Faire, a conceptual run tech company.

Remixing Workouts for Distance Runners

Faire Run Remix allows distance runners to "remix" pre-made run plans from trusted creators and edit suggested run workouts quickly from within Faire's Run Calendar. Distance runners can stick to their 16+ week running plans when life gets in the way, and be consistent with their goals by having an easier time with the populating process of managing a run plan.

Role

Product Design, UX Design, Strategy

Duration

1 Week

Overview

Training for my first marathon had me lost in a complicated world using multiple running plan PDFs, Apple Notes, Calendar, Strava, and Garmin Connect to schedule my runs.

Local runners I asked have their own unique ways of planning runs in their schedule, but we came together with one common complaint: complex and inflexible planning leads to missing run workouts and not feeling ready on race day.

Faire attempts to bridge the gap between calendars, running plans, and running data. Faire focuses on an all-in-one work workout and plan scheduler that supports run specifics like pace and heart rate zones.

Where Run Creation is Falling Short

Apps like Garmin Connect have a cumbersome process to create a run workout, and the only workouts that already exist are centered around stretching.

Similarly, Garmin has very few pre-made workout plans, which don't go past a half marathon. This misses out on all the marathoners and iron mans.

There are other opportunities to use popular plans, but they are either silo'ed off behind a paywall or hidden away inside a Youtube video.

Either way, you have two options: go down a long process by starting from scratch, or use an unchangeable pre-made plan.

Creating workouts and run schedules can be made simpler by using pre-made content that's easy to remix.

Remixing a Run

Creating a run workout is how the calendar view is populated, so it's important that this process is quick and easy. That begins with suggested workouts that are filled in with the ability to remix.

Trusted Run Plans

Having pre-made plans and suggested workouts makes the barrier of entry much lower for runners making a schedule. This gives new users a place to start, and expert runners a quicker way to create a run.

Some popular running plans are locked behind pay walls or need to be copied from within a Youtube video. By having Running Plans created by people you trust from within the app, runners have a way to begin their plan within the app.

From Faire

In addition to trusted run plan creators, Faire creates its own suggested run based on previous performance of each individual user so that high quality content is available from the beginning.

Remixing from anywhere

Runners are able to remix existing runs from the home screen and any step in the creation process.

Reflection

Running apps are some of the only third party apps I use on my phone, so I had a lot of opinions and ideas to think about. I was also able to have lot of runners available for feedback through my local running groups. This project taught me:

  • If stuck on content, research may be incomplete.

  • There's a fine line between too simple and overly complicated. Our job is to let others define that line for you.

Get in Touch

About

Ethan leads and supports product lifecycles from strategy to launch. He has experiences crafting user experiences, identities, and seamless digital interactions. This portfolio is a reflection of the current work of Ethan Watson

Faire, a conceptual run tech company.

Remixing Workouts for Distance Runners

Faire Run Remix allows distance runners to "remix" pre-made run plans from trusted creators and edit suggested run workouts quickly from within Faire's Run Calendar. Distance runners can stick to their 16+ week running plans when life gets in the way, and be consistent with their goals by having an easier time with the populating process of managing a run plan.

Role

Product Design, UX Design, Strategy

Duration

1 Week

Overview

Training for my first marathon had me lost in a complicated world using multiple running plan PDFs, Apple Notes, Calendar, Strava, and Garmin Connect to schedule my runs.

Local runners I asked have their own unique ways of planning runs in their schedule, but we came together with one common complaint: complex and inflexible planning leads to missing run workouts and not feeling ready on race day.

Faire attempts to bridge the gap between calendars, running plans, and running data. Faire focuses on an all-in-one work workout and plan scheduler that supports run specifics like pace and heart rate zones.

Where Run Creation is Falling Short

Apps like Garmin Connect have a cumbersome process to create a run workout, and the only workouts that already exist are centered around stretching.

Similarly, Garmin has very few pre-made workout plans, which don't go past a half marathon. This misses out on all the marathoners and iron mans.

There are other opportunities to use popular plans, but they are either silo'ed off behind a paywall or hidden away inside a Youtube video.

Either way, you have two options: go down a long process by starting from scratch, or use an unchangeable pre-made plan.

Creating workouts and run schedules can be made simpler by using pre-made content that's easy to remix.

Remixing a Run

Creating a run workout is how the calendar view is populated, so it's important that this process is quick and easy. That begins with suggested workouts that are filled in with the ability to remix.

Trusted Run Plans

Having pre-made plans and suggested workouts makes the barrier of entry much lower for runners making a schedule. This gives new users a place to start, and expert runners a quicker way to create a run.

Some popular running plans are locked behind pay walls or need to be copied from within a Youtube video. By having Running Plans created by people you trust from within the app, runners have a way to begin their plan within the app.

From Faire

In addition to trusted run plan creators, Faire creates its own suggested run based on previous performance of each individual user so that high quality content is available from the beginning.

Remixing from anywhere

Runners are able to remix existing runs from the home screen and any step in the creation process.

Reflection

Running apps are some of the only third party apps I use on my phone, so I had a lot of opinions and ideas to think about. I was also able to have lot of runners available for feedback through my local running groups. This project taught me:

  • If stuck on content, research may be incomplete.

  • There's a fine line between too simple and overly complicated. Our job is to let others define that line for you.

Get in Touch

About

Ethan leads and supports product lifecycles from strategy to launch. He has experiences crafting user experiences, identities, and seamless digital interactions. This portfolio is a reflection of the current work of Ethan Watson