Sweat droplets are like little containers for your body's heat. Blood --> sweat glands --> sweat droplets on your skin --> evaporation. Other than staying hydrated, there's not much we can control about steps one through three. For a performance apparel designer, it's step four that gets interesting: that interplay between your skin and the environment. And in warm weather running, what can be done to cool you down?

Bottom line, there are three controllable factors: fabric content, fabric construction, and fabric weight. 

Content: Most basic tech tops or entry level athletic apparel use inexpensive polyester knits that are hydrophobic (repel water), but don't do much more. Believe me, I've loved on a bunch of free or inexpensive tech tops over the years, but in my evolution as a runner and a designer, I realized that many of my tech tops were low tech. Think of it this way: by itself, polyester is like plastic wrap. Yes, it's 100% moisture repellant, it will absorb nothing, but neither will it promote evaporation. So many polyester garments just move moisture around on your skin.

That's where construction, weight, and even the right pockets/storage can take you further.

KARA TANK

Pin hole construction for maximum air flow. Simply by creating a fabric where there's LESS FABRIC is a game changer. Less fabric = less weight. And less material to touch your skin. Even better, the pin hole construction maximizes airflow. Getting air to your skin is the most efficient way to promote evaporation. The cut of the Kara Tank is also designed to sit off the body, with a slight A line shape, to increase air flow even more. This is one of our hottest-not-hot tanks of the year.

OG ROGA

Athletic mesh for the win. An ultralightweight fabric that is still strong enough to go the miles in a great pair of shorts. Athletic mesh is a ventilated knit, allowing for airflow and natural cooling. They're our best featherweight, I-forgot-I-had-them-on shorts. As Kara says, "I really like simplicity in my running clothes," and this style nails it.

PASSPORT RACERBACK TANK

PASSPORT DRESS

PASSPORT TUNIC

Breeze Woven is a lightweight winner - for both sport and lifestyle. Wovens are often associated with button up shirts or traditional running shorts. This woven is as light as they come, with air flow you can see right through the fabric. Better yet, it has a bit of stretch to make the fit even comfier. Although these styles have a wear-everywhere vibe to them, they are performance winners too. Gym to dinner. Run to travel. Workout to wedding. Why not?

POCKET JOGGER SHORTS

LONG POCKET JOGGER SHORTS

Sometimes dealing with heat is about being prepared. The Pocket Jogger Collection is all about having the right storage, in the right places, to improve your ability to move and run free. Fuel, cell phones, money for a cold beer, a bus pass, a woman needs what a woman needs - especially when it's hot!

SUMMER SHORT SLEEVE

SUMMER LUX TANK

Fabric weight lightens your load. New this season, Summer Lux is so light, it almost feels like touching air. But softer. These styles are a good example of how weight, or lack thereof, can create standout designs. At our recent road race, The Tenacious Ten, some of our friends from southern climates came up to thank me for finally coming out with a Lux they can wear. Heat is real! But soft and lightweight fabrics are for everyone.

AERO SHORTS

It's true. Wearing less fabric will reduce your body temperature. Proceed "according to taste" as the cook books always say. If you do go for the minimal shorts, Aero is a good one, with a big new center back pocket to carry all your things.

RUNNER TRUCKER

Protect your eyes. Keep the sun's glare out of your eyes and off your face. It's one of the most simple and important things you can do to beat the heat as a runner. The Runner Trucker is great like that, with a full bill that's also not overwhelming. And with its foldable design, it's easy to tuck into a pocket, waistband, or bag. Its mesh top and sides create maximum airflow for cooling. The hat for the hot headed woman! ;)

FLYOUT TANK

FLYOUT SHORT SLEEVE

Ingenius construction. That's our Flyout HoverFit. It's a 3D knit that, literally, hovers above your skin. That means that when you sweat, the water moves up the knit sections that touch your body and into the fabric cells above your skin. That's where wind and air takes over; allowing the water to evaporate faster while you stay cooler. Quite simply, this fabric is your secret weapon for summer running. Ultra lightweight construction at 115 g/sqm, designed to work hard, and as always, in beautiful, rich colors. A touch of Tencel is the icing, creating a super soft hand feel.

Yes, the temps are rising. But when the going gets hot, the hot get the right fabrics!

Every year that I go to Boston around marathon time, I appreciate it more. The Volée team events, spectating the marathon (cry-fest), all of it. This year, I attended two exceptional female-focused gatherings. The first was well-publicized, videotaped in a theater, and deservedly sold out at $15/ ticket; the second was free and perhaps 2/3 of an expo convention room full (and I sincerely hope that it was also video recorded)!  

