We are living in ________ times. Fill in the blank: ironic? defeating? energizing? polarizing? challenging? Whatever this is, it is not boring. But it can also feel difficult to know what to do to make a difference and preserve self-efficacy. 

Which is why on International Day of the Girl, we at Oiselle are sticking with our basics of doing what we can to support girls and women. Yes, Oiselle is a business. A business with a mission: to design great product, improve the sport, and build the sisterhood. From the inside to the outside, we are authentically by, for, and about women. Philanthropically, we look for areas to really make an impact. Oiselle’s Bras for Girls Program is the perfect blend of need meeting opportunity, and we are excited to keep it rolling and growing. 

We know that breast development education and sports bras can make a crucial difference in keeping girls active and moving their bodies, which in turn improves outcomes for women over the course of their lives. And, hallelujah, we make sports bras and have an amazing team of women who love to spread the love of sport! Last year, we donated more than 2,500 sports bras and these sweet booklets to girls in need, and this year we have a goal to donate more than 4,000 (and special thanks to Title Nine for donating larger size bras to complement our giveaways!). 

On a personal note, as the mother of 3 boys, and a currently non-practicing family doc with an MPH, the Bras for Girls program keeps me connected to girls’ education and my public health roots. Standing around in a sports bra saying “all breasts are normal” repeatedly to a group of 12-14 year old girls, and then going for a run with them? That’s my sweet spot. And when I catch a girl’s eye and know that what I just said connected…that sustains me through a remarkable amount of bullshit. I know that what we are doing matters.

So this is your invitation to do something real with your time, whatever that is. Spend time doing something that makes a difference and sustains you. And, if you’d like to nominate a program for a Bras for Girls giveaway, please let us know here. Keep up the good work, sisters. We need all of you! 

This past weekend, Oiselle had around 100 Volée racing the Chicago Marathon, and many more coming from near and far to cowbell and support our team. As Chicago runners, we’re biased --this event is our favorite weekend of the year. So many different people representing so many different cultures unite to race with 1.5 million of our closest friends coming out for the day screaming, cowbelling, coming out to cheer. It’s one of the few days of the year where we all feel unified. 

But we didn’t want to recap this in our own words, so we asked a few of our teammates who came to celebrate this weekend with us their thoughts on the 2018 Chicago Marathon Weekend.

I’d return to the Chicago Marathon because...

• The special edition free beer at the finish line!! - Kim from Hobart, Indiana
• It was amazing crowd support. As a back of the pack runner I am used to passing the back half of the race with empty streets, but Chicago comes out to support EVERYONE all day. Seeing the IL Volée who stayed well into the afternoon and saw me at mile 26 was so uplifting and carried me to the finish.  - Ally from Savannah, Georgia
• It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a road marathon! Each neighbor was filled with excitement, sharing its special flavor along the course, making the miles fly by! - Courtney from Muskegon, Michigan (@hansenca)
• The beer at the finish line makes great shower beer. - Wendy from Redlands, California 

A highlight of the weekend was…

• Seeing all of the people from so many different countries! - Stacy from Lisle, Illinois
• Meeting my fellow birds. It was so good to see friends face to face and make that connection. - Sara from Birmingham, Alabama 
• I loved getting to meet so many fellow birds in real life and fangirl on famous runners. - Marci from Atlanta, Georgia 
• Meeting fellow volée, both local & out of state. Some of them I’ve just met in person even though previously connecting via social media. It was inspiring & refreshing to have these connections who you know will support you! - Melody from Chicago, Illinois
• Running with my sister on her first marathon & then getting a 20 minute PR for myself!  - Heidi from Seattle, Washington
• I couldn’t make it to any of the formal Oiselle meet ups, but a highlight for me was still meeting other Birds along the way! Anytime I ran into someone (at the expo, around town, or (best of all) on the course), it was instant camaraderie and support. I have seen this at smaller races too, but in Chicago it was even better, because it made a gigantic race feel that much more personal and supportive. - Kelly from Rochester, New York
• EVERYTHING! Chicago digs deep and opens up the city to runners (especially first time marathoners like me!). Seeing teammates along the course was amazing! And getting engaged at the end was the icing on the cake to the weekend! - Grace from Clarkston, Michigan

The biggest piece of advice I’d give someone running the Chicago Marathon in the future is…

• Make sure your long runs are flat flat flat. - Alissa from Wadsworth, Ohio 
• Arrive at the corrals even earlier than you think because it is chaotic and crowded and you have to go through a security checkpoint. - Jessica from Chicago, Illinois 
• To come even if you’re not running. This weekend is peak happiness. You get amazing time with incredible women, on and off the course. Cowbelling is on the list of Olympic sports, this is a great time to explore your ability to medal in it! - Cyanne from Nashville, Tennessee 
• The crowds are going to carry you; the cheers, the signs, the energy, the sheer mass of people, it's the city of Chicago opening its arms to you. - Angela from Chicago, Illinois 

To all who were in town this weekend, thank you for sharing our favorite weekend of the year with us. And to those considering 2019, we look forward to celebrating with you here!

