EIGHT YEARS OF RUNNING, AL RUMIE HAS OVER 300 RUNNING SHOES

By Mohd Afiq Zulkifli

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Being an active runner for the past eight years, Airulmi Mokhtar, better known as Al Rumie, never imagined he would now own over 300 pairs of running shoes from various brands worth RM65,000.

Airulmi, 47, describes his collection of shoes, priced as low as RM50 to thousands of ringgit, as the fruits of his endeavour in making visual reviews and sharing views on YouTube, based on his knowledge and experience with the public.

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According to him, his sharing in Malay is aimed at helping people, especially those with the same hobby, to gain knowledge so as to avoid making similar mistakes of buying unsuitable shoes due to lack of reference materials  when he first became active in sports.

“In the past, I made many mistakes, such as buying the wrong shoes in terms of size, material and usage. In the end, I could not only enjoy running (when using the wrong shoes) but was also exposed to the risk of injury. It was such a waste,” he told Bernama recently.

 This is different abroad such as in the United States and Europe when many runners there share running shoe reviews either on blogs or Youtube.

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“People can read their reviews and experiences, and this indirectly helps to educate them in selecting suitable running shoes that match their interests," he said.

The head of operations at a government-linked company from Johor Bharu, initially shared his reviews on a blog before becoming active on YouTube in mid-2020.

This 'transition' proved worthwhile as Al Rumie's YouTube followers now number over 64,200, and his uploaded videos have been viewed by nearly five million people.

The father of two admitted that 90 per cent of his running shoes are gifts from individuals or shoe companies seeking his reviews of their products as their market approach.

“However, I am not tied to or paid by any brand to give rave reviews of their products based on my skills and experience as a runner.

“As an ambassador to a particular brand, the spokesperson would naturally have to talk about that  brand. But, I remain neutral and will share what is appropriate and necessary for most people to know," he said.

Airulmi added that he has so far gained the trust of many running shoe brands to make video reviews, noting that he set several criteria to ensure the uploaded video content has the relevant information for viewers.

 “In terms of content, I will start with unboxing (taking the product out of the packaging), close-up videos of the shoes, and outdoor shots while running in the shoes, with recordings from various angles.

“The criteria considered include price, weight, design, size, material, heel drop (the height difference between the heel and the forefoot), midsole, outsole, collar (the ankle area), heel counter (below the collar to support the heel), etc,” he said.

To be more specific, Airulmi will review the shoes after they have been used, allowing him to provide insights on the suitability of the shoes with different types and distances of running, as well as share any 'weaknesses' related to the shoes.

Airulmi, who wears size US11 shoes, said he also gives away his shoes to individuals in need.

-- BERNAMA