Lindsay Crouse of the NYT put together a stellar group of our current running stars 2 days before the marathon (Saturday at 3pm): Tatyana McFadden (2^ndat Boston), Shalane Flanagan, Desi Linden (5^that Boston), Sara Hall, Lindsay Flanagan (9^that Boston), Sarah Crouch, Sarah Sellars, and Jordan Hasay (3^rdat Boston). In her intro, Lindsay quoted this stat: only 4% of sports coverage is about women. What?!? [At Oiselle, we steep ourselves in women athletes and women’s sports coverage, so that statistic seems incomprehensible. But believable at the same time.] Lindsay C. and the NYT took advantage of the weekend to bring all of these women together to converse. (I believe, sparked by this great article by Lindsay C. after Shalane won the NY Marathon in 2017, which coined the “Shalane Effect” for Shalane lifting teammates as she herself succeeded.) Cool, right? So many gold nuggets (and the NYT will put out a video soon for others to watch), but just a few of my takeaways: 

Shalane - explained how seeing teammates achieve makes you believe you can do it too…she was disappointed with the results of the Rio Olympics, saw Amy win the bronze at Worlds in London, won New York herself and passed the baton off to Desi. Success breeds success.
Tatyana – talked about her transition from track racing (literally, sprints) to marathons over the course of less than a year. Talk about range and a flexible attitude!
Desi Linden – shared that one of her superpowers is that she is comfortable in her own skin. To illustrate her comfort, she shared a story from lunch that day when she’d noticed she had a swelling behind her right knee, felt it, and realized it was just some bunched up underwear. Classic. 

It was at least an hour convo, and there was so much more goodness in there (audio here). It’s worth a NYT subscription. And a big thank you to Lindsay Crouse for gathering all of these current superstars on the same stage for an elevating conversation. So important. 

The second women’s panel was on Sunday, 4pm at the expo, titled “Pioneers of Women’s Running.” It featured four women with New England or Boston ties who, through their bravery, love of running, and willingness to break rules, carved the way for all female runners today. Bobbi Gibb (first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967 in 3:19), Patti Catalano (first American woman under 2:30 in the marathon, first Indigenous woman under 2:30), Julia Chase-Brand (first woman to run the Manchester Road Race), and Cheryl Treworgy (world record holder in the women’s marathon 1971 2:49, also Shalane’s mom!) made up the panel. I felt like an excited school-girl going to this talk. I brought Amby Burfoot’s book with me, pages ear-marked to our speakers, and showed people around me their race pictures as they spoke. Adrianne Haslet was the moderator—she and Bobbi had competed in a marathon trip to the UK in prior years which may have been the spark for the talk. Really, this 60 minutes blew my mind. Women’s running history is SO NEW, none of their experiences were very long ago! When I was running in college in the late 80's, their experiences were recent events. I will try to link a video of this talk if I can find it; you should watch it. Just a few highlights: 

Julia Chase-Brand held up her “racing kit” from the Manchester race: a denim dress over blouse. Her bra wasn’t very comfortable so she shoved it in her coach’s pocket before the race started and told him “don’t look”. 

Cheryl was frustrated by the lack of running bras for women, so she started designing them herself, sewed prototypes, tested the designs on hundreds of women, filed patents, and still owns these bra patents to this day! (Spoiler alert, you may be hearing more about this in the future). 

Bobbi was a free spirit who loved to connect to nature by running. She ran long runs of over 40 miles at one go, so when her application to Boston was rejected because “women weren’t physiologically capable of running that distance” she knew that was wrong. So naturally she had to take a 3 day bus trip from CA and run the marathon in a swimsuit and Bermuda shorts to prove the point. 

Patti Catalano started running to lose weight but running made her feel so good she was immediately hooked. 7 months after she started running, she ran her first marathon (in 2:53!). She hadn’t yet given up smoking…she said that cigarette after her first marathon tasted so good.

Each of these women shared common lessons: running had shown them how powerful they were, a knowledge that carried through their future life endeavors. They understood at a fundamental level that rules can be arbitrary and based on ignorance; that traditions can be a lazy way to keep power structures in place. [One of the Boston Marathon’s official reasons for not allowing women to race was that the AAU had accredited the race as an all-male event, so they would lose their accreditation if they allowed women. Does anyone recognize this inability to accept responsibility in our current sports bodies?]

As I listened to these pioneers, I reflected on the previous day’s talk as well, and the excitement generated by the current stars. Maybe it is telling of my age (almost 50), but I was captivated at least as much by the Pioneers. And then I had a thought…what about bringing these groups of women together for a moderated Pioneers and Stars panel in Atlanta for the Olympic Trials? After all, it is one short line from Bobbi to Desi, from Cheryl to Shalane (that’s an even shorter line!), from Julia to Jordan. And the common theme amongst all of these women (and the audience as well), is that they just love the way that running makes them feel. Thank you, running!  

BY: CARRIE MACK

When you ask me about 2019, so far it goes like this:

January - A new year! I ran on a track! In spikes! Things are happening!
February - WTF body, why you gotta test me like this? Also - SO. MUCH. SNOW.  
March - It’s fine, everything will be fine. Please let it be fine. I’ll just leave town for a while.
April - RUNNING IS MY FAVORITE. Related: I have new roommates.

