just did it.

I would like to invite my running sistas and bros to participate in this humble art project of mine.

I have been whining realized lately that running has become a pretty expensive activity for me. Racing fees (which isn’t getting any cheaper these days. Whine!), fancy-drifit running pants, fuel belt(s), gels, running sunglasses (hehe), fancy-astronautworthy-gps watch (want!)…the list goes on. I guess it’s an inevitable progression of a hobby/addiction.

But before we make it a hobby, turn it into an addiction, temper it into a habit, we had to start somewhere. It’s that pair of running shoes, now battered and all squishy. The one you bought in spite of so many broken New Year resolutions. Only it turned out you managed to stick to it this time, and in the process discovered the many little joys/epiphanies/lessons that the pair of shoes have taught you.

Running is mostly a solitary activity (for me at least), but I always found my steps lighter when I run next to someone, our paces matching. A nod of encouragement, or a sense of competition, will spur you further. So running is also essentially a collaborative effort.

I want to make a collaborative document of our running shoes, in doodles. And how far those shoes have taken us.

This project is open to anyone who’s into running (or trying to get into running), regardless of your level. Here’s how to participate in this little art project:

1. Send me a clear photo of your running shoes. The photo must be taken by yourself (as in don’t send me photo from shoe website catalogue, where’s the fun in that, right?)
2. Your name, and your shoes’ model and make.
3. Tell me the proudest moment you had when you were in those exact shoes (personal best in a 10K, finished a full marathon, finished your first race ever, realized you’re no longer gasping on the treadmill the first 5 minutes, anything.).
4. Email me at mimi.mashud@gmail.com with the subject ‘JUST FOR KICKS Project – (Your Name)’.

That’s all.

I will be posting the doodles on Facebook and Tumblr once they’re done. Who knows, if the response is really good, perhaps I’ll compile them into some sort of e-Book, we’ll wing it as we go along.

Let’s run together!