After I had my first baby I enthusiastically did my first run the day she turned six weeks because that’s when everyone says you can/should start exercising again. And after not running through my pregnancy, I missed running. I ran for a few weeks and then had to stop for two months to regather my strength — one step forward, two steps back… Looking back, I can see that when that 6-week milestone arrived, I allowed myself to be steered by comparison and an unrealistic and often uninformed dialog about postpartum recovery and fitness rather than where I actually was at the time — which was the most depleted I’d ever been.

Personally, I find the notion that a woman should be ready or expected to start working out just six weeks after making a human being totally mind-boggling. Where that timeline comes from I’m not totally sure but it feels like a myth that very few are busting. Don’t get me wrong: The desire to get back to yourself/your body is real. And can most women who have been runners run around that time? Probably, because women are strong as hell. But should they? Good question.

How do we even define postpartum? It takes nine months to grow a baby and it takes at least that long — I’ve heard numbers ranging from nine months to two years from various medical professionals and bodyworkers — for your body to return to its pre-pregnancy state. This has nothing to do with how you look on the outside but instead refers to your internal organs, hormones, and more. But that isn’t part of the collective conversation around postpartum recovery. The only number I hear is the allegedly magical 6-week mark when you’re “recovered,” and apparently everything is supposed to go back to normal — you’re supposed to bounce back.

When I had my second baby this summer I vowed to myself that I’d approach recovery differently this time — that I’d do it right.

I was fortunate to birth my son at home with no medical intervention or injuries and cleared myself of all agenda for about three months after his arrival. I embraced a fourth trimester. Around the six week mark rather than putting on my running shoes, I got a rec from a couple mother runner friends to a physical therapist (if you’re in London go see The Maternity Physio, she’s brill!) who specializes in women’s health, in particular pre- and postnatal. She assessed my posture and stability and did an internal check of my pelvic floor — the integral hammock of muscles that support your reproductive organs, bladder, and more. She talked to me about how I was feeling and made recommendations in the context of my goals. I never received this level of support and information after having my first baby — I didn’t even know it existed but it has been game-changing.

While my doctor simultaneously told me around the same time that I was fine and could resume running — without any assessment of my internal state — my PT recommended that I wait six months before returning to running. Half a year. More than three times longer than the usual six-week recommendation. Waiting six months seems radical but I completely agree in principle because it takes a long time to recover from baby making and the reality is that those six months fly by so fast. Plus it’s worth the wait to recover fully and rebuild a foundation that’s capable of sustaining whatever level of running you want to chase. I mean, who wants to bounce back when you can move forward? 

While I was in no rush to run, in practice for me six months ended up being too long to wait. Around eight weeks postpartum I experienced a hormonal rollercoaster that manifested as dark moods, OCD tendencies, and what felt like endless crying. In my best moments, I was managing. In my worst, it felt like I wasn’t even there. Most days all I wanted to do was stand in the shower and listen to Fiona Apple. I felt totally blindsided and overcome, even with all the skills, support, and resources at hand. Turns out this is common. Many women experience a significant and physically/mentally tangible hormonal fluctuation between 6–8 weeks postpartum while the body stabilizes milk supply and two months of sleep deprivation sets in. Whether you’re experiencing postpartum depression or not, this science makes “getting cleared” at six weeks seem even more unrealistic and irresponsible. The whole timeline sets women up to struggle.

I went back to my PT and told her I needed to start running ASAP for my mental health and together we made a plan to make that happen sooner. I started running around 12 weeks postpartum — twice the usual time rec — and it’s made an immediate impact on my well-being. I don’t know if it’s the actual running or just the 30 minutes to myself, but it’s helping a lot. Recovery still feels very real so I continue to prioritize rest and focus on rebuilding my foundation with strategic PT and yoga because it’s those things that have actually enabled me to be able to enjoy running postpartum so far. I’m feeling stronger physically and mentally as each week passes now and that’s a progression that I’m really proud of because I don’t want to bounce back – I want to move forward.

My bout of postnatal depression was a wakeup call. It’s been in my darkest moments in the last few months — and really in the last year throughout my pregnancy — that the need to proactively take my well-being into my own hands has been clearest. It goes without saying that pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering is so different for every woman, every time. There’s no one “right” way to do any of it other than to do it in your own unique way that’s full of self-awareness and support, and free from timelines and comparisons. 

Here are some things that have helped me a lot over the last few months:

Celebrate rest. This (along with nutrition) is the #1 most important thing postpartum. It might not look as exciting or productive as the postpartum fitness/comeback hashtags you see on social media, but it’s more important in the early months. And it’s hard not to overdo it if you’re feeling good. If you feel good that’s awesome, but it doesn’t mean you’re not still recovering.

See a postnatal/women’s health/pelvic physical therapist. Whether or not you think you need it, this is incredibly valuable information and support. Even if you’ve pushed a baby out of your body it can be pretty mysterious what’s going on in there so arm yourself with awareness and information. Ask mom friends who’s helped them, get a referral from your doctor — get in there!

Speak up. Recovering from being pregnant and having a baby is hard. And being a mom is even harder. If you’re feeling blue, dark, depressed — whatever word best describes it for you — talk about it. It wasn’t until I started talking more openly with other moms that I started to feel better. For me, sharing the experience helps to normalize it, to make me feel less alone. Fleshman told me to “Bitch to other moms, it helps.” It sure does.

“Try again tomorrow.” In the past, this would have felt like a cop-out to me, an excuse. But now it’s become one of my most positive affirmations and a potent reminder that most things can wait right now. This applies to everything from emails to exercise to laundry and means things are taking a lot longer and I’ve become a lot more okay with that.

Work IN. This isn’t meant to be promotional but this has been instrumental in my postpartum recovery so I’m going to own it. I’ve honestly been referring back to my book Work IN often because the tools it offers for conscious — intentional — relaxation and recovery are so practical. And they work.

I’ve also shared two new postnatal routines that I created with help from my PT over on Jasyoga’s blog. If you’ve recently had a baby check them out and let me know how it goes!

And if you’re like me and just need to hear this from time to time, mamas: You are doing great.

Today’s the day! The one you’ve been dreaming of for the past year, since you crossed the finish line at last year’s NYC Marathon.

Today you get to line up with the world’s best to compete for a spot on top of the podium. For the chance to wave the American flag over your head in honor. For the opportunity to prove that you’re a force. To run on the biggest stage in the world’s best city. Your city. New York City. 

And you are more than ready to rise to the challenge. You’ve endured the struggle to come back from a broken foot. Even when it seemed impossible - when everything was going wrong, when you couldn’t finish a workout, when your foot was in pain every single step - you held onto optimism that you’d be back and better eventually. 

Your unrelenting perseverance to be the best version of yourself took you around the world and back to stand on the same starting line stronger, faster, and wiser.

