Fleet Feet Sports will soon release Runmoji, the first emoji application designed specifically for runners, by runners, with a specific focus on accurately representing both male and female runners, along with their passions and their challenges.
This is partly in response to Apple’s iOS 10 emoji update, which does includes a female runner, but not one to which real-life women are likely to respond. For example, she’s wearing an impractical hairstyle and incorrect shoes, and her running form is atrocious.
Runmoji will provide emojis that depict the genuine culture of running, with representations of people and things — a female runner, male and female runners with strollers, race bibs, a porta-potty, chafed nipples, an aid station, a sports bra and a bagel — as well as common and iconic experiences and emotions, including a new pair of running shoes, crossing the finish line and hitting the wall.
“Emojis are an essential communication tool, and just like running, they transcend age groups — everyone uses them,” said Ellen Donahue, director of marketing for Fleet Feet Sports. “For such a large, passionate, engaged group that heavily uses social media for support, inspiration and connection, there was a surprising lack of meaningful emojis for runners that capture this culture. Fleet Feet Sports’ Runmoji will capture the full spectrum of emotions felt by anyone who runs, and provide a really genuine platform for runners to communicate and share in the experience together.”
