Suggestion New forum: transitioning to barefoor running

#3
We've had this discussion time and again. The consensus was THAT the best place for new barefoot runners to go for advice is the main forum where the experienced barefoot runners frequent. This could be a topic instead of a forum and perhaps stickied.
 
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#4
Barefoot TJ said:
This could be a topic instead of a forum and perhaps stickied.
Click to expand...

That'd work!

Professionally I spend a lot of time with UI/UX and if this topic keeps coming up it means your users have an expectation that's not being met in one way or another. To keep this topic from recurring it's best to find a way to meet the user's expectations. So, if a separate forum isn't desired a sticky would be a good way to test if that satisifies user expectations.

Any time I see the same question being brought up and answered I flag that as a design flaw that's on me to address not a user education issue. That and I don't like answering the same question all the time. :)
 
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#5
You don't suppose we've been doing this for awhile and that these existing forums were created by interest and desire from the membership?

If this weren't such an important topic (perhaps the most) that demands constant mentorship, the forum would surely have been created by now.

It's not really a matter of the "same question popping up all the time." Most runners are unique just like their experiences. The advice veterans give to these runners is also unique based on that runner's lifestyle (do they live barefoot day-to-day; if so, for how long?), running experience (what type, how long, how far, how fast, in what footwear, etc.?), past footwear preference (bulky trainers, flats, minimalist, spikes, etc.), willingness/openness to the advice being given, etc. As you know, there are many variables to consider when giving good, safe running advice.

A Beginners forum could be interpreted as exactly that, one where beginners frequent, one absent of veterans/more experienced barefoot/minimalist runners. Some have said having a dedicated Beginners forum would be like the blind leading the blind, and it would be irresponsible of us to foster it, especially when there's no guarantee that a veteran will be the one who responds to questions that should be answered by only a veteran. There's no guarantee that the experienced barefoot/minimalist runners will always be present to answer important questions about how best to start in a new forum or an existing forum, but there's a better chance of having these questions answered in the main, more established, forum by the more experienced runners.

Just as we do not split up the Barefoot/Minimalist forum, the founders and I decided years ago that we would not separate the beginners from the veterans for these reasons.

We do have a Library that once included a Barefoot 101 section at one point, but it was taken down since it was lacking. As you know, this is an all-volunteer club. If you or others would like to contribute to the Library's Barefoot 101 section, we would more than appreciate it. The beginners support starts somewhere in the middle of page 2 in the Library. It needs work. This would be a good project for beginners, such as Jaap, and veterans, such as yourself, to work together to lay out many of the questions and answers you forsee, considering as many variables as possible. I would suggest contacting Ken Bob for his assistance or at least to request the use of some of his Beginner material from his site. I'm sure he would not mind as he is the BRS's Senior Advisor. I suggest we also have a stickied thread in the main forum titled Beginners Start Here and pointing them to the Library, then back to the main forum for follow-up. We happen to have a new Library module just waiting for a project like this. I would love to turn it over to you. Think about it. Let me know.
 
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#6
I don't mean in the least to suggest you and the team aren't doing an exceptional job. This is such a fringe sport, too, and the pool of fresh volunteers to help with forums and the like must be exhaustingly small. My intent with that last comment was to be more about my own approach and how I also struggle with trying to meet user expectations but resulted in a failed attempt to show empathy with what you're trying to achieve.

Maybe in lieu of a sticky I could work out a post to the barefoot & minimalist running section geared toward beginner questions? There are certainly a couple topics there that have been around for years that keep getting new replies and stay toward the top so it'd be on me to keep it fresh by answering questions and occasionally bumping it toward the top whenever I get one of my random musings going?
 
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#7
Not only that, but it's also good for the site when the same old topics get discussed over and over again, even spawning new threads, because it helps to keep the content current and in the rankings.

It would be great if we had a Beginners Section in the Library.
 
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#8
For what its worth -when I started I actually quite enjoyed foraging around amongst the various forums and articles, etc... stumbling across stuff here and there, and then posting the odd question (which were always answered by someone I should say)... -Made it feel like a rewarding 'project' that constantly stimulated interest for more information...
(...of course it could just be me being a bit weird...;))
 
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#10
@Barefoot TJ , thanks for taking the time to sit down and explain why you chose to not have a beginners forum.
It makes even sense to me ;-). I can imagine making the same decision if i were in your position.

But to be honest, this still leaves me with the problem of finding the right information.
For exanple, earlier this week i was interested in cadence.
Doing a search gives 10 pages of 'hits' - that's a lot of clicking and reading.
I would have expected 'sticky notes' or 'topic' pages. Something like:
- fat pads
- foot lifting
- bending knees
- toughness of soles
- cadence
- relax
- leaning forward versus up-right
- calves
- achilles
- ....
 
#11
Jaap Francke said:
@Barefoot TJ , thanks for taking the time to sit down and explain why you chose to not have a beginners forum.
It makes even sense to me ;-). I can imagine making the same decision if i were in your position.

But to be honest, this still leaves me with the problem of finding the right information.
For exanple, earlier this week i was interested in cadence.
Doing a search gives 10 pages of 'hits' - that's a lot of clicking and reading.
I would have expected 'sticky notes' or 'topic' pages. Something like:
- fat pads
- foot lifting
- bending knees
- toughness of soles
- cadence
- relax
- leaning forward versus up-right
- calves
- achilles
- ....
Click to expand...
Again, if you would like to help out by contributing time and research to the Library to ask/answer these types of questions, it would be much appreciated. Some veterans should hopefully step up to help you out.

Otherwise, please feel free to post your questions in the main forum, Barefoot & Minimalist Running. That way, you don't have to search and search.
 
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