ultraPacer Create Course Flow Re-Design
Overview
ultraPacer is a web tool that helps ultra runners create plans for races and long runs. The tool uses course data and runner preferences to generate split-time tables, which users can further customize by adding notes.
Date
June 2024
Sprint
3 weeks
Roles
Product Designer
Deliverables
Grayscale mockups
Full case study coming soon
Problem
Course creators needed an easily-digestible flow to quickly set up a complete course and event
Step 1 - Basics (name and source file)
Chunking
The course creation process is broken down into small steps, which gives the user the satisfaction of completing tasks and making progress.
Menu of tasks indicates progress
Step 2 - Source file data (overrides)
Dirty GPX data
GPX files are common, but hard to record properly. Good recording practices are not widely-known or understood, so courses are frequently created with bad source files
Preview of source
Users can “correct”/scale measurements
Workarounds
ultraPacer can’t yet fix problems beyond a certain tolerance, so we suggest a method to improve the source before moving forward
Big adjustments - reversing direction and looping
Final specs after overrides and loops
Step 3 - Add waypoints
Crew logistics
This modal is triggered by selecting “Crew” for a waypoint. It is a crucial early step in making ultraPacer more useful to the crew user
Waypoints - the cornerstone of ultraPacer
The splits in ultraPacer are based on waypoint locations. The accuracy of athlete plans depends on properly placed waypoints.
Flexible controls and concise instructions
Simultaneous pin tracking on course map and elevation profile
Default Start and Finish waypoints
Instructions collapse to save real estate
Flexible controls allow for precise adjustments
Mutually exclusive waypoint types
Individually select most important waypoint amenities for athlete planning
Step 4 - Add terrain
Terrain - an underutilized course feature
Adding terrain was not a part of the previous course creation form, the importance of terrain for athlete plans was not highlighted, and the interface was difficult to use.
Order and momentum
I hope that users will carry the momentum from the previous step into this oft-neglected part of course setup, rather than leave this time- and detail-intensive task until later in the process
Benefits of feature explained
Controls function similarly to the previous step, affording immediacy of use
Default nodes create the first segment, demonstrating function of the tool
Selecting a node highlights it in the map, elevation profile, and the table
Step 5 - Event and page setup
Future users
Race directors don’t like to repeat tasks - the main reason we’re not seeing the level of engagement that we want from this type of user - so we are creating a comprehensive tool that makes the task of providing course and event info easier.
Non-race courses
This and the final step do not apply to our adventure runner users, which is why these are relegated to the end of the flow - the prior steps are universally applicable
Basic time and location data for athletes creating a plan on the course
Links and files help make the course page a viable race website replacement
Step 6 - Add cutoffs
Order of event setup
This step is closely related to waypoint setup, but it is contingent on event setup - the cutoff times are relative to event start time
User can check waypoint setup one last time before publishing the course
Creating an event
Toggling time format allows race directors to think in terms of their permit, making it easier to use this as a high-level event planning tool instead of merely recreating an existing event plan
Simple interface prevents mistakes by requiring selection before cutoff input
Next steps
This flow and the new interfaces within it need to be tested. Analytics need to be looked at to measure changes in engagement with the terrain feature, which was a big area of focus in re-working the flow. More input from race directors will help us continue to flesh out the courses and add to/adjust the flow.
Future plans
The course page is being re-designed to better highlight some of the course features built into the creation flow. The flow will expand with a preview of the course page, where creators can flesh out the course and event with more detail
Drop me a line
stevenmcastner@gmail.com
More Work
ultraPacer Athlete Dashboard
Run smarter to run harder
Client: ultraPacer
Role: Product Designer | Content Designer
ultraPacer Pre-race Email
Getting everyone on the same sole page
Client: ultraPacer
Role: Product Designer | Content Designer
Framewrk Launch Project
Reframing a product and its users.
Client: Framewrk
Role: Product Designer | UX Researcher
ultraPacer Compare Activity
Performance vs. the script
Client: ultraPacer
Role: Product Designer | Content Designer