This athlete that you’ve become is ready for anything. And the woman you’ve become - she is greater than any performance will be.

So, run free my dear, you have nothing left to prove.

Do the Thing -  By Courtney (Volée Leader, Cowbell Corner Queen, toeing the line at NYC)

You have trained for months to make it to the starting line. 

You have trained for months to do the thing. 

The thing requires so much preparation. So much training.

Early mornings. Long runs. Hot runs. Rainy runs. Cold runs.

Skipping happy hours. Going to bed early. Exhaustion. Hunger. Maybe even pushing through an injury.

All to get you to the starting line so you can do the thing. 

And now. 

It is time for you to do the thing. 

It is time for you to run the marathon. 

So step up. You belong here. Take your place.

Take those nerves and use them to power you through 26.2 miles of ups and downs (often literally - hello NYC and your bridges). 

Take it all in. Embrace the pain. Take it and own it. You know it’s coming so use it. 

You are stronger than the pain. 

Look at the crowds cheering. Take it all in. Embrace the excitement. Take the energy of the crowds and own it. They are cheering for YOU.

You are stronger than the pain. You are doing the thing. 

Remember these moments. Remember that you worked to get right where you are. 

And when the finish line comes within your view - take it all in. 

You earned that medal. You did the thing. Take it all in.

Head up, wings out!

Need a little more race day motivation? Check out a fan-favorite Do Not Open Until Race Day by Megan Murray.

I’ll always be a miler in my heart. A high knee prancer, slam the door kicker, not a grinder. 5k feels over-distance for me. I’m used to workouts predicting outcomes, and knowing exactly where my fitness is.

But as I looked next year’s 50^th birthday in the eyes, I felt compelled to try something completely unknown and unpredicted. Could I finish a marathon? What would happen? My body wasn’t doing me any favors. After finally kicking an injury to the curb in late Feb/March, I got my training ramping up in July only to get side-lined again in mid-September. C’mon, body! But I tripled down on PT, acupuncture, and cross-training, and was able to get through my 15+ miles of #MastersBirdstrike. So…I decided to strike while the iron was warm-ish.

In the favorable column:

• Sally was going to hold my hand through it. She’s an experienced and accomplished marathoner with two sub-3’s in her not-so-younger days. She’s used to my skittish roller-coaster ride, and would calm me down throughout.
• I wouldn’t be over-trained (haha).
• Coach Fleshman reminded me that if I was going to try it, I needed to have conditions of satisfaction for even getting to the line. OK.
• MarineCorpsMarathon “the peoples’ marathon” is known to be friendly, flat, and very well organized and supported. My hubs was born/raised in DC, we got married in Georgetown and lived there when we were running competitively post-college. The route is very familiar to me. I could drop out anywhere and find my way home.
• The #DMVVolée have a truly epic cowbell corner. If you can make it there (22 miles), you are going to finish.

In the not-so-favorable column:

• My longest run ever was this August at BigBirdcamp: 17 miles, and since then my longest run was 13 miles.
• One week before the race, I somehow tweaked my knee in a normal run and developed a painful knee effusion. In the 6 days before the race, I ran once—a 4-miler on Wednesday, that re-aggravated the knee.
• I’m the queen of sudden injuries, like 100% to boot in 30 seconds flat.

So…over/under on finishing at the start line? I was feeling confident, so about 60%. My knee hurt from the cannon, every step, but around mile 2 I just tuned it out and it receded. If you watched our Insta-story of the race, you know how it played out. It was like nothing I have ever done (even the 33 mile “Big Day” at Steens is very different). My marathon lessons:  

1. The joy you feel the first part of the race (for me, the first 11 miles) is pure and unadulterated, and will live on in your cells forever. Run. Joy.

2. Before anything starts to really hurt, you will notice your emotional state change from joy to sadness. You need to ignore your emotions.

3. You can eat a lot during a marathon (if your stomach is cooperating—mine did). 700 calories was an easy task (12 shot blocks and 3 gels).

4. You will fall in love with every person who locks eyes with you cheering you on. Deep, spiritual love.

5. If you have to stop to pee or poop, you will feel elated that your body is functioning and processing. You’re ok!

6. Every plan you had for how the race would go becomes completely irrelevant once you are racing. Kind of like childbirth.

7. Your plan to do a funny “climactic moment” at the choice 18.4 mile mark of the course might be replaced by a sobbing tribute to Dr. Ford. It’s ok.

8. Even if you LOVE drumlines in a fervently irrational way, you might find yourself thinking “fuck this drumline” at mile 19. It’s ok. You still actually love drumlines.

9. Even if you feel a pop in your big toe joint, scream out from the pain, and start hobbling walking, it doesn’t mean you are done. Unless you see a bone poking out or a tendon rolled up into your calf, your body might decide to shut that nerve down! Just choke down some ibuprofen and give it some time. 5 minutes can be magic.

10. The run self-pity you feel will be replaced by fierce anger and determination if you are presented with something that might actually keep you from finishing. Harness that anger.

11. You will start sobbing when you see your people at mile 22. Full-on, out of control. That shit is real.

12. You will think a fireball shot sounds like a good idea at mile 22.5. But once you sip it, you will second-guess and toss it aside.

13. You will feel jealous of all of those 5-ft runners in the last 3 miles. Actual thought bubble: “I wish I was that height. It’s easier for them to lift their legs.” That thinking is not productive.

14. At mile 25 when someone yells out “you’re almost there” you will think “one mile is so far, shut up, that is not almost there.”

15. Only when you visualize the finish line will you know for sure that you will finish.

16. When you cross the line, holding your run-lover’s hand, you will feel surprised, deeply satisfied, and so grateful. Hold on to those feelings, for your lifetime if you can.

I guess they didnt understand we wanted a picture together, so this poorly photoshopped image will have to suffice. 

17. If you try to flirt with the Marines in your post-race high state and they tell you, “good job, ma’am”, it’s ok. They are your kids’ ages anyway!

18. You will genuinely shout “I love this so much!” about a throwaway paper post-race jacket.

19. You will be 100% ok if you never run another marathon. But if your friends are already talking about Boston, you might think…well…maybe?

After a busy summer of mountain guiding, I'm so stoked to spend a couple of weeks at home in Seattle. I've spent five of the last seven months on the road, but this fall I've got big plans: I'm going to do yoga in my Lux Track Pants, snuggle Huckleberry, sleep in my own bed, and wax my skis, all while obsessively checking the snow reports at the pass. 

As I hang up my rock shoes and do never-ending wall sits to prep for shredding, I'm also dusting off my favorite gear for skiing and ice climbing — and I'm so stoked to share my favorite Oiselle layers for hitting the backcountry. 