If you look back at the last 2 months of my training journal, a bulk of the direction simply says “TBD”. Let me explain.  

Wednesday, February 7th:
I had my first ever Michigan workout (a mixture of tempo and interval reps) on the track. It was a beautiful cold, clear, sunny winter day in Bend. The whole crew was there, doing some sort of track work. I went into this workout feeling anxious. It was pretty high volume, and something new. New can be uncomfortable and scary. New can also be fun. I started with a tinge of conservancy, and then settled in to feeling strong and happy as I alternated direction, distance, and speed over the course of several miles. The track was covered in snow, except for lane one. Littlewing was in full force, and track magic allowed for all of us to use that single lane without pause - despite having slightly different workouts. I finished that workout with a big fat smile on my face. I was just starting to think about switching to more marathon specific training and I felt healthy and strong. It was a very satisfying day. 

Thursday, February 8th:
The day started with a pretty typical morning recovery run with Littlewing, followed by an afternoon at work. I made it home and marveled at the fact that I could get my afternoon four miler in before darkness swept the neighborhood. More often than not, I start these double runs with our 12-year-old yellow lab, Cosmo. Over the years, he’s dialed back on the amount of running he can handle, but is just as eager to get out the door. These days, he has a one mile loop - and we’ve settled into the routine of taking him on the first mile as a way to ease into a recovery run. I remember patiently waiting for him to sniff a pile of snow on the side of the road just long enough for my mind to wander. I instinctively did a quick mental body scan and confirmed that the outside of my left shin did, in fact, feel very very tight. That seemed weird. Cosmo and I made it back to the house, and I finished that recovery run preoccupied with assessing and confirming that, yep, my leg was tight and sore. Training at this level is constant balance. There are very few guarantees. It requires the mind to be smart, all the while full knowing that improvement doesn’t come without some risk to the body. So that night, I spent extra time on the foam roller, I did some heat treatment after texting my physical therapist. I refused to panic and went to bed with the full intention of showing up ready for my workout the next morning. 

Friday, February 9th:
Cold as ever. With Mel and Rebecca out of town for indoor track races, the rest of us met at the track to work out. I had some hills followed by some 300s on the track. My leg was still unbelievably tight. I was lamenting about it before we started, but honestly wasn’t freaked out at all and felt like after the full warm-up I’d be good to go. I was able to do the warm-up, but with my mind in a frantic state wondering why the hell my leg wasn’t right. Collier and I tried to mentally recall if I could remember doing anything to it. Did I step into a hole? Did I slip somehow? What about in the gym? We came up with nothing and I frustratingly headed over to get my hill reps underway. I jogged over to Lauren who was trudging through the snow banks towards the track and told her what was going on. Knowing what she would recommend, but just wanting to hear it from someone other than myself, she wisely suggested shutting it down for the day. She asked some clarifying questions about the pain and tightness and told me to rest. I was actually relieved. I’ll take that as a sign of growth. I spent the rest of that workout in the car with Lauren as we chased Collier back and forth on the road while she crushed some 200s. It was cold and miserable, and as I sat in Lauren’s car in my puff mittens holding a latte I had little envy for missing out on the rest of my workout. Winter was in full force.

The rest of the story goes like this:

Week 1 & 2 post injury:
The next week was full of extra PT where we determined that my L anterior tibialis was very angry. I talked to my coach, Elliott, and we put my training schedule on pause. He didn’t seem overly worried, but was clear that my priority for the next two weeks was to make SMART decisions.No rewards for being a stubborn hero.I took some rest days and did extra physical therapy, extra recovery, extra all the things. I invested myself in all my other non-running pursuits: I got a sourdough bread starter, visited family, went through all the photos at our house and put them in photo albums. This was followed by a week of starts/stops as I tested my leg on the treadmill. Elliott and I reassessed. I was now worried. There wasn’t a clear reason as to why this had happened and after two weeks of doing all the things I wasn’t confident that it was actually healing. I could crosstrain or even get through a regular run early in the day, but the rest of the day my leg would be sore. I’d wake up the next morning pain free, cross train or run, then have soreness again. I went from being disappointed that I’d have to adjust weekly mileage and do some workouts through cross training to wondering if I’d get to test running a single mile on the treadmill by the end of the week. The stages of grief are swift and vast when it comes to running injuries. 

