Marcel is an Android app that helps ultramarathon* runners plan nutrition alerts on their smart watches.
I was brought on as the only designer to define the features and create a minimal viable product to launch. I led the user interviews and product design in collaboration with the PM, Founders, and engineers.
*Ultramarathon usually ranges from 50 kilometers (31 miles) to 320 kilometers (200 miles).
Background
“Runners should aim to meet the caloric demands of training by following and individualized and periodized strategy (food-first approach)”.
— International Society of Sports Nutrition
Understanding
Collected 35 questionnaire responses from long-distance runners and conducted 8 in-depth user interviews with advanced athletes.
100% athletes use fitness watches for training and competitions.
63% experienced negative training and competition due to wrong/lack of nutrition.
100% believe right diet/nutrition before, during, and after competition is crucial for success.
Based on research and user interviews, the runner should be able to:
Download the competition trail.
Plan nutritional needs on an hourly intervals.
Add Checkpoints provided by the competition.
Edit interval times.
Add food and drinks for each interval.
Connect and send alerts to the fitness watch.
The first action item is to import the competition route. Every runner has their average kilometers (or miles) per hour and they are able to estimate their race time based on the competition’s total distance.
The simple topographic map is divided according to the runner’s estimated race time. Since many ultra competitions can go beyond a 5-hour mark, the zoom in functionality allows for a clearer view of the planning.
Every competition provides set checkpoints for food, rest, or a meeting point for their supporters. Some runners who have strict dietary needs create their own food bags and pick them up at each checkpoint. Knowing the distance between each checkpoint helps them figure out how much food they need to prepare.
When an hourly interval is clicked, the area becomes highlighted and a planning area slides up. Based on previously entered user’s weight, height, route’s elevation gain, and local climate, the number of carbs needed is suggested. Once the necessary carb requirement has been met, the bar color will change from yellow to green.
The interval list can be scrolled in half-screen mode and full-screen mode, allowing the user to view the map while planning their meals. Once the interval has all the necessary carbs, the interval number changes color from yellow to green.
In this clip, you can see how the user can download a competition trail, create intervals to plan hourly nutrition, and add checkpoints.
Conclusion
Working on a project where I had no domain knowledge was an exciting space to be in. I learned a lot through user interviews and research, empathizing with the ultramarathon runners. It was incredible to see alerts sent to the smart watches. I would have loved to test the design with the athletes and get their feedback to improve on the initial design.
The project is put on a hold while the founders continue to look for funding options.