• I'm newly obsessed with the Firecracker Earband. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine was killed because he was climbing without a helmet, so now I'm religious about making sure my brain bucket is in place — but damn, that thing really pushes my hair down into my eyes. So I just invested in the earband (love that Saturday color!), and I'm so stoked to not have my layers poking into my field of view. 
• Without a doubt, wool is the best baselayer for skiing. And I've said it before, but Oiselle's wool layers are the best on the market — period. I've tried Smartwool, Ibex, you name it, and nothing comes close to Wazzie Wool. I own the baselayer, the half zip, and the racerback tank (which I wear under EVERYTHING.) They're durable, they're soft, and they hold their shape when I accidentally toss them in the dryer with the rest of my gear. Next on my list of gear to purchase: the Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck Long Sleeve. 
• This is going to sound crazy, but the part of me that gets coldest when I'm on the mountain is my booty. To keep it warm, I've gotten into the habit of wearing shorts instead of undies when I'm shredding, and my current favorite is the Flyte Short. Seamless, comfortable, and they never ride up. 
• Every skier worth their salt knows that a day on the slopes isn't complete without a rowdy apres-ski celebration, and I'm fully embracing the post-shred life with the Race Day Track Pants. They're my new go-to for long flights, recovery days, and driving to and from the mountains. My only problem? Now I want them in both colors.
• Shout-outs to the Ceto One Piece. Because hot tubs. 

BY: ALLIE BIGELOW

As we all know, if you run for long enough you are pretty much bound to find yourself staring down an injury. In my 25 years of running I have contended with injuries that came out of nowhere (I once broke a bone in my foot in the middle of an 800 meter repeat), and others that build slowly, sneaking up on you but finally shift from a niggle to a full blown injury that demands attention.

This was my situation this past spring, when a literal pain in my butt started to bother me in late January. At first it was manageable – dry needling, rolling and massage could keep it at bay for weeks at a time, and my running didn’t suffer. But those pain-free weeks slowly turned into days and then into hours, and in late April, from the sidelines of the Tenacious 10, I texted my physical therapist and said “I need an MRI; I think I have a pelvic fracture”.

It turns out I was right – I did need an MRI. But my injury was not the “worst case scenario” fracture I expected…it was worse. The pain in my butt was a severe case of high hamstring tendinopathy, with two of my three hamstring tendons each torn 1/3 of the way through up at the insertion point and one pulling on the bone enough to cause a stress reaction.  

Once we figured out what was wrong with me, I was left with the following knowledge:

• I was really pretty severely injured. 
• The recovery was going to be LONG. 
• This particular injury is pesky and has a high rate of re-injury, especially if it isn’t managed carefully.
• There were things I could do to potentially have a positive effect on my outcome.
• Even after a long layoff and careful management there was still about a 30% chance that I wouldn’t recover and would need surgery.

My diagnosis came in mid-May, and my physical therapists immediately told me to not expect to run until at least September 1^st. While I was still dealing with the shock of the injury and the massive layoff that stretched out before me, I was also aware that my only option at this point was to decide, very clearly, how I was going to approach the next 4 months of my life. To be a little cliché, there are times when we can’t control our circumstances, but we can always control our responses to them. This was DEFINITELY one of those situations. 

As I began to develop a plan for recovery I quickly learned that healing from a hamstring tendon injury was different than any other injury recovery I had tackled in the past, mostly because it necessitated a cocktail of rest, strengthening, medical intervention, physical therapy and nutritional support. I often wonder if I could have skipped some of what I did, but at 45 years old I felt like I really needed to throw everything possible at the injury to increase my chance at success, so that is what I did and frankly I have zero regrets…because damnit, it worked! 

I really want to emphasize that what follows is what worked for me, and for this specific injury, and that I was able to pursue such comprehensive treatment by virtue of my excellent health insurance coverage. That said, when you strip the specifics away, the basic principles are the same ones I have used to help me recover from all of my major injuries, and they have worked for me time and time again.

My recovery plan included the following:

1. Find an expert to manage your care and be your advisor. I saw my physical therapist (the incomparable Carol Dubbels at Run Raleigh PT) every other week for the bulk of my layoff; she helped direct the recovery process and kept the rest of my body in line so my hamstring wasn’t being stressed by an out of whack sacrum or a tight adductor. But the most important role my PT served was that of expert. I trust her implicitly and follow her advice without second guessing. Turning over this level of management of my injury helped ensure that I wasn’t impetuous and kept my stupid choices to a minimum. 
2. Choose a cross-training activity that you can tolerate and will actually keep up with so you can maintain sanity and fitness. I swam with a pull buoy (no kicking!) and only pushed off the wall with my good leg. You cannot imagine my joy when I was cleared to flip turn AND push off with both legs. I eventually added in walking (see below) and the elliptigo. None of these are my sport of choice, but they kept me busy and ensured that when I was cleared to return to run I wouldn’t be woefully out of shape. 
3. Research medical interventions and consider them. After a lot of research I chose to have three PRP injections over the course of a week and a half. I really debated these: there isn’t a ton of conclusive evidence regarding their efficacy in my particular injury, they aren’t covered by insurance and they aren’t particularly cheap. But the risk was low, the potential reward was high, I am solidly middle aged, and my body doesn’t heal as well as it used to, so I decided to include them in my protocol. I have zero regrets.
4. Find something to strengthen, even if it is unrelated to the injury itself. Whenever I am laid up I always choose a weakness to work on so I can return to running better than when I left it. In this case progressive core and hip/glute/hamstring strengthening was imperative to proper healing, so I included PT exercises, core and strength work almost every day of the week.
5. Rest. Fortunately after the first two weeks completely off this injury didn’t require a ton of full rest, but when my PT or my body called for it, I listened without hesitation.
6. Incorporate nutritional support, if recommended. I took collagen based on anecdotal evidence that it would help the tendon heal and beet extract (nitrous oxide) to help with skeletal muscle repair. I also took vitamins D and K, as well as magnesium, but I really cannot recall why. 
7. Start back with walking. I know…we are runners and we don’t like to walk. But when I was cleared to walk I dutifully did so as a way to prepare my body for a return to running. This helped my brain re-learn the proper firing patterns and transitioned the strength work I had done into functional, moving strength.
8. Make yourself accountable. Once we set my return to run date I carefully drew 110 blank check boxes on a sheet of paper and committed to checking one off each day – but only after I had done the activities (or rest) appropriate for the day. I cannot tell you how many times the desire to cross off a box was the difference between sleeping in and doing the PT work I needed to do to heal properly. The paper gave me structure, tracked and demonstrated progress, and helped me remain patient because I could always see that even when it didn’t seem like it, there was an end in sight.
9. Don’t lose touch with your community. I cannot emphasize this enough! Despite my desire to wallow and hide I continued to attend all of our NC Volée meetups and participate in my regular Monday night yoga and beer routine, even when I couldn’t run or really do yoga. I went on 3 running vacations during my layoff, swimming and strength training when everyone else ran, just for the social aspect. I cowbelled, cheered and volunteered at races. When running friends asked what they could do for me I answered them, point blank, “don’t forget about me”. And for the record, my friends were amazing, so much so that they deserve special mention here. They gamely tolerated my freak outs and celebrated every single bit of progress, no matter how small. They bought me beer and took me to dinner. They even met me at the pool to swim alongside me. There is no way to accurately quantify how important their support was to my healing process, and my only hope is that they know how grateful I am.
10. And finally, don’t rush the comeback. Being cleared to run doesn’t equate to “go run 5 miles fast”. For me, my return to running started with the following sequence: 2 minutes of drills/30 meter run/walk back. I repeated this a whopping 5 times on day one and was EXHAUSTED. But thanks to all the work I had done already, my hamstring was ready for the load and responded incredibly well. I quickly progressed to 70 meters, then 100, then onward, always with walk intervals. Almost two months later my walk breaks are short, just about 30 steps, and they now take place only once in a mile, but they are critical as they allow my body to reset itself and not perpetuate any bad biomechanical patterns that may have cropped up. In the early weeks of running my hamstring simply wasn’t ready to run without breaks, and I am 100% sure that if I hadn’t committed to following my PT’s plan I would have reinjured the hamstring and started the cycle over again.

