Olé Volée!

by Sally Bergesen

Team

Being innately good at ANYTHING is a weird deal. If a person has intelligence, beauty, or above average running speed, chances are they had very little do with acquiring it. They got lucky. They hit the DNA jackpot, and BOOM. Of course, what you do with innate talent equals the final mile. We all know a few of those frustrating people who get A's without studying, win races without training, or get noticed for their looks while being a total airhead (women AND men). So you get what you get -- and work with what you got.

For me, I got a medium-sized helping of running talent. That means I was decent from the start and improved tons with training. That landed me at the front of small races and in the top third of big ones. I have never been, nor ever will be an elite runner. My fastest 5K was 17:06, which I ran on the track with a dude friend pacing me. It's still minutes off any national-caliber time. And yet, finding what I did, and running as well as I did became the greatest joy of my young life (pre-kids). I joined a local running club, got some free gear from Brooks (thank you neighbors!) and loved every minute of it.

All to say, I'm happy to say I'm a proud member of our Volée Team. And I'm honored to run alongside the amazing women that we've chosen for the 2013-14 year. The process itself was both daunting and difficult. After growing the team slowly, and with little recognition from the big world, this year we received 3 times as many applications as we had spots. A big thank you to Kristin Metcalf and standout NCAA Champ Katie Flood for pouring over every application, giving each person thought and consideration.

Ultimately, we had to make choices on who to accept. Our biggest driver for doing so - and not just swooping up everyone we can - was because we want to continue providing real benefits such as free clothes and meaningful discounts. As a small business, it's just not possible to do that for 500 runners. As we continue to grow, I hope that might be possible in the future! For those who applied but we were not able to accept, I want you to know we hope you will continue to be a part of our community. After all, our community = our inspiration. And that will never change.

We are beyond honored to have the women below on our team. Thank you for joining our flock and we hope to see you flying free and fast in the coming year!

Sally Bergesen

Founder + CEO

sally@oiselle.com

Athlete profiles for the new Volée members are coming soon! In the meantime, follow new birds on Twitter and spread the #oisellelove. You can also find existing birds on this Twitter list, and the Haute Volée on this list.

Alabama
Sara Cantrell - @RocketCityRun
Ashley Swink Fincher - @wotowineglass

Arizona
Dana Joost - @runningmomaz

Arkansas
Jennifer Harpel

California
Emily Stone
Nicole Woyski - @fitnessfatale
Lentine Zahler - @lentinealexis
Michelle Chang - @michangster
Lauren Saylor - @losaylor
Drea McLarty - @twomotivate
Anne Riggin - @anneriggin

Colorado
Julia Griffith - @julia_griffith
Bret Scofield - @brettiesco
Jocelyn Buras

Connecticut
Kelly Burns Gallagher - @kaburns1214
Jill Frier - @jillybeanruns
Mary Johnson - @itsamarython

District of Columbia
Prianka Nandy - @kaprian
Courtney Dredden - @EatPrayRunDC

Florida
Kristy Maxwell
Mary-Margaret Malone - @marymm
Atha Vermillion - @atha75

Georgia
Katie Randolph - @MamaRandolph
Amy Upshaw
Asher Kyger Henry - @AshKHenry

Hawaii
Susie Stephen - @longrunergy

Illinois
Beth Gillespie - @mellebeth
Hillary DeLong - @HillarySpeaks
Kristine Burgess - @KEJBurgess

Indiana
Lindsey Hein - @lindseyhein
Lauren Hanley - @LMHanley

Iowa
Karla Walsh - @karla522

Louisiana
Chelsea Gandolfi

Maine
Sara Bradley - @SaraBradley15

Maryland
Michelle Witten - @seenontherun
Stephanie Devlin - @stephchadevlin

lauren volee.jpg

Massachusetts
Lauren Leonard

Michigan
Alicia Curley - @acurls
Chelsie Noble - @ChelsieNoble

Minnesota
Dani Stack - @dani_stack3
Ali Jones - @am588
Tracy Sciacca - @tracyhirigoyen
Hyedi Nelson - @hyedi

Missouri
Megan Killian - @megankillian
Farron McIntee - @FarrLynn
Amanda Stanec - @movelivelearn

Montana
Heather Lieberg

Nebraska
Jayci Zakaras - @jaycizakaras
Michelle Paxon
Beckie Tuttle - @Beckietuttle

New Hampshire
Greer Thomas - @GreerThomas

New Jersey
Brennan McDavid - @yumrunner
Lauren Giannullo - @laurengiannullo
Catherine Haggarty - @KatieKate21
Greta Sieve - @grsieve

New Mexico
Debra Rivera - @_milestorun

New York
Gabrielle Kotkov - @marathonmacaron
Victoria Freile - @vfreile + @scootadoot
Phyllis Ying - @SmartStrongSane
Beth Isaac - @RxBethontheRun
Lisa Holt - @lisaholt5
Elissa Olin - @meversustheroad

North Carolina
Jolene Cannady
Carolyn Huang
Kristy Ratchford Crisp - @4human_rights

Ohio
Emily Nickles - @redemily1
Heidi Greenwood - @heidijogreen
Danielle Hunt - @dannigirl88

Oregon
Amy Jaggard - @amyjaggard
Marianne Falk - @mfalk4
Tammie Dubberly - @WBFitnessPdx
Jordyn Smith
Holly Roberts - @hroberts123
Emily Halnon - @emilysweats

Pennsylvania
Kristi Campbell - @runthelongroad
Danielle Murtha - @trailscocktails

Tennessee
Emily Siemer - @emiesiemie
Camille Crumpton - @ccrumpton

Texas
Melissa Carlson - @melissalicia512
Emilia Benton - @emmiemarieB
Lorraine Deichert - @5kraine
Lindsay Hazard
Landi Thompson - @preservingpolly

Virginia
Stephanie Granlund - @stefgranlund
Colleen Lerro - @ColleenLerro
Anna Miller - @amiller7905
Krissy Murphy - @krissymmurphy
Hollie Heimer - @fueledbylolz
Alison Furton - @akfurton

Washington
Rebecca Pattee - @rebeccaontherun
Jessica Graham - @jmelanko
Marti Riemer - @runningriemer
Robyn Broker - @runbirdierun
Laura Hunter - @LauraRD
Kimberly Spalsbury - @findingfitness7
Carrie Atwood - @sprklnld
Kayla Evans - @KaylaCEvans
Portia O'Callaghan - @runportiarun