Question 1

How does PaceForge build my plan?

Accepted Answer

PaceForge connects to your Strava account and reads your last 90 days of running data — mileage, pace, heart rate, and long runs. You also tell us your race goal, PRs, preferred training days, and any injury history. All of this is used to generate a structured 4-phase periodized plan tailored to where you actually are, not a generic template. On Unlock or Coach+, a real endurance coach then reviews the plan within 48 hours and adds personal phase notes.

Question 2

What are the 4 phases?

Accepted Answer

Base builds aerobic foundation through consistent easy running. Build introduces quality sessions — threshold, tempo, hills, fartlek. Race specific is your highest-volume and highest-intensity block. It includes race-specific workouts and shorter, faster efforts. Taper reduces load over the final 2–3 weeks so you arrive at the start line fresh and ready.

Question 3

What if my goal time isn't realistic?

Accepted Answer

We check it for you. Your plan estimates your current fitness from your Strava history (or your PRs, if Strava data isn't enough) and projects where that fitness realistically lands by race day given your plan's length. If your stated goal implies faster gains than that build can support, we show you an achievable goal time and pace instead, along with a note on why — usually pointing to a longer build or a less aggressive target. If your projected fitness is well ahead of your stated goal, we'll tell you that too — you might be able to aim faster than you think.

Question 4

What distances does PaceForge support?

Accepted Answer

We support any running distance from 1500m through the marathon. Plans are fully adjusted for the demands of your chosen event — a 1500m plan looks very different from a marathon plan in terms of intensity distribution, long run structure, and quality session types.

Question 5

What Strava permissions does PaceForge need?

Accepted Answer

Only read access to your activity history and athlete profile — enough to calculate your fitness baseline. We can never post to Strava or modify your data on your behalf, and you can disconnect at any time from your account settings.

Question 6

Do I need Strava to use PaceForge?

Accepted Answer

Yes — your plan is built entirely from your Strava activity history, so a connected Strava account is required to generate one. If you track your training somewhere else, let us know through support; it helps us decide which platform to support next.

Question 7

What's included in each tier?

Accepted Answer

Free gives you a 90-day Strava analysis and a full 4-week Base phase, no card required. Unlock (€39, one-time) gets you the full 4-phase plan plus a coach review within 48 hours and a PDF export. Coach+ (€79/month, 2-month minimum) adds weekly coach check-ins throughout your plan plus a dedicated race-week check-in, and an adaptive plan that rebalances if you miss weeks or life happens.

Question 8

Does Coach+ keep billing me after my race?

Accepted Answer

No — Coach+ automatically cancels on your race day, so you're never charged for a plan you no longer need.

Question 9

Can I switch from Coach+ back to Unlock?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can downgrade from Coach+ to Unlock at any time from your account settings.

Question 10

Does upgrading to Coach+ cost extra on top of Unlock?

Accepted Answer

No — the total is the same either way. Buying Coach+ directly bundles the €39 Unlock fee into that same charge, and if you've already bought Unlock separately, upgrading to Coach+ only charges the €79/month subscription — you're never charged for Unlock twice.

Question 11

Can I get a refund on Unlock?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in full, as long as your coach hasn't started reviewing your plan yet. Once review has begun, the purchase is non-refundable since coaching time has already been committed.

Question 12

How do I cancel Coach+?

Accepted Answer

Cancel any time from your account settings, subject to the 2-month minimum commitment. Cancelling stops future billing but doesn't refund charges already made — unless your coach hasn't started reviewing your plan yet, in which case all Coach+ charges are refundable in full under the same terms as an Unlock refund.

Question 13

Do I lose my plan if I cancel Coach+?

Accepted Answer

No. Cancelling or downgrading Coach+ keeps your full unlocked plan, coach notes, and PDF export — you only lose the ongoing check-ins and adaptive adjustments that come with Coach+.

Question 14

Who reviews my plan?

Accepted Answer

Your plan is reviewed by Ivan G., an endurance coach with personal experience at Bulgarian national championship level (10th place — 5000m Outdoors, Bulgarian National Championships) and a track record of coaching athletes to national XC medals and top-25 World Stage results in orienteering. He reads your full plan, PRs, and injury history before leaving his notes — it's not a rubber stamp.

Question 15

What happens to my data if I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

We erase your personal data within 30 days of account deletion, except billing records we're legally required to retain. See our Privacy Policy for the full details, including your rights under GDPR.

Frequently Asked Questions.