You may have noticed as you read this, but there’s really nothing sexy or mysterious about proper injury recovery. It all just comes down to discipline, patience, rest and work. Fortunately that’s what we runners are good at, so once you get your arms around a recovery process it can actually be as rewarding as any training cycle is.

For me, when all was said and done I was actually cleared to begin running on August 23^rd, a full week before my predicted return to running. Since those first 5 reps of 30 meters of jogging I have been able to progress at a shockingly fast rate, and much to my surprise I was cleared to run the Bourbon Chase Relay with my Oiselle Masters Birdstrike teammates last weekend. Running the relay had been off the table from the day I was diagnosed, and while I was more than happy to serve the team as a driver, being cleared to run (and making it through all 3 legs!) was by far the best bookend I could have imagined for this injury. Those 12 miles of running with my badass masters teammates were full of love, support, grit, hilarity and exhausted glee, and they made every single moment of diligent rehab and recovery worthwhile. 

There’s a new Wazzie Wool in town, and she’s very extra. Like all Wazzie Wool, it starts with merino from New Zealand and, importantly, for animal lovers - ZQ Certified Wool. New Zealand is one of the only countries that absolutely forbids any animal cruelty in the raising of sheep. For these styles, we chose a beautiful 100% merino yarn. Wool and cashmere are Mother Nature's "you're welcome" performance fibers - keeping you warm and dry, naturally.

So what does the weight feel like? It’s thicker than our Classic Wazzie Wool (which is still amazing, with 93% merino, 7% spandex), but still lighter than a traditional wool sweater. Like all O apparel, it’s ready for sport AND life. In fact, I’m just now returning from the Bourbon Chase Ragnar Relay in Kentucky, where I got to see the new jacquard in action. I brought a sample of the Wazzie Wool Jacquard Mile One Pullover for my teammates to check out...and I was so happy to see Meredith Bazemore adopt it! It was on before her runs, when the night and dark fell hard. And it was on right after. And it was on her almost the entire 24-hour race, without smell factor, so that pretty much said it all.

The temps were in the 40’s to 50’s, so it wasn’t called into duty on the run — but that’s exactly what these pieces are designed for. Sub-30’s, sub-20’s, or anytime you need that true wool performance (hiking, skiing, climbing, outdoors-ing). 

The Mile One. Our classic mock neck sweater design with extra long sleeves so you can snuggle hands within.

The Half Zip. A classic, an athlete staple, ready to go - with a small chest pocket.

The Jacquardigan (jacquard +cardigan) because every winter needs a good cardigan (or two)

Girl Code. The unspoken rules among women friends. There’s the Urban Dictionary version. (I mean, Point 19, “Chicks before dicks” nuf said). But this special pattern is exclusively O. It has the appearance of a mystery. A foreign code. Something to decipher. But it also has the  appearance of something familiar… a combination of abstract letter- and number-like shapes that reflect the sport world data-crunching. Shapes, pattern, meaning…where you make it, on the women’s team, in the Girl Code.

Like all Wazzie Wool, the Girl Code Jacquard is responsibly sourced, washer/dryer friendly, and ready to rock your run (though not required).

And it’s BACK! Our beloved, original Wazzie Wool knit (93% merino/7% spandex), back in the Baselayer, an updated Funnel Neck, and more. New colors: Blaze and Curfew (and Black of course) are ideal for this luscious knit, light enough to workout in, warm enough to keep you dry and insulated - and of course, anti-stink - one of wool’s major upsides. 

We hope you enjoy all the woolly goodness. From the wool-wearing PNW with love, go forth and stay outside!

TRIPLETS, WEEK 1.

I'm not sure what the date is anymore or the day of the week. I can tell you that it is exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes before the next feed, that I have mixed 24 bottles in the last 24 hours and have changed 27 diapers including 2 blowouts and spent about 8 hours feeding babies.

Steph and I brought our triplets home on Saturday at 4 days of age. Steph had the most remarkable triplet pregnancy by having zero complications and made it to what is considered “full term” for triplets which is 35 weeks. The babies were born 2 and ½ minutes apart. They came out crying and the first thing we said to each other is “they are so big and hairy!” We had two 5 pounders and 1 just under. Steph and I were expecting a NICU stay and didn't pack a baby bag figuring we wouldn't need it until they were discharged. We were very shocked when we found ourselves with 3 tiny babies the first night all to ourselves. 

If you were to walk into our house these days you would find babies scattered about like throw pillows, maybe 1 on the couch in their lounger, another in the swing and 1 probably on the changing table getting the zillionth change of the day. The biggest advice we got from everyone was keep a schedule in order to keep your sanity. Due to the small size of our babies we feed them around the clock every 3 hours. It functions similar to a production line. The bottles go into the warmer about 5 minutes before feed time. 1 baby at a time gets changed and then placed into a pair of empty arms to be fed. So far at least once a night 1 baby gets mistaken for the other but we are getting there! The exact amount of formula (or minutes on the breast because Steph breast feeds 1 baby a feed) gets recorded in our triplet time book. This book is a lifesaver! The feedings consist of coaxing the preemies to stay awake and drink. Feeds take about an hour then it's clean up time, Steph pumps and it's practically time for the next one. Night shifts are rough and I find myself nodding off to sleep right along with whichever baby I may be feeding. 

We have ventured out of the house twice to doctor appointments. We jigsaw our 2 strollers, 2 diaper bags, snacks, and 3 car seats without an inch to spare and only had to turn around once for a forgotten item. We high fived each other as we rolled in right on time.

