Train531 Is Live
Every Tuesday I ship something. This week it is Train531, and I already have my first paying subscriber who is not me.
Train531 is a strength training app for iPhone and iPad built around Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 program. If you have ever run 5/3/1 you know the deal: it is a proven system, but managing the percentages, picking supplemental templates, and programming accessories gets tedious fast. Most people end up with a spreadsheet. Train531 replaces the spreadsheet with an AI coach that actually knows the program.
How it works
You enter your training maxes and the app handles the rest. It calculates your warmup sets, working sets, and AMRAP sets using Wendler’s percentages. Then the AI picks your supplemental template (BBB, FSL, SSL) and fills in your accessories based on what you’ve been doing and what equipment you have. You open the app, your workout is ready, you go lift.
It also detects PRs automatically using the Epley formula and tracks your estimated 1RM over time. The AI coach gives you actual feedback on the trends instead of just showing you a graph.
What else is in there
- 50+ pre-loaded exercises with muscle group tagging
- Smart rest timers that adjust by set type (60 seconds for warmups, 120 for working sets, 180 for AMRAPs)
- Mid-workout exercise swapping if your rack is taken or something hurts
- iCloud sync across all your devices
Why I built it
I’ve been running 5/3/1 on and off for years. Every app I found was either a basic percentage calculator or a bloated social fitness platform that wanted me to post transformation photos. I wanted something that just runs the program correctly and gets smarter about my accessories over time. No social feeds, no transformation galleries.
Pricing
The app is free to try with 10 complete workouts, no credit card required. After that it is $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year for unlimited workouts and full AI coaching.
Check it out at train531.com.