Week 3 & 4 post injury:
On February 25th, Bend got a MASSIVE snow storm in town and everything essentially stopped. No access to running outdoors. The gym is closed. The pool is closed. The post office is closed. No one went to work for days. I finally accepted this as a sign from the universe to just stop. I took four full rest days. My mind was tired of going through all the worst case scenarios. My body was clearly not pleased. For those first few days when everyone was stuck indoors, I baked bread, watched movies, and tried to just shut my brain off. I’ll give myself a B- for how I handled this. Despite my best efforts, I reopened the wound of not hitting the OTQ (Olympic Trials Qualifier) at the Chicago Marathon last fall. I picked at the scab that has existed since last October, when I fell 11 seconds short of my goal. The scab that reminds me I have yet to do the thing, and that now the clock is really starting to tick. So, naturally, I pick at it. What if I have to pull out of my spring marathon? What if I’m injured all year? What if I never get to run a marathon again? What if all the resources and support that everyone has invested in me is for nothing? What if I’m just disappointing everyone, most importantly myself? Why did I even think this was a goal worth pursuing? 

I was lamenting all this to Elliott over coffee and he pretty abruptly told me he was kinda glad I didn’t qualify in Chicago. He said it would keep me hungry. For those who know me, this rings eerily true. I am, more often than not, actually physically hungry. Travis was there and he kind of chuckled. We talked about how getting the OTQ was obviously on the checklist for 2019. But, the overall journey of testing my limits and exploring running at the elite level to really answer the “what if” question of how fast and competitive I can be is actually what I’m most interested in. I know I can break 2:45 in the marathon distance. I know I’m really disciplined and will do the work (Hi swimming pool! Hi spin bike! Hi ElliptiGO! Hi AlterG!). I know I’m more comfortable racing myself and using that historical data vs. releasing myself to respond to what is happening realtime in a race scenario. I know there is still so much more to discover and that makes me curious and confident that I’m in this journey for the right reasons. After slowly starting to build cross training days, I got to hop on the AlterG.  With a goal of getting to the end of the day, then the end of the week without thinking about my leg, I finally felt confident that progress was being made. 

Week 5 & 6 post injury:
If you look at my training journal from these weeks, you’ll see that each day includes something like: 

“Leg feels great!”
“Leg still feels good!”
“I got to run outside!”
“2nd day running in a row!”

Lauren recently reminded me that the first stop on the injury train is at gratitude station. And I was fully onboard. Every run was a gift. I stopped constantly doing a full body scan to see if things were still okay. 

By this point I’d released any emotional attachment I had to being ready to race a spring marathon. It’s not a lack of motivation or commitment, but more a sense of being at peace and ready for whatever ends up happening or not happening with my spring and summer training cycles. I didn’t feel ready to think or talk about new potential race plans, but was open to a multitude of options. I decided that if things keep trending positively, I’d join Littlewing for an altitude stint in Flagstaff at the end of March. The opportunity excited me and I knew that if I kept making smart decisions and soaked up some training at altitude, I could be in a really great spot by the end of April. Plus, this got us all out of the winter snow globe of Bend and into the Arizona desert sunshine. 

Week 7 post injury- present:
Last week I added workouts back into my training plan. But don’t be fooled, I’m still in the pool for my double 3-4 days a week. Despite what sometimes feels like a painfully slow buildback, I’m running every day this week as my primary session. I’ll run the Tenacious10. [Ed. note: she did great!] I’m starting to wonder about spring and summer race goals. There is still time. I’m constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to be here in this house in Flagstaff with my Littlewing teammates training and recovering and supporting each other as we all work towards our goals. What even is this life? 

I’d like to tell you that this most recent injury finally taught me to be patient. I’d like to tell you that I’ve finally successfully learned to adapt and pivot as needed. I’d like to tell you that listening to my head allows me to deafen the beating of my heart. But, alas, the heart wants what it wants. 

My very first order I ever placed from Oiselle (circa 2014?) included a postcard that I still keep on my nightstand, right next to handwritten notes and cards from mentors, teammates, and loved ones that all essentially tell me I am enough. The Oiselle postcard says “There is no secret, keep going.” And that’s exactly what I intend to do. Head up, Wings out.

It's hard to believe that the 2019 Tenacious 10 weekend is already a thing of the past, but we couldn't have asked for a better weekend! With teammates flocking to Seattle from all across the country, we had a weekend filled with team bonding, running, cowbelling, and of course, dance partying! Grab your tissues and get ready to re-live one epically tenacious weekend! 

The weekend officially kicked off with Thursday Night Flight Club - Tenacious Ten Edition! So fun to welcome so many out of town teammates (and a few brobirds) to our Thursday night tradition. 

And of course, it was followed up with a happy hour celebration! 

Fellow Volée member Kelly Herron led a self defense workshop Friday morning where teammates learned to dig deep and fight back. 

The evening before the big race, Lauren Fleshman shared some race day wisdom. She called out some of the reasons why we race: because we care, because we can, because it's awesome...why do you race? 

The Seattle weather cooperated and offered up one of the best mornings Seattle has seen in a while. It's so much more fun to race in the sun! 

Moody Floral was a race day favorite! It was great to see so many Volée team singlets and crops along the course. 

Not to mention, those Tenacious Ten Bandanas.

For the non-runners, the Cozy Bird Yeti proved to be the race morning attire of choice. 