We are slowly adapting to this new life and know as soon as we get this stage down, we will be on the to next. We are beyond exhausted but keep each other laughing at every step. Our conversations have evolved to the intricacies of what newborn poop should look like, nipple shapes, and lot's of “is this normal?” The coffee pot is always on around here, showers are a treat and if you can sneak in a nap longer than a few hours you feel fantastic! Sometimes it seems like we are on auto mode, changing diapers, feeding, recording but we are slowly getting better and adapting to this new life. We are brand new to being moms and have a fantastic support system in place to make sure our 3 new littles keep thriving. 

All 3 babies are so different and we love getting to know them every day. I have never been this exhausted in my life but I would not change it for anything. Thank goodness for the Oiselle lux tights, flyte long sleeves and basically everything else lux. It is soft and baby snuggle approved. Plus, it can handle the spit up, pee and poop that constantly seem to be flowing around here. We laugh a whole lot and sometimes cry a little. We nap when we can and enlist friends and family for night help and meals. Each phase is fleeting that will pass before we are ready and we are trying to stay in the moment and soak it all in. 

When we first announced that we were taking applications for our brand new Straight Scoop reviewer program, we knew that the response would be BIG. And, boy howdy, it WAS. Over 800 applications big!

In choosing our finalists, both as individuals and as a group, we looked to achieve the following:

• a wide range of body shapes and sizes represented
• athletes living in different geographic locations with varying climates
• varying types and levels of athletic endeavors and distance
• diversity and inclusivity
• a group of rad people who like to let their personality shine

We knew we could never include every single type of runner in the final batch of just 17 reviewers, but gosh darn it, we were gonna try.

As the finalists were narrowed down, 3x5 cards were labeled with info, maps were drawn, star charts were consulted, prayers and offerings were made, sleep was lost…and we ended up with an awesome group of women/womxn. And while there’s no way to represent every runner in every part of the country, our hope is that you find a piece of your own running journey represented below.

We loved reading all these little biographies and getting to know these runners better, and we know you will, too. And for everyone who submitted an application, know that we GREATLY appreciate you and your willingness to put your bodies on the line for the company. Much love.

Ladies and Gentleladies, here are your Straight Scoop reviewers for Fall 18 and Spring 19 flystyle!

Michaela – Minneapolis, Minnesota

I'm a runner-turned-triathlete who lives in the Twin Cities, where summers can be hot and humid and winters are infamously cold, with temperatures well below zero. I like to run outside year-round, but I'll hop on the treadmill if conditions are really icy. I average around 20 miles a week, and my favorite race distance is the Half Ironman 70.3. I like wearing shorts and tanks in the summer, and in the winter you'll find me in fleece-lined tights, long sleeves, gloves, a vest or jacket, wool socks, and a balaclava. The cold is no joke!

When I'm not running (or biking or swimming), I'm usually covered in cats. I have four ginger rescue kitties -- Mari, Maček, Mouse, and Magnus -- and I love them like crazy. #catladylife forever!

Courtney – Washington, D.C.

I live and work in Washington, D.C., which is hot and humid for about half the year. We get four seasons but summer seems to be the longest. We usually have at least one big snow and many super cold days during the winter. I run hot so in the summer that I'm always in shorts and a tank. I am a big fan of layering in the winter (see, I run hot). 

I run year round and when I'm marathon training, and average around 40 miles a week. 

Outside of running, I lead diversity and inclusion at a large law firm. I am a dog mom to a ridiculous cute mini doxie, a huge Alabama football fan, and slightly obsessed with bacon.

Sharon – Bismarck, North Dakota

I am an all-seasons runner, as temperatures here in Bismarck range from below 0°F up into the 90s. I run or walk four or more miles daily, and enjoy doing both to keep up my fitness.  My favorite races have been the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and the Seattle Space Needle climb (Base2Space). I’m a former bodybuilding champ, so I still weight train. I also enjoy tennis (USTA 3.5), bicycling, and winter sports.

I love everything from skorts and bra tank tops to fleece leggings, as well as wool and down – I wear exercise clothes every day!  Also, pockets are a must!  I always carry my phone and love my Bluetooth headphones.  I love listening to audiobooks while working out.

I’m an optometrist, wife, mother, grandmother to two grandsons and a granddog.  When I have time to sit still, I love papercrafts, knitting and crocheting, and sewing.  I have sewn everything from down jackets and cycling jerseys to leotards, so I pay close attentions to details when I purchase workout gear.  

Nicole – New York, New York

I am located in New York City and try my best to run outside year round; however, NYC can get extremely hot and humid during the summer and cold and snowy during the winter, so I am not ashamed to retreat to the treadmill.  I prefer to run in spandex shorts and a tank top (black or muted colors usually preferred).  When I'm not training or watching Great British Bake Off with my dog, I work full time as a Software Engineer.  

Whitney J. – Portland, Oregon

I live on the hilly west side of Portland and run year-round, almost exclusively after dark. My training is aimed at a yearly marathon and multiple half-marathons, averaging about 15 miles per week. My attire consists of calf or full-length running tights with tank tops for summer and long sleeves in winter. Reflective details are a bonus and insulated layers for cold or wet weather are a must.

When I’m not at working at my job in music publishing or hitting the pavement, I am singing with my choir, giving tours of the city, or planning my next travel adventure. 

Whitney K.  – Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (via Montpelier, Vermont)

I'm an international teacher living and running in the deserts of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It's always 95-115 degrees Fahrenheit with a mix of unforgiving Persian Gulf humidity and the unsheltered landscape. I share my weekly 18 miles of sunset runs with my husband, daughter, and a global running club, The Dhahran Road Runners Club (DRRC). 

I live in shorts and tees under my abaya but have grown accustomed to sun protection offered by capris and long sleeves. 

I am fortunate to work in one of the first ever Saudi family daycares here on the international compound. The rapport I have with families allows me insight into an extraordinary beauty here that would otherwise pass me by. I live for coffee and I'm drawn to textiles found in Middle Eastern souks. 

Diana – Missoula, Montana

I live and run in Missoula with my almost famous dog, Cody. I’m out on the road, trail or track year round, although I’m addicted to watching full replays of races on the treadmill come January. I typically log 25-40 miles a week, so I’m always ready to sign up for the next half marathon. If it’s not too hot, I run in capris or tights with anything from a tank to a half-zip. I’ll put on shorts if I have to.

When I’m not running, I’m working as a copywriter and launching a blog with the tentative title Old Dames on the Run, for runners of a certain age and beyond.

Lindsey – Bozeman, Montana

I get to live and run in the always beautiful Bozeman, Montana. This gives me the full gamut of running conditions which means I range from shorts and tank tops to tights, long sleeves, hats, and gloves. I’m a small business owner in the construction industry, always trying to drive more nails than I bend. I always love time spent with family (my nieces are the best), and looking forward to some solid skiing as the season gets underway. 

