ASICS Runkeeper
Guided Workouts
Guided Workouts is an audio coach feature in the ASICS Runkeeper app designed to provide users the unique opportunity to train with a coach in their ear.
With workouts backed by professional coaches and sports scientists, users have the guidance and motivation they need to build a running habit, achieve their goals, and reach the finish line feeling strong.
My Role
UI | Prototyping | Graphic Design
Year Launched
2021
THe USER Problem
Users join ASICS Runkeeper to achieve their fitness goals through running but don’t know how to get started. The evidence? Only 27% of new users tracked their first run during their first week of using Runkeeper.
The Business Problem
ASICS, our parent company, wanted to build a relationship with and support runners on their running journey, but had struggled to do so. We as ASICS Runkeeper also needed a way to increase our number of new and engaged users.
The GOal
Provide users with an experience that contains guidance and encouragement which will motivate them to start running and keep running.
The solution will also allow ASICS to connect our users with their brand’s athletes and sports scientists.
The Process
Who is our user?
The majority of our users are who we classify as Fitness Runners. People who are not hard-core Olympian athletes, but choose to run because they want to maintain a healthy mind and body.
What did we find?
We analyzed how our competitors assist their users and observed that many of them were adopting virtual coaching. This was great news for us because we already had our own virtual coach in place. Specifically, in 2019, Runkeeper introduced a running pack named My First 5K, which includes a series of audio-guided workouts with a coach. Since its release, we have seen positive conversion rates, and it has become a beloved program among our users – it remains popular to this day!
A few things we learned from asking users about their experience with the My First 5K program are:
Users loved the caring, personal, motivational, and human approach of Coach Erin’s guidance
Users noted the program felt more personal than other programs they tried in the past
Users had more confidence in achieving their fitness goal (e.g. running a 5K)
“[Coach] Erin says the right things at the right times.”
”My First 5K feels like a running buddy!”
”I would run through the wall for [Coach] Erin.”
After determining the success of My First 5K, and getting overwhelming requests for another program, the next step was to explore opportunities for expansion. The solution was clear: create a home for additional audio coach-led workouts!
To ensure a satisfying experience for Fitness Runner users, we conducted interviews to better understand their expectations and identify their needs and pain points.
User Interview Results
Fitness Runners are looking for guidance on how to be well-rounded athletes
Fitness Runners are interested in mindfulness, whole body health, and gradual leveling up
Fitness Runners want to be entertained
They want to be distracted through the difficult parts of a tough workout
They don't necessarily love running but want a companion to coach and/or entertain them through their run
Users trust our existing coach and content and will trust new content!
the User Journey
As we were mapping out the user journey, we had to take into account two types of workouts we were developing: individual workouts and plans consisting of multiple workouts. Additionally, we needed to devise strategies to attract users to our premium subscription, Runkeeper Go. Building upon the successful pay model of My First 5K, we made the decision to offer the first three workouts of a multi-workout plan for free, while the remaining workouts would be accessible through the app's subscription features.
WireframE Brainstorm
Usability Test Findings
After conducting usability tests on the wireframes we found that:
Users understood and loved the new audio coaching designs
Users wanted to quickly understand if a program is appropriate for their ability level (we made adjustments to the design afterwards to address this)
Users rating on a scale of 1-5 their likeliness and confidence in using the feature (5 being the most likely)
The DESIGN
Guided Workouts launched! 🎉
In June 2021, Guided Workouts launched on ASICS Runkeeper for all English locales. It was later released in Japan in September 2021. In the year since Guided Workouts launched, there have been over 873,000 Guided Workouts started by 193,000+ unique users.
Over 873K Guided Workouts have been started by 193K+ unique users
in the year since the 2021 launch
What users have to say…
”I feel like I’m running with a running friend who I’ve never had before.”
”I don’t do the social thing, this is my thing, literally my thing!”
”I like Guided Workouts because it pushed me at the end even when I was really tired.”
”My husband would be proud… I’ve never missed a workout.”
”Wow! Look at me. I can do 5Ks!”
Reflections
We successfully shipped the feature and I'm extremely proud of what our team has accomplished. Our hard work and dedication has truly paid off, resulting in a smooth user experience and positive feedback from our users. However, it is important to acknowledge that there is always room for improvement. We recognize that this iteration of Guided Workouts is not the final version and there is still much work to be done in order to provide an even more enriching and personalized user experience. With the valuable input and insights from our users, we are confident that future updates will further enhance the meaningful impact of Guided Workouts.