Once the race got under way, the front of the pack were back in no time and SO many finish line celebrations ensued with the Oiselle women dominating the field! 

The day wrapped up with the cutest thing to ever happen on a race course: the kids 1K! 

And, that's a wrap for 2019! Thank you for being part of it! 

I am so thrilled to be heading back to Boston! Last year was bizarre and wonderful. Sally, sorry I trashed your boots (literally, put those dripping faux-fur sadsters in the dumpster before we headed to the airport). We were cheering at the half-way point in Wellesley, tracking the front of the race obsessively, and once we got the text that Desi won, that was all I yelled for the next 2 hours: “DESI WON!!!” I loved it when racers were as excited as we were! My favorite memory is THIS (try not to get hyped)! This year, I don’t know what flavor of magic will transpire, but I know there will be plenty! And I’ll be there for it. 

We’d love to see you over the weekend! The Oiselle shakeout run is Sunday at 9am, we’ll be meeting at the Goodr pop-up at 9am for 3-5 mile routes (123 Newbury Street), plus coffee, donuts, and the claw afterward! And you know our cowbell corner during the marathon will be hype central! We moved closer to the finish this year: Coolidge Corner, Dunkin Donuts (runners’ left, in the 23rd mile). I’ll be bringing lots of cowbells (yep, and my megaphone + yeti combo), so come join us if you are spectating and like a fun crew. 

Over 60 Oiselle runners will be out there bringing the fire, including 6 Haute Volée tearing it up in the elite field. I questioned a few of our Volée who will be out there racing, see what makes them unique! 

Sophie Chang (27): I’m excited for the crowds. I love running big city marathons and how cities come together around the marathon. There is just so much overwhelming support that it makes running the marathon almost easy. I went to college in Boston and was driving under an overpass near Copley Square right when the 2013 bombing happened. Ever since then, I have made it a mission to BQ and run it myself for all the survivors. Boston will be my 4th marathon, my first and only BQ so far was in Berlin 2018.

Race outfit: Black Volee singlet, Black Strider Shorts (or the new 7/8 Volee tights if below 50 degrees). 

Jackie Gruendel (44): I am so excited to see all my hard work and training pay off. I have been able to hit workouts that previously escaped me during other marathon training cycles and I also did my 4 longest training runs ever. I am so thankful to say I have been lucky enough to never have a porta-potty incident and I hope this marathon won't be the first. This will be my 4th marathon. Twin Cities 2005 (30 not married, no kids), Marine Corp 2015 (40 1/2 2 kids), Philadelphia 2017, Boston 2019. Back surgery sidelined me from Boston in previous years, so when I recovered and could do some training I ran Philly to get my qualifier again. 

Race outfit: moody floral crop, Blaze singlet, epic purple pocket joggers, zensah feather weight performance socks, Altra Escalante racer 

Meredith Bazemore (43): I’m most excited for giving my hamstring and hip a much needed rest post race, reunion of some of #MastersBirdStrike team, and post race shenanigans. There’s no race atmosphere that comes close to Boston. The city is buzzing from the moment you arrive...the energy from fellow runners and spectators, and the whole community of Boston is just really special. I had to go check old logs to see how many marathons I’ve done, which means probably too many. I think this is lucky number 13? 

Race outfit: (for race days btwn 35-45) Verrazano bra, Winona tank, BCTC singlet (by Oiselle), Lux arm warmers, “throw away” gloves from a race I have had since 2012,  black toolbelt rogas, reebok floatride run fast shoes, trucker hat! (But if it’s Boston 2018 weather add a wazzie wool l/s, go jogging capris, & a vim jacket!!!)

Nicole Freeman (30): I'm most excited to just be in Boston. It's my favorite city-- I went to school there and also my husband and I spent our first year of marriage there. It's a super special place for me. Honestly I registered in a moment of madness. I'm 800% sure that I said "no more marathons." But fall marathon FOMO is a b*tch, ya know?  I'm fairly certain my strava activity for last year's Boston marathon is titled something vulgar about desperately seeking porta potties on the course. Shout out Sunset Cantina Fiesta Nachos (no hard feelings, I still hear Selena when I think of you). And I would never describe those porta searches as "Shalane-style" because there was something sort of charming about seeing her contemplate stopping and then Desi hanging back for her. And my Boston Porta Tour of 2018 was the opposite of charming. This will be marathon number five and my second Boston. It took me 2 tries to BQ (and it also took me 2 tries just to finish a marathon in the first place). 

Race outfit: I still don't know! I'm leaning towards the black Volée crop. Although, a few other NYC women and I have unofficially started something called "shit club track club" (see porta story above). Maybe I'll tempt fate wearing that shirt. Or I could wear my taco costume. Has anyone ever run the Boston Marathon as a taco? Maybe a taco in a diaper. I dunno, I gotta think on it. 