Crescent – Nashville, Tennessee

I run, live, and play in Nashville, Tennessee. I am an all seasons runner; however, my favorite running seasons are spring and fall. I average about 25 miles a week, and my new favorite distance is the 10K. I typically run in shorts, tanks and crops. I am a proud member of the #sportsbrasquad during Tennessee’s hot and humid summers. 

When I’m not running, I enjoy reading, checking out new restaurants in town, and listening to live music. 

Kolbe – Dallas, Texas

I’m a native Texan who has lived all around the state, but these days I’m running the streets of Dallas. Most of my 20-30 mile weeks are under sunshine and warm temperatures, but I do brave the Texas winters to run my favorite distance, the half marathon. You’ll find me in shorts and sports bras most often, except when winter hits. Bring on the tights, tanks, and arm sleeves!

My days are spent teaching eighth grade English language arts and reading, my evenings are filled with happy hours, book clubs, and continuing my Friday the 13th tattoo streak.

Marie – Denver, Colorado

I run in Denver and in the mountains of Colorado. When I’m not training for a marathon I typically run around 15 miles per week either on paths near my house or trails in the foothills. I’d run in a tank top year round if my arms wouldn’t freeze off, and I switch up my shorts for leggings or capris when the temperature drops. 

In real life I’m a graphic designer/social media manager. My free time is spent backpacking, climbing, riding my bike to new breweries, reading, and knitting hats for my friends! 

Bekah – Boston, Massachusetts

I'm a full-time reader (aka grad student) and part-time runner in Boston, Massachusetts, which means I run in all climates--sometimes all in the space of a single week! My fall running uniform is all about the layers: tights or capris, a tank top, a long-sleeve shirt, and something on the outside (and yes, usually all black!). I run around 20 miles a week and enjoy training for half marathons. When I'm not running or reading, I love to hike, practice yoga, and I'm always on the lookout for good recipes that use lots of CSA produce!

Ellen – Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City is a flat place, but as a recreational runner my mileage goes up and down. Favorite distance to train for: The half-marathon. Love, love, love my layers which are essential when you run hot in the bitter cold—but if I could, I'd wear capris and a tank top all year round. When not running I'm reading, watching Oscar-bait movies, or goofing around on Twitter. 

Nykia – Montclair, New Jersey

I run and reside in Montclair with my husband and daughter. I’m an all-seasons runner who averages around 20 miles per week and enjoy training for marathons. My favorite is Chicago. I love running in capris and long sleeves.

Running helps reduce the stress of working at an investment firm. I am a volunteer coach with Girls on the Run, I love hiking, and hope to learn how to swim by spring. 

Ali – Anchorage, Alaska

I live in Anchorage, Alaska, home to an amazing trail system. I run and swim all year, and also ski in the winter and bike whenever there’s no snow. I’m a petite triathlete who runs around 15 miles a week and enjoys half marathons. Given the erratic weather here, I like to wear layers, including tank tops, long sleeves, tights or capris, and a water-resistant top layer. During the dark winter months, I prefer reflective outer clothing. I am also an attorney who loves to find new ways to cook salmon, explore new cities and villages, and visit my lovely local libraries.  

Jaime – Flagstaff, Arizona

I live in Flagstaff, Arizona with my sister and dog. I’m an all-seasons trail runner, averaging 15 miles per week. I mostly train for 10k runs. I love running in shirts with sleeves, sports bras, and tights/capris.

I am Diné (Navajo), from the Tsénjikíní (Cliff-Dwelling People) and Lók’aa’Dine’é (Reed People) Clans. I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Master’s in Forestry to contribute back to my community. I currently work on air policy and climate change issues on Tribal lands. In my free time, I am an avid hiker, stand-up paddleboarder, and runner. 

Lauren – Salt Lake City, Utah

I live in Salt Lake with my husband and my four-legged training partner (a 6-year-old lab/whippet mix). I love trail running in the mountains and deserts of Utah. It is such a magical place! I typically run 30+ miles a week and am currently digging trail half marathons.  I am a tank top, shorts, and hat kind of gal, but will resort to tights and jackets in the winter (no frostbite here!).

When not staring at linesheets and creating purchase orders, you’ll find me playing in the mountains on my mountain bike and participating in my newest love, cyclocross racing!

Look for the first batch of Straight Scoop reviews coming next month!

Heads up, new running gear on, wings out!

BY: MARIA BALL, VOLÉE

The date was Friday, September 28. The night before, I sat down with my husband and mapped out my 16-mile long run that I was planning to run the next day. I was training for the NYC Marathon and had to squeeze in my long run for the week before hopping on a flight back to Baltimore for the weekend. I planned my route so that I would be avoiding the “sketchy” parts of Ballard & Fremont before the sun was up because I didn’t want to risk being attacked. I decided to run laps around Green Lake instead. 

I woke up that morning, had my oatmeal, laced up my running shoes, put on my headlamp and drove over to Green Lake. I parked in the same parking lot I always park in and took off on my run. I decided to stick to the outer loop of Green Lake until the sun came up.

As I made my way around the lake, I came to Ravenna Boulevard and decided to add some mileage on by running up it. I had run this route a few times before with my running group on Saturday mornings. As I began running underneath the I-5 bridge, I felt a little unsafe because I saw a man walking in my direction who had a dark hoodie on and blue jeans. It was only 6:20 in the morning, so I figured maybe he was just out on a walk and it seemed a little bit off but not too alarming. I continued running. I made my way back towards Green Lake, and I saw another woman who I thought I knew who was also running. I thought to myself, “Maybe I should say hi if I catch up to her!” I never saw her again.

I was about 4 miles into my run when all of a sudden I felt someone come up from behind me and grab each of my breasts and I thought to myself, “This is not okay I need help I need help now!!!” I used all of my might and screamed as loud as I could. At this point, my attacker had reached between my legs and grabbed my crotch. In those moments I remember how Kelly Herron, a fellow Oiselle Volée and Seattle runner, fought off a rapist on one of her runs last Spring. I shoved my elbows back, hitting my attacker’s rib cage, and screamed even louder! By the time I turned around to look at my attacker’s face, he had taken off. 

In those moments right after I was attacked, I felt as if the world around me stopped and I was the only one that was aware of what had happened. I remember making eye contact with the woman who is sitting in her car nearby telling her to call the police immediately. At this point, four others had come out of their houses immediately came to my side to help me. One of them called the police, one of them took off on foot looking for my attacker and the other two comforted me. I am so thankful for these people. I don’t remember their names all I know is that they saved my life. 

Once the police were called, I chose to run about a half a mile back to Green Lake to meet the police since I did not feel safe in the area where I was attacked. I got to the Starbucks and met with the three police officers. I recounted my story to them and they assured me that this was indeed sexual assault and they will do everything in their power to catch the man who did this to me. Unfortunately, I did not see my attacker’s face, so their hunt is a little more challenging. The police officers told me to be sure to share what happened to me with other runners I know so that they are aware. They were the kindest and most compassionate and empathetic police officers I have ever met.   

