daily-morning-routine-alice-personal
Alice's couch-to-5K morning routine with training context and recovery protocols.
When & Why to Use This Skill
This Claude skill serves as a comprehensive personal training playbook for the Couch-to-5K (C25K) program. It automates the generation of a data-driven morning routine by integrating sleep metrics, training progress, and recovery protocols. By analyzing Resting Heart Rate (RHR), sleep duration, and muscle soreness, it provides actionable guidance on workout readiness, ensuring optimal performance and injury prevention through structured decision-making.
Use Cases
- Personalized Training Briefs: Generate a daily morning report that combines current C25K week/day status with specific workout goals and interval instructions.
- Recovery-Based Decision Making: Use the built-in decision tree to determine 'Run Readiness' by evaluating physiological signals like RHR and DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).
- Automated Nutrition & Hydration Planning: Receive tailored caloric targets and timing protocols for pre-run fueling and post-run recovery based on the day's training intensity.
- Overtraining Prevention: Monitor long-term fatigue signals and receive proactive recommendations to swap training days for rest days when recovery metrics are sub-optimal.
| name | daily-morning-routine-alice-personal |
|---|---|
| description | Alice's couch-to-5K morning routine with training context and recovery protocols. |
| extends | daily-morning-routine-base |
Daily Morning Routine - Personal Extensions (Couch-to-5K Example)
Extends: daily-morning-routine-base
This skill adds personal protocols for couch-to-5K training, including recovery metrics, training plan context, and run-day readiness assessment.
Sleep Data Integration
When generating morning brief, include sleep data if available (from Garmin or user report):
## Sleep & Recovery
- **Sleep Duration:** [X] hours (Target: 7-8 hrs on training days)
- **Sleep Quality:** [Garmin score if available]
- **Resting Heart Rate:** [bpm] (Track for overtraining - elevated RHR = potential issue)
- **Assessment:** [Well-rested / Under-rested / Overtrained signals]
Interpretation guidance:
- 7-8 hrs sleep: Optimal for training days, expect good performance
- <7 hrs: Sub-optimal recovery, consider easier workout or rest
- >8 hrs: Excellent recovery, body is adapting well
- RHR elevated 5+ bpm: Possible overtraining or illness, consider rest day
Training Plan Status
Include current week and day in morning brief:
## Training Status
- **Current:** Week 4, Day 2 (W4-D2)
- **Today's Workout:** Run 5min / Walk 1min, repeat 8x
- **This Week's Progress:** 2 of 3 workouts complete
- **Next Milestone:** Week 5 - first 20min continuous run
C25K typical week structure:
- Week 1-2: Short run/walk intervals, building baseline
- Week 3-4: Longer runs, fewer walk breaks
- Week 5-6: Extended continuous runs (20+ minutes)
- Week 7-8: Full 3-mile runs, race prep
Recovery Metrics & Run Readiness
Include in morning brief when relevant:
## Recovery Assessment
- **Soreness:** [None / Light / Moderate / Significant]
- Locations: [Quads / Calves / Shins / Other]
- **Energy Level:** [Low / Moderate / High]
- **Motivation:** [Reluctant / Neutral / Eager]
- **Yesterday's Run:** [Rest day / Easy / Hard]
- **Run Readiness:** [Ready / Marginal / Not ready - rest day recommended]
Decision tree for run readiness:
- Ready to run: Well-rested (7+ hrs), low-moderate soreness, normal RHR
- Marginal: Under-rested OR moderate soreness OR slightly elevated RHR
- Consider: Easier/shorter workout, or swap rest day
- Not ready: Poor sleep AND high soreness AND elevated RHR
- Recommendation: Take rest day, allow recovery
Nutrition & Hydration Plan
Include today's nutrition targets:
## Today's Nutrition Plan
- **Run Day:** Yes - 2000-2300 calories
- Pre-run (90min before): Light carbs (banana, toast)
- Post-run (within 30min): Protein + carbs (shake, eggs + toast)
- Hydration: 10+ glasses, extra 16oz post-run
- **Rest Day:** 1800-2000 calories