Cory Benson (62): This is my sixth year of training for the Boston Marathon (aka, “Boston”) during the cold and dark Northeast winter. In the early years, this was fraught with anxiety, some over-training, and a nervous 2 – 3 week taper period. This year I fully realized that those energy-sapping emotions had disappeared. I’ve learned that steady growth, as well as the shelter of others around you, can allow you to bloom anew, year after year.

I’ve learned to appreciate my “late bloomer” talent, as well as the “otherness” of being an older female marathoner.
[Ed. Note: we recommend you read all of Cory’s blog here on her superpowers as a “late bloomer”] 

To every one getting to the start line on Patriot’s Day, we salute you! We celebrate your strength and persistence, and we’ll be cheering you along! See you in Boston! 

XOXO,

That's right everybody, we are just 10 days away from kicking off the very full (and very fun) Tenacious Ten weekend, and here's why you'll probably want to join... or risk serious FOMO. 

There’s a distance for everybody! Feeling speedy? Run the 10k! Looking for a new PR? Run the 10 mile! Under 12? Run the Kid’s 1K!

And if running’s not your thing (or if you’re just on a break), there are LOTS of opportunities to volunteer or cheer on others! Can you say MORE COWBELL?!

Swag, swag and more swag! Whether you choose the 10k or the 10 mile, participants (limited to the first 1,500) will receive their choice of a limited edition Flyte Tank or Flock Tee. These babies won’t be for sale – the only way to get one is to register to run! And that’s not all - all runners will also receive a Tenacious Bandana and the signature Cowbell Finisher’s Medal.

And that bandana will make a great accessory for the Bright Birds Dance Party! Come out to Capitol Hill and celebrate your day with friends, spandos and DJ Reverend Dollars. Parking is a hassle, so rideshare. It’s worth it, we promise!

Make a weekend out if it! If you’re in from out of town (or want to make it a fun filled weekend staycation), there’s an awesome lineup of events happening all weekend long! Everything is free, but space is limited, so be sure to RSVP. Kick your weekend off with Thursday Night Flight Club - Ten 10 edition, get race ready with wisdom from Lauren Fleshman, learn from Kelly Herron in a self-defense workshop and get the inside scoop on the Oiselle design process from Sally. So many fun activities!

We can’t wait to see you and get tenacious all weekend long!

BY: CORY BENSON

I returned from a conference in Orlando last night, to find the daffodil bulbs just beginning to push their way up through our front flower beds. Spring comes late in New England, and this can be our first sign that it has arrived.  It will be 6 weeks before my favorite springtime sight, the dogwoods, begin to show. They’re probably what you’d consider a “late bloomer”, which is why I love them. But, more about that later.

This is my sixth year of training for the Boston Marathon (aka, “Boston”) during the cold and dark Northeast winter. In the early years, this was fraught with anxiety, some over-training, and a nervous 2 – 3 week taper period. This year I fully realized that those energy-sapping emotions had disappeared. After some thought, I’ve narrowed it down to a few reasons:

• The culminating impact of 6 years of consistent mid – high mileage training. My coach (the wonderful Alicia Shay Vargo), provides a schedule with a steady mix of quality (i.e. speed) workouts, moderate easy runs, cross training (one day a week on my frenemy, the stationary bike), and a weekly long run. Moving from a half-marathon training block to a marathon training block doesn’t require a steep change to my schedule, which I believe has kept me from injury over the past 3 years. And of course, she builds in plenty of recovery after races.
• Solid strength-training. I’m not a gym-rat, but twice a week I work on building/maintaining strength from top to bottom. I’m even more committed to completing a series of exercises I learned from my PT (post sacral stress fracture in 2015) to keep my hips and glutes strong and mobile. Clamshells, weighted leg lifts, and banded walks may be a bit boring, but they can keep you from all kinds of “niggles” that can turn into big problems
• Quick dynamic stretches, and longer static ones pre/post run. The research is up in the air on this, but I’ve built these short intervals into my routine, and they do make me feel better.

I’ll be 62 when I toe the line this year. That means that Title IX was passed when I was halfway through high school. I would love to tell you that it opened up a world of opportunity for me, but that would be a lie. I was too busy auditioning for the school play or musical, preparing for a singing competition, or perfecting a dance routine to even take note of athletics. But I learned a lot about teamwork through my theatre days, and grew to love the sense of joy and confidence a team could provide. I thought those days were behind me until I discovered the Volee. Normally a solo runner, due to my work travel, as well as my small, semi-rural town, I found so much joy in joining my Connecticut “sisters” for runs, races, or beers.  Even though most of them are a good 30-40 years younger than I am, they have opened their wings and made me one of their own. 

Which brings me back to those dogwoods. They are at their most beautiful late in the season, when you glimpse them nearly hidden in a dark grove of trees. I’ve learned to appreciate my “late bloomer” talent, as well as the “otherness” of being an older female marathoner. And I’ve learned that steady growth, as well as the shelter of others around you, can allow you to bloom anew, year after year.

