Why I needed more than Garmin Connect

I’ve used Garmin for years — like most triathletes, I love the gear, the data, and the structure. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was logging all this effort and not really learning anything from it. I’d finish a swim, a run, or a hard ride… and stare at the numbers. HR. Pace. Power. TSS. Recovery time. But the real question — "So what?" — never got answered.

I didn’t want a coach. I didn’t need another dashboard. I just wanted someone (or something) to look at the data and say: “Here’s what mattered.”

That’s why I started building Athlin.

Data doesn’t equal insight

Garmin Connect does a great job showing you what happened. But it doesn’t help you understand it — not in a way that fits into a busy life, and definitely not in a way that adjusts to your goals.

The truth is, most training apps don’t explain the why behind the numbers. Garmin gives you a ton of data, but it’s up to you to figure out what to do with it. That works for some people — especially pros or coached athletes.

I’ve got two kids, a business, and a triathlon season to train for. I need clarity, not complexity.

What I needed from my training data

What I really wanted was this:

• A simple summary after each session

• A clear answer to: “Was that enough?”

• A heads-up when my recovery was slipping

• No dashboards. No fluff.

That’s the foundation of Athlin. It doesn’t plan your training — it helps you understand the training you did. It's your reflection engine, not your planner.

Where it’s going

We’re starting with Garmin, because that’s what I use daily. But I know there are more people like me — using watches and apps they trust, but still feeling lost after each workout.

Athlin is for us. Athletes who train seriously, but don’t have time to overanalyze. People who want to improve, not just track.

If you’re one of them, join the waitlist. I’d love to have you on this journey.