RUNNERGRAMS’ KELLI HASHIMOTO BLENDS ART AND RUNNING TO BUILD COMMUNITY
Kelli Hashimoto started Runnergrams as a way to make her friends smile. She talks to us about it becoming a small business and online community.
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“I didn’t really have a vision. It was just like these little wins that kept me going and really inspired me to create more.” – Kelli Hashimoto
With the intent to make her friends smile, Kelli found a way to connect her artistic abilities with her love of the running community.
And as a result, Runnergrams was born.
Listen in as she and Bryan chat about the challenges in the creative process, scaling up entrepreneurial ideas, and pursuing happiness.
SHOW NOTES
(3:27) A crazy year, a backyard wedding, and being positive…
(6:08) Growing up and finding a love for running through a family competition…
(11:04) “And at that time, 13 miles seemed unachievable to me, but I was like, okay, if you say so, I’ll sign up for this half marathon. And then right after I finished, I was like, that was hard, but I guess I’ll sign up for my first full marathon.” An intro into the running community…
(12:05) Connecting running with art…
(13:28) The genesis of Runnergrams…
(15:28) Going from a side project for friends to a more public project… “I was getting more creative, I would say, I was thinking of puns. I love puns. And so apparently, everyone else does, too.”
(17:07) From encouraging friends to building a business… “As artists you’re always kind of growing and that’s why you hate some of the stuff that you’ve done before.”
(18:35) Starting with low expectations…
(20:06) A great framework to Go Be More…
(22:45) “I truly don’t think of myself as a traditional artist. When I think about what I’m doing with Runnergrams, I know that I am creating, and I think a big challenge for me is believing in myself.” Confidence is a strange quality…
(25:36) The concept of self-efficacy…
(28:06) The impact of the running community…
(30:04) “At first, it was fun. And I was like, okay, maybe I’ll just keep drawing for the same friends over and over, but it quickly kind of spread.”
(33:15) Challenges faced as Runnergrams is growing…
(37:29) Next Step and North Star goals…
(39:22) What does Go Be More mean? “I actually love it because it kind of resonates with a lot of how I think normally. I can get lazy and sit on the couch and watch Netflix all day. But I think for me, ‘Go Be More’ is that reminder—don’t do that.
You can be so much more; you can use your time so much wiser, like to read a book. For me, it’s creating, but it’s that reminder of not getting trapped in that.”
If you liked this episode, check out our interviews with Vessel Athletics’ Jasmine Sanchez and Jalen Brown or athlete/advocate Dani Reyes-Acosta.
Recorded April 19, 2021.
References:
Runnergrams – Instagram
Coach Jess (@paceofme) – Instagram
Guest:
Kelli Hashimoto – website | Instagram | Twitter
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