I decided to share what happened to me on Facebook, and by the end of that day, I had been contacted by six different news and radio stations in Seattle asking me to do interviews. I was exhausted, but I agreed to do them. I was back at the scene of my attack that afternoon for interviews and I’m so glad I spoke out so quickly after my attack. I may have still been in shock, but I wanted to do everything I could to get the word out about what happened to me.

Early that next week, another woman came forward who had been attacked in the same area of town and the same time of day as me, just a week earlier. She thanked me for having the courage to speak out, because it gave her the courage to speak out, too. Her attacker fit the same description as mine. The cops are working hard to find the man who did this terrible, terrible thing and I hope that by me continuing to speak out, others are more aware of what could happen. I’m so thankful I took a self-defense class so I knew to use my voice. My voice was my most powerful weapon in the moments immediately after my attack and will continue to be my most powerful weapon as I speak out about what happened to me.

The beautiful thing about traveling a decent distance to a race is the decompression time to process while getting back home. 

This weekend was momentous. So I needed a good moment to unwind. 

A Oiselle masters relay was the brainchild of Allie Bigelow, who reached out in January or February when the other Ragnar #podiumproject teams were getting ramped up. “Wouldn’t it be awesome to do an all-masters bird relay?” I was still injured then, but the idea was impossible to resist. We’ve got this killer squad of masters runners on the team. Kind of an unbelievable abundance. Being masters, our roster went through so many scratches and additions over the ensuing 9 months. “I’m injured.” “I’m back.” (repeat X many) Our final roster was set 7 days before the relay. And miraculously, Allie, who had scratched about a month after we registered as a team, was cleared to run. 

The team: [Van 1]: Maria Elena, Meredith, Allie, me, Dara, Sally+ Erin T. driving; [Van 2]: Shelley, Jackie, Kristina, Catherine, Christy, Jungle Chicken+ Tasya driving. I mean, what a squad, right? Amongst us: Olympian (Maria Elena), 2:40 marathoner at Berlin 3 weeks ago (Catherine), 5th Ave. Mile winner (Christy), and a bucket load of fierce and fast racers, smart cookies, and compassionate souls. But you can never quantify for the unknown element of magic. 

Before this I’d only done one other relay (HTC with EMC in 2013 when I was 44—which was a dream, and a very positive running experience for me). But I’ve been in a fierce battle with my body for the last 2 years: on and off 3-6+ month injuries, elusive fitness, inconsistent workouts, and intermittent decimating fatigue. Sally and Fleshman have had to put up with a lot. I got an MRI to rule out a sacral stress fracture 3 weeks ago (talk about pain in the butt). And those fast and free feelings while running have been elusive. I think the last workout I felt normal-ish was in mid-July when Fleshman came up for a photoshoot and we did mile, 4x800, 4x400, mile. So I was thankful to be cleared to run, but also super nervous about if and how well my body would perform. That rolling the dice feeling as a runner never sits well with me. I like to have some swagger. I’m a worrier, not a warrior. 

When Sally and I landed in Louisville, we immediately were taken under the wings of our team, especially our leaders Allie, Meredith, and Dara. We could behave like children (and we often did) and they would just take care of us. What an absolute blessing for us to be shepherded around and not have to plan a single thing. Just show up. 

The pre-relay prep was smooth, with Sally leading van decoration design and dropping a bunch of matching #flystyle on the team. I mean, just add #flystyle to make any situation awesome. Our local-ish teammates Tasya, Erin, Kristina, and Shelley did the heavy logistics lifting, including bringing us pillows and blankets. And then it was time to go to the start! 

Bourbon Chase takes a twisty-turny roundabout route from Louisville to Lexington, hitting the major Bourbon distilleries along the way. (The Bourbon tourist set must be a little perplexed by the smelly scantily clad deluge over this weekend). As we did some poppin and lockin at the start line, it was clear that these masters were going to show up big-time. All-in for every minute. 

The entire race is already a blur. We started late (4pm), with only 4 teams which quickly separated, meaning 2 pretty-much-solo nighttime legs for most of us. As fierce, autonomous women who do scary shit, it was humbling to feel vulnerable and lost in the middle of who knows where. Many of us independently had the thought of “I could be abducted and killed here and no one would ever know what happened.” 

My first leg (5.2 miles) was a nightmare of hills. Crazy hills where I looked at my watch once and saw 10+ minute pace while full throat gasp breathing like I was a frog charging Mt. Everest. I passed a guy (who was walking) and the only thing I could think of to say is “this hill sucks balls.” Channeling Fleshman. (He grunted back at me.) I was desperate to not let the team down. I averaged 7:08’s on that first leg. And it completely decimated me.

Whoops. 

Reality hit for me during my second leg. It was the middle of the night (like 1:30am). It was raining. It started up a big hill. While waiting for the slap bracelet from Allie, my body felt destroyed from my first run, my legs were throbbing and my lungs were aching like I’d just raced an indoor 1,000m. My gas tank was empty, and I had over 6 miles waiting for me. I prayed for something magical…one of those (for me) mid-40’s pleasant surprises of “wow, I didn’t know I could still do that!” So…that didn’t happen. 

I got the slap from Allie with a nice fresh dude, who had just told his buddies he felt like he could average 5-lows. Yeah the 1^stplace men’s team had just caught us. He disappeared in about 60 seconds. And then it was just me, with a head lamp illuminating the raindrops in a mesmerizing/disorienting way, a weird shadow from the brim of my hat, and a road that I couldn’t determine the slope of by vision. I wanted to push, but my gasping/grunting breath from the first leg was back after the first 1.5miles. My “keep it respectable” mantra gave way to some dark thoughts. Yes, I felt fear and vulnerability. I narrowly missed stepping on a big dead road-kill possum and shrieked. But mostly, I was disappointed in myself and just wanted to be faster. “Maybe I should just stop.” “Why can’t I breathe right?” “Where is my strength?” “I can never run a marathon.” I played a highlight reel of every miserable running experience in my life. And then I thought back to my senior year in high school, when I was just learning how to do tempos (we called them Lydiards), and my coach Steve McChesney paced me through 4 miles. We were aiming for my first tempo sub-6. Mentally, I was completely done at 2.5 miles. I was gasping/grunting breathing. But, I kept going. It was awful, but I did it, averaging 5:58’s. (And yep, he still gives me shit about how noisy I was.)

