Inhale deeply into the technical fibers of the New Balance singlet and you’ll get a light whiff of funk. It’s the unique odor of a garment that’s traveled thousands of miles—through international and state borders, over oceans, up mountainsides, and across finish lines—accumulating sweat from dozens of strangers participating in an internet stunt called “The Traveling Singlet.”

Steve Leach, a 49-year-old graphic designer and runner from York, Pennsylvania, started the project last November on the 250,000-member /r/running Reddit forum. By the end of May, the singlet had been shipped to 19 people in North America and Europe. Almost 100 others are on a waiting list to receive it. “I’ve really gotten a kick out of seeing all the places it’s gone and the people who’ve worn it so far,” Leach says.

Here, six members of the group describe their time with—and the smell of—the well-traveled top.

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Anna Wood

Anna Wood, 26

Wore it for: Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon, San Antonio, Texas, December 4, 2016

“It was 40 degrees and pouring rain, so my muscles were seizing and eventually my IT band gave up at mile 10. The singlet was amazing motivation. I stuffed the envelope with pink and star sequins as a fun surprise for the next person.”

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Chris Steward

Chris Steward, 30

Wore it for: Half Moon Half Winter Run, Terre Haute, Indiana, December 17, 2016

“I was so excited it showed up that I carelessly ripped open the package only to be glitter-bombed. The previous wearer though she’d have a little fun at my expense and stuffed the envelope with confetti. I’m still finding those little glimmering reminders of the day the traveling singlet showed up.”

Danica Priest

Danica Priest, 30

Wore it for: Training run in London, January 7, 2017

“I’m pretty petite, so a men’s large fit me like a muumuu. My pictures in the singlet look like the ‘after’ photos of a weight-loss commercial. I liked the idea of having a physical connection to random strangers in the running community all over the world. It’s like being able to vicariously travel and explore new places to race and run.”

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April Studer

April Studer, 29

Wore it for: Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon, Washington, D.C., March 11, 2017

“I was at a really low point with depression around the time of the race, and the weather was extremely cold that day. I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. However, when I put the singlet on, I could feel the magic powers in the sweat left behind from the previous users and I eventually found myself standing at the starting line. Simply put, that race sucked, but I finished it. If it weren’t for the singlet, I probably would not have gone through with it.”

Libby Norwood

Libby Norwood, 24

Wore it for: Energy City Half Marathon, Midland, TX, March 25, 2017

“I signed up because I happened to stumble upon the traveling singlet page and noticed that the weekend of my hometown race [it] was free. I loved the idea of a shared camaraderie with the singlet. I love the running community and am always looking for more ways to make new friends who run (most of my friends couldn’t care less about running) and thought this would be a really great way to meet new people.”

Keith Koslowsky

Keith Koslowsky, 33

Wore it for: NYRR Airbnb Brooklyn Half, May 20, 2017

“It gives us the ability to talk about our sport with others in our community. We don’t talk about the actual shirt much. Some great people wore that shirt before me. No doubt there is a unique smell to it. Not bad though. It reminded me of college. I definitely applied lots of Body Glide before wearing the singlet. I didn’t want to be the guy who left his bloody mark. I was very careful when I was signing my name on the shirt. After I finished my wife pointed out it was much larger than everyone else. She was right!”

Kit Fox Special Projects Editor Kit has been a health, fitness, and running journalist for the past five years.

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