscus. It referenced the sore quads I’d experienced prior to the tear as a “red flag” that something was wrong. Likewise, when asked, ChapGPT indicated a minor connection between a troublesome IT band and that meniscus.

From there, AI has taken on a greater role with my running. Quickly realizing that ChatGPT remembers our previous “conversations” - that being more than a bit jarring a notion! - my inquires have become more frequent and specific.

As another example, there was a brief few days where I felt occasional twinges in that meniscus. In lieu of asking either PT or my running coach, I posed this question to ChatGPT. The response indicated that those sensations were not unexpected given my return to running but shouldn’t be an issue. Which proved an accurate assessment.

To address a couple other areas slow to return to running condition, I had ChatGPT revise my warmup exercises. The series of leg swings and motions has indeed addressed those issues, making me feel stronger when I start my running.

I’ve also incorporated a few exercises to “wake up” a sore hamstring, having it and my glutes activated prior to running.

There Are Limitations

While I have found ChatGPT highly useful for running - as well as special events like last April’s Karla Bonoff dinner - it is not infallible. I find ChatGPT quite unreliable when researching information for my Iron Man blog. It typically provides information that I know is wrong. That said, I’ve yet to receive a response from it regarding running that has appeared inaccurate.

Thoughts?

While ChapGPT has become a highly useful resource for my running and fitness, there’s no way I see it replacing either Coach Ives (The Body Project) or the talented staff I work with at The Kinetic Edge. Let also assure you that I’ve never used AI with any of the writing on either blog. You can blame me for the mangled phrasing and poor grammar. 🙂

Ending this on a more somber note, there is no question that the role of Artificial Intelligence in our world has yet to be determined. That role could be incredibly uplifting or a nightmare beyond our considerations. But for a sixty-something runner, I cannot deny how much it has helped me.

I would also be very interested in your thoughts.

Gotta say that ChatGPT's added quite a bit to my personal cookbook!