When I remembered this HS run, my mantra changed to “just keep going.” I didn’t look at my splits. I would try to quiet my breathing as a few more fast men’s teams passed me, to preserve a modicum of dignity. I peed my shorts (pocket joggers in big blue). I cried a little bit but it made my breathing a lot worse. And then I came up with a diversion tactic (knowing that the brain interprets the taste of sugar as energy). I had 2 shot blocks in a leftover picky bar wrapper in my pocket, in case of emergencies. I bit off a third of a block and put it in my cheek, to absorb into my gums like a little wad of chewing tobacco. There was no way I could actually chew and swallow it while gasping/grunting breathing. The flavor was gross. I kept the other 2/3 of the block in my right hand, all gooey and sticky. When one side of my mouth tasted too nasty for me to handle, I would transfer the mess to the other side and a fresh gum. And thus passed over 6 miles of running survival. It may sound unlikely, but I think that was the hardest running I have ever done. Ever. Running 7:38 average pace. I shouted Dara’s name when I saw the handoff area. I was so relieved to hand off to her. Relieved, disappointed in myself and my body, sad, but knowing that I actually had given 100%. 

It took me a good chunk of time to collect myself after that leg. By the time I settled my shock and awe feelings, Sally had finished her second leg and all 7 of us Van 1-ers were snuggling in a hotel room with 1 king bed and 2 couches, pre-warmed by our Van 2 teamies and their little love note to us. My resting pulse was in the 90’s. Sally and I shared a fold-out coach and spooned. And my attitude adjusted. My body was allowing me to participate in this amazing experience. And I should be grateful. And I was grateful. What a gift. 

We’d started a MastersBirdstrike text string (with the exception of Iphone-less Kristina), which became our source of life for the weekend. As we updated after each leg, a few things became clear: 

• These women did not mess around. Every single bee-yatch was throwing down a ridiculous performance, for every leg. These women are GRITTY!
• Grace and humor abounded. Yep, we made mistakes. Missed some turns. Messed up meeting points. But only affection and support were communicated. Love is powerful, my sisters! 
• Masters women get shit done. Apparently, once a woman reaches her 40’s she can pretty much do anything.* Hotel room with key transition plan for each team to get 2-3 hours horizontal time? Check. Personal laminated direction cards for each runner, each leg? Check. Work conference calls DURING THE RELAY? Check. Manage kid pickup from sports to social activity, 1,000 miles away? Check. Prepare for deposition? Check. Change a tampon in the van? Check. Make infinite chicken jokes? Check. 

And then it was time for my final leg. A shorty, just 3 miles, with only mild elevation changes. I started my creaky shuffle warmup and my pulse immediately bounced to 160. HA! My body was tired, but functioned. I squeaked in under sub-7 pace. Did my third dry-heave handoff moment. And remarkably, felt emotionally recharged. I belonged here. These were my women. And I would do anything for them. 

The crazy thing is, every single one of my teammates has their individual narrative about this weekend, their runs, paranoid middle of the night thoughts, crazy driving episodes, their doubts, their throw-down moments. And each one of those 14 chapters came together like puzzle pieces to form a magical story. We averaged 7 minute pace as a team for the 200 hilly miles (Christy Peterson’s 6:11 44^thbirthday celebration leg was one highlight!). We finished a narrow 2^ndoverall women’s team time, with an average team age of 44 ½. Most importantly, we loved each other up, made each other laugh, and grew in appreciation and respect for ourselves and our teammates. Turns out, women are good at doing hard shit. I love you MastersBirdstrike women! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the honor and privilege. I’ll relay with you any day. 

XOXOXO,

*Dara was so pumped after crushing her final 7+ mile leg averaging 6:30’s, spouting encouragement to every runner she passed, that she kept running uphill to the van to get her wallet so she could buy some bourbon. We told her we didn’t have time. Moral: a masters runner also can buy bourbon in 45 seconds.

First, pump up your day by watching this iconic Cake Video. Get in the mood for something short and a loooong jacket. “With fingernails that shine like justice” might be my next tattoo.

But back to outerwear. Fall 18 is our biggest, best, brightest, longest - most fabulous collection of outerwear to date. Like all apparel, it starts with having the best ingredients, so that everything from fit to feel is amazing.

You’ve met Puffy Track Jacket and the Crest Vest, Insulated Flyout Jacket, Vest, and Baselayer. 

With today’s launch, our world of outerwear is complete. From long jackets (Queen and Trackside) to more reflective (Power On), the return of Wazzie Wool, and ALL the accessories, you can truly stay out and about every single day, night, cold chill or icy morning. And with the performance-ability of our styles, we know we’ll see #flystyle on the slopes, in the mountains, and on the fan squad!

Every season starts with inspiration. Below please find some of the images, ideas, feelings that inspired Fall ’18. Bottom line, we believe in creating the best, technically savvy outerwear, base layers and accessories made for women athletes. As always, we can’t wait to hear your feedback. Questions? hello @ is always here to help.

So about that long jacket. We’re thinking Fall of this 2018 is a great time for some armor. The long coat is the ultimate over-anything-style that keeps your glutes warm and brings your look together. These styles also tap into the emotion of readiness. Collars up, let’s do this. Meet the puffy Queen Jacket with all kinds of bells, whistles, pockets and more. And the Trackside, a beauty made from premium a Schoeller soft-shell exterior and micro-fleece interior. Both give you that long jacket confidence, ready to rumble.

We all carry a light. When we run, that light shines brighter. It radiates out to the rest of our lives… our families, our pursuits, our connection with ourselves and other people. The Power On Collection (and accessories, below) uses two of our most favorite, beautiful fabrics: Polartec PowerStretch and our Reflective Stretch Mesh. In addition to loft and warmth, STRETCH is the key feel here. These pieces stretch and stay where you put them. Breathe in, breathe out. We are all celestial bodies.

Flyout Tights are back in stock. That is all. 

They are the runaway hit from Fall 17. After a scare with the fabric, where we thought we wouldn’t be able to keep sourcing it, the mill came through for us big time, and these thick, stretchy, ultimate fall/winter tights (with two phone pockets) are all we need.

Mother Nature makes a lot of beautiful things. Her classic fibers: the cottons, the linen. But for the sporty women, she gives us special love with sheep and the goats. Wool and cashmere ARE nature’s performance fibers, often working better to move sweat, repel wind/rain, and keep you warm than anything made by womankind. Note that all Oiselle Wazzie Wool is sourced from New Zealand and is ZQ Certified, the gold standard for animal welfare practices.

They’re the essential details of being on the go, outside, in any climate. Your feet and legs might be doing most of the work, but your head, neck, and hands need love too. From Classic Lux gloves and earbands and gaiter to Polartec PowerStretch, Super Puff Mittens, and wool, we have all the accessories for sport and life.

But hold up - we have something special for you!

The Fall 2018 Outerwear and Accessories Collection is our best yet - so we’re celebrating all the outerwomen with a new offer: The Layer Love Bundle. It’s easy. When you buy one piece of outerwear + one baselayer (or any top) + one wearable accessory, you get 20% off the entire order. KA-POW. Come at us, winter. We got this.

Keey running and flying through all the weather, my friends. I hope to see you there!