- Focus: Protein for recovery
- Hydration: 8-10 glasses
Run Day Protocols
Run day vs. rest day decision:
Run Day (3x per week):
- Pre-run fuel: Banana or toast with PB, 90min before
- Warm-up: 5min walk before run intervals
- Cool-down: 5min walk after run intervals
- Post-run: Protein within 30min, stretch major muscle groups
- Afternoon: Light activity okay, foam roll if needed
Rest Day (4x per week):
- Active recovery encouraged: Walk 15-30min, yoga, stretching
- NO running - allow muscle repair and adaptation
- Focus on sleep and nutrition
- Foam rolling and mobility work
Listen to body signals:
- Sharp pain → stop immediately, assess injury
- Normal muscle fatigue → expected, continue
- Excessive breathlessness → slow pace, stay aerobic
- Nausea / dizziness → stop, hydrate, check nutrition timing
Morning State Assessment
Enhanced recognition for training context:
Post-Run Day (DOMS Expected):
- Muscle soreness 24-48hrs after run = normal
- Light/moderate soreness = good adaptation signal
- Severe soreness = possible overtraining, consider extra rest
- No soreness by Week 4+ = body adapting well
Pre-Run Day (Readiness Check):
- Eager and energized → great, enjoy the run
- Reluctant but not sore → mental resistance, usually goes away after warm-up
- Reluctant + sore + tired → body needs rest, don't force it
Overtraining Signals:
- Persistent fatigue despite rest
- Elevated resting heart rate (5+ bpm above baseline)
- Poor sleep quality consistently
- Declining performance (slower pace at same effort)
- Loss of motivation lasting multiple days
- Action: Take extra rest day, reduce volume for 3-5 days
Example Morning Brief Snippet
## Ground Truth
Today is Thursday, November 21, 2025
W4-D3 (Week 4, Day 3 - Training Day)
---
## Sleep & Recovery
- **Sleep Duration:** 7.2 hours (Target: 7-8 hrs)
- **Garmin Sleep Score:** 81/100 (Good)
- **Resting Heart Rate:** 58 bpm (baseline 56-58, normal)
- **Assessment:** Well-rested, ready for training
---
## Training Status
- **Current:** Week 4, Day 3 (W4-D3)
- **Today's Workout:** Run 5min / Walk 1min, repeat 8x (same as W4-D2)
- **This Week's Progress:** 2 of 3 workouts complete
- **Next Milestone:** Week 5 starts Monday - first 20min continuous run
---
## Recovery Assessment
- **Soreness:** Light (2/5) - quads slightly tight from yesterday
- **Locations:** Quads primarily, calves minor
- **Energy Level:** High - feel rested and ready
- **Motivation:** Eager - excited to repeat yesterday's strong performance
- **Yesterday's Run:** W4-D2 completed, 3.2mi @ 10:45/mi pace
- **Run Readiness:** ✓ Ready - all signals green
---
## Yesterday's Snapshot
- Completed W4-D2: 8x (Run 5min, Walk 1min) = 3.2 miles
- Pace: 10:45/mi average (improving, was 11:15 in Week 2)
- HR: Stayed in Z2 (78% time in aerobic zone)
- Post-run recovery: Protein shake + stretching
- Evening: Light walk, foam rolling
- Nutrition: 2100 cal, hit targets
- Soreness: Developed expected DOMS, manageable
## Today's Nutrition Plan
- **Run Day:** 2000-2300 calories target
- 06:45 Pre-run: Banana + water (90min before run)
- 08:15 Post-run: Protein shake + eggs/toast (within 30min)
- Throughout day: 10+ glasses water, extra 16oz post-run
- Focus: Protein for recovery, moderate carbs for energy
## Today's Focus
- Repeat W4-D2 workout: 8x (Run 5min / Walk 1min)
- Goal: Match or improve yesterday's 10:45 pace while staying Z2
- Watch: Quad soreness - if increases during run, back off pace
- Pre-run: Banana at 06:45, run at 08:15
- Post-run: Immediate protein, stretching, hydration
- Track: Pace, HR zones, how quads respond to back-to-back runs
Integration Notes
- Reference base framework for core morning routine process
- Add sleep data, training status, and recovery assessment as above
- Adapt brief length to morning state (tired = shorter, energized = can handle detail)
- Run readiness check is key decision point - override plan if not ready
- Nutrition timing particularly important on run days
- DOMS is expected and normal - distinguish from injury pain
- Training plan provides structure, but listen to body signals