A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with 3 stress reactions, a sprained ligament, and tendinopathy in my right foot.

For weeks I endured chronic pain, stubbornly pushing through to make starting lines. Even though distance running is synonymous with discomfort we are asked to disassociate the good from bad pain. As runners we need to be the protectors and the pushers of our bodies because only you can know exactly how you are feeling. But deciding to take time off based only on subjective feelings is tough, especially when you have big races on the horizon and even bigger races that you need qualifying times for.

At first, when the MRI came back clearly proving my feelings were unfeigned, I felt a sense of relief - a validation that this brand of torture isn’t necessary or beneficial. I also had a simple answer - take a few weeks off and let my body heal. There was no amount of pushing through that would heal bones.

Unfortunately, all of this went down around the same time as the new Olympic Standards were released. My performance from last November’s NYC Marathon is outside of the qualifying window for Tokyo 2020, and because of the multitude of issues in my right foot I will have to miss the London Marathon, and the amazing opportunity there to get the time qualification for the Olympics.

The past few weeks have felt like a ticking clock, but as of a few days ago I am back running! Thankfully I only had a stress reaction and not a full fracture, so I didn’t miss too much training. I have plenty of time to get ready for a fall marathon and each break reaffirms that I’m in the right profession. I don’t want to be on vacation, or go out to the bars, or live the typical lifestyle of a single 31-year-old - I want to run! 

It’s that time! The Volée team is open, Boston Marathon and the Tenacious Ten are coming up, and these 5 Volée teammates are joining the Haute Volée! These fierce women are all Olympic Trials Qualifiers in the marathon, and looking forward to a fantastic year of racing. Please join us in welcoming Kelsey, Siobhan, Meg, Jocelyn, and Sarah to the Haute Volée! 

Kelsey Hodges: I’m an aeronautical engineer [Ed. note: cue "Rocket Scientist"] who moved to Huntsville, AL to help build the rocket that’ll take astronauts back to the moon and who found running along the way. I’m a non-discriminating consumer of carbs, so my hobby is keeping my training well fueled by baking lots of bread and treats - I also play ultimate frisbee to keep the fast twitch muscles firing. Technically, the first time I realized I could run a fast marathon was after a breakout race at the Indy Monumental Half last year a month before my eventual OTQ, but there’s some days I still can’t quite wrap my head around it. While I love working aid stations at local races, my favorite way of getting involved in the running community has been volunteering with the local high school XC/TF team.

Jocelyn Todd: I am currently a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering and my research analyzes the mechanics of cartilage in the hip to determine risk factors for osteoarthritis development. When I'm relaxing from training and my studies, I like to take on interesting side projects like brewing kombucha, learning to play the guitar, baking sourdough, and growing a banana tree in my apartment! I ran my first marathon in 2016 and hit my goal of sub 3 hours, I knew I could handle the training and was hungry to improve, so I set my sights on OTQ! My favorite thing about the running community is how it connects individuals of all walks of life - I like giving back to the community by fueling these connections through volunteering at races, panel discussions, product demos, and of course through the Volée! 

Sarah Pease: I'm currently privately coaching clients and volunteer coaching at Indiana University. I love cheering for my favorite teams (Hoosiers, Pacers, & Colts!!), watching lots of basketball, cooking, playing the piano and spending time with my husband and cat (Malcolm). We love to walk my sweet cat on a leash. He enjoys it too! :) I give back to the running community by working with youth runners. I love how excited young runners get about running and racing!

Megan Foster: I’m an artist and professor at RISD. During the semester I live on the highway between New York City and Providence. I listen to A LOT of audiobooks/podcasts and keep a shoe organizer in my trunk. I first realized I could run a fast marathon in 2008. My goal was to break 3:20 and I ran 3:12. I was pumped and mentally cartwheeled across the finish line. My next marathon was 2:59. I’m always excited when I can inspire anyone at any level to get out and do something active. This can be as simple as talking with family or as grand as helping get a new competitive women’s running team off the ground, Distance Project NYC.  

Siobhan O’Connor: I teach Middle School History in Philadelphia and get to coach too. Middle School XC and fitness are a ball, but it's impossible not to remember everything pure about running when doing it with 3rd and 4th grade girls at Girls on the Run. I ran my first marathon when I started at my current school six years ago, and by 2015 I thought I could pull off an OTQ one day. Training progressed faster than race results. When I'm not running or teaching, I love to read, garden, and cook, where I have an especially good track record of eating every vegetable in a family size CSA with only two people. 

BY: THERESA HAILEY

As an athlete or in your day job, have you ever had the feeling like you don’t deserve to be in the position you are in? That you are an imposter, and at some point, someone is going to figure it out? As a female lead in a male-dominated role, it’s easy to feel this way; and likewise, as a runner trying to make it at the elite level, the tendencies to feel like you don’t belong at the front of the line grow stronger and stronger as your goals get tougher.

