Program Type – Knowledgebase

Definition

Program Type determines the overall training approach Xert uses to guide your training.

It controls how Xert sets your training targets and recommendations - whether you’re training day-to-day with XATA, or following an outcome-driven plan with Forecast AI.

What It Means

In Xert, you can train using one of two planning approaches:

Adaptive Training Advisor (XATA) Programs

XATA programs provide day-by-day training recommendations based on your current Training Status and goals. Because recommendations update as your training and recovery change, XATA does not schedule workouts in your Fitness Planner ahead of time. You can adjust your Improvement Rate at any time to increase or decrease training demand.

Base–Build–Peak: A structured 120-day progression with a 45-day Base, 45-day Build, and 30-day Peak phase.
Continuous Improvement: Xert’s default adaptive program. Training is guided on a rolling basis (typically a 6-week window). You can adjust Focus/Athlete Type over time to periodize your training.
Challenge: A shorter, higher-motivation 30-day program designed to push you toward new fitness levels within a month.

Forecast AI (XFAI) Programs

Forecast AI (XFAI) programs build an outcome-driven plan based on your current fitness, available time, and a target goal/event/race. Future training targets are shown in your Fitness Planner, and you can complete those targets however you prefer—using structured workouts, outdoor rides, races, or Magic Buckets.

Goal: Train toward a specific power goal (based on a power duration/Athlete Type), including how much you want to improve it by. Forecast AI generates a plan to help you reach that target.
Event: Plan for an upcoming event date. Forecast AI estimates the training load needed based on the event’s XSS demands (Low/High/Peak) and builds a plan—including a taper—so you’re ready on event day.
Race: Uses Race AI to plan toward a target performance based on a ride file (race, group ride, segment effort, etc.), then builds training to help you achieve a similar or improved result.

Changing your Program Type can change the targets and recommendations you see—so choose the one that best matches how you want to train.

Not Sure Which Program to Choose?

See: Choosing the Right Training Plan (XATA vs Forecast AI) (link to your upcoming article)

Where You’ll See It

In the Program tab of your Xert account

Related Terms

Xert Adaptive Training Advisor (XATA)
Xert Forecast AI (XFAI)
Improvement Rate
Training Availability
Goal / Event / Race