It all started when I ran Boston in 2017 with the Elite Women, and I had the worst race of my running career. It was after that race that I decided something needed to change. I wasn’t the positive, resilient, elite runner I knew, and it all had to do with what was going on in my head. It was after this marathon that I learned about positive affirmations, and ultimately started taking control of my mind and focusing on what I knew deep down I was capable of achieving, not just what I wanted to achieve. I am elite. I am driven. I am prepared. I am strong. It is these words of affirmation that helped me to PR in eight distances over the last two years, from the mile to the marathon. I overcame my imposter and replaced it with the Me that believes I can do or be anything I put my mind to.

Similar to running, I’ve been facing my imposter in my work life as well. Studies show that this imposter phenomenon affects women more than men; why is this? Why do we as women tend to call our success luck or good timing? Why is it so hard to believe that we are in the position we are in because we worked for it, and that we are competent, and intelligent? I was recently promoted to Lead Engineer at my work and I face this struggle almost daily, but because of the mindset I have developed through running I am able to overcome these negative thoughts and be more confident. I’m not fully there yet, but I will keep trying because I know I am worthy. I am smart. I am determined.

The 2019 Boston Marathon is quickly approaching, and my training has been without flaws. I’ve run my highest mileage, fastest intervals, longest and fastest marathon simulation runs, and most challenging long runs. As I begin to taper my mileage, this is the time to increase my mental strength. No matter what happens between now and the race, it’s nearly impossible to lose the fitness gained, but it can take a split second to lose my mental strength. Without a doubt, I know I am ready. Ready to be Elite, ready to be strong, ready to be resilient and ready to get the job done! 

Boston, here I come!

Head Up Wings Out,
Theresa

Athlete women are at the core of everything we do. Which makes the Oiselle line of gear and apparel very simple: RUN. RACE. RECOVER. RUMBLE. We value your ability to have beautiful, high quality, long-lasting apparel that works seamlessly across all aspects of your life, from sport to work to travel to any big or small dream you might be chasing. 

RUN: The go-to training pieces that define the daily - and the joys of effort.

If your commitment to running goes deep, like way down in there, chances are you're out on the roads, track, or trails almost daily. We make training apparel beautiful - so that you can feel strong at every opportunity. Better yet, these clothes work as hard as you do. Run, rinse, repeat as many times as possible. See all run styles.

RACE: Apparel that fosters an emotion of readiness, whether it's a fun run or a PR quest.

We believe that readiness is a feeling. The prize on which we keep our eyes. The horizon we're all running towards. When you wake up to toe the line, your clothes should help you enjoy and embrace that moment. We're proud makers of many a powersuit, regardless of whether the goal is a first flight or an Olympic quest. See all race styles.

RECOVER: It's as important as the hard efforts, and worth celebrating with beautiful designs and fabrics.

Nobody loves a rest day like runners love a rest day. In fact, the downtime is made all the more wonderful by the contrast with hard training. It's a time of celebration and pampering - and we think loungewear should live the part. See all recover styles.

RUMBLE: Street style that combines the best of function and fashion.

The most exciting innovation in fashion today is the trend toward comfort AND style. Some call it athleisure. We call it getting to wear your athletic clothes for all those non-running moments. As designers, we believe this is not only about comfort. It's about self- and body-respect. Movement isn't just for sports anymore.... See all rumble styles.

We’ve seen em. The cats on Cat Lady Fleece. The dogs lovin’ on your Lux. Even the occasional hamster, rabbit, or bearded dragon getting in on the #flystyle. 

Then our animal instincts kicked in. We sharpened our talons, preened our feathers, and got right down to the pecking and gathering that would be needed to build the most beastly apparel collection to date.

Months, nay years, of tireless digging, napping, and egg laying has finally paid off. Not unlike a team of sled dogs willing to traverse the tundra for hours on end, we could not, would not quit until we could proudly offer #flystyle to our pet family. 

Clearly the POO drop is our most savage collection to date.

To launch our new collection, we tapped into the most promising (and proximal) models we could find. Dogs, cats, turtles, birds and more. Not just profesh talent, but REAL animals living real animal lives. We knew the essence of POO needed to be authentic, simple-minded, and slightly aromatic.

But POO is much, MUCH more than a product line. It's a sense of belonging to a pack. And while some may see POO as a cult, we prefer to call it an unconditionally loving family of butt sniffers. A group of big hearted, food focused free spirits - ready to walk, snort, slither, fly, and lift their legs in style.

Moody Floral - you bet. Fast Pink - oh it’s on. Flyout - spring style on point. Best of all, you and your POO can match. POO pairings are popular in the POO Community. 

Want to more deets on the POO drop? Of course you do. Please give us more info about your POO here. 

Want to connect and share with POO lovers around the world? Join the Pets of Oiselle social community. When you post pics of your POO, please tag us! @PetsOfOiselle, and don’t forget the hashtag #TagYourPOO #PetsOfOiselle.