Ali, Beth, Em, Jen, Kim, and Kristine
The @ilvolee Leader Crew

Dark be damned, we're not going back inside.

We're out here for good. And we're going to keep running - even in, and maybe especially because of, the dark.

So let's circle up, stick together, and be safe. Be safe and be seen. Keep your light shining bright... on tops, bottoms, your head. Everything, everywhere.

This Fall is our biggest, best reflective collection ever - to keep you shining like the diamond you are.

Because dark be damned, we're not going back inside. We're going to keep running, keep flying - today, tonight, forever.

FIRECRACKER BRA

A compressive, racerback sports bra with an all-over reflective print? Made sense to us - as many women want to run during the dark hours, especially in warmer climates. This bra makes that easy...enjoy the freedom of running in just a sports bra while staying visible and safe. Plya Interlock gives you stretch and compression for that just-rigth support. The soft, brushed elastic keeps you comfortable, and chafe-free.

YOU GLOW GRRL BRA

Reflective so strong, it passes Ragnar's safety vest requirements. But if the weather is hot - why wear a vest, when you can sport just a bra? This reflective stretch mesh is intense. It not only provides significant reflection but is also designed to move and stretch and breathe (just like you). The simple racer back style is easy on, easy off, and completed with Oiselle's custom brushed elastic. Better yet, this bra feels like fabric. Not scratchy or stiff, it's ready to be that next-to-skin garment that keeps you safe and supported!

FIRECRACKER LONG SLEEVE

For fall and winter running, visibility is the name of the game. This long sleeve layer, with the high quality, all-over reflective Onna Print, is ready to run at dawn, dusk, or after dark. To be worn solo or over a tank, the long sleeves also have our Big Ass Watch Window, so your stats are always visible. The Plya Interlock fabric is both lightweight and stretchy.

FIRECRACKER TIGHTS

The length (3/4), the convenience (two side pockets), the safety (reflective Onna Print), and the tried and true body fabric (Plya Interlock) makes the Firecracker Tights a fun, fierce, fiery staple for fall and winter running. The reflectivity, in a premium all-over print, is bright and long lasting! So leap, jump, run into those dark hours. You will be seen.

LIGHTNING LAYER

The Lightning Layer is beloved for its easy over-anything style and functionality. It can be worn by itself, over a sports bra, or over other layers. This season, we updated the athletic mesh to Plya Interlock with the all-over reflective Onna Print - to make it even more reflective. Keep this in your car, in your relay kit (as a safety vest), or anywhere you might need an extra light - to light your way.

MAGIC NUMBER TIGHTS 

An elevated basic, these tights are made from Power Plya and our stretchy reflective mesh. The mesh is so stretchy, that it works brilliantly (and brightly) as calf inset, sending reflective warning signals to every single speeding car and bicycle. The rear zip pocket is extra roomy, with a zip closure. The high waisted style is smooth, with no outside seams for a sleek feel.

YOU GLOW GRRL TANK

Our reflective mesh has become quite popular for its stretch and quality. So we thought, hey, why not a tank made entirely of this wonder fabric? Designed to wear over a tank or baselayer, or on its own, one thing's for sure: you will be seen. Our reflective mesh is not only powerfully bright but also has quite a bit of stretch, improving its performance for all kinds of sports/activities.

VIM JACKET

Vim Jacket! Beloved right away, we didn't need to do or change much when bringing this beauty back. With premium reflective mesh, per your requests (at chest, back, sleeves), and a little brand magic - with a clipped logo on the rear. Other features that aren't to be forgotten are premium windproof and water-resistant fabric from Pertex™, adjustable hem and hood, self-storage front pocket, and elastic band for easy carrying when the miles heat up!

VIGOR VEST

Vigor Vest is back! An instant top seller last Fall, we've done very little to change it, with the exception of responding to your requests for some reflective detailing and a little brand magic. Voila! We've added our premium reflective mesh as inset panels (chest and back), and logo detailing at the rear. The self-storage front pocket remains, with elastic loop for easy carrying over hill and dale. All bells and whistles remain: same premium Pertex™ fabric, adjustability, windproof, water resistant, ready to fly!

FIRECRACKER EARBAND

Take care of cold ears and the need to be seen during dark winter months - all in one simple accessory. The all-over reflective Onna Print lights up under any kind of direct light exposure, keeping you safe when you need it.

Shine on you crazy diamonds!

This morning I timed my awkward hobble down the narrow Airbnb staircase at 5:15am.
Almost 12 seconds. 

I watched the automatic water fountain at the airport fill my water bottle.
Just over 10 seconds. 

I counted how long it took to walk down the jetbridge.
About 17 seconds. 

This past Sunday I ran the Chicago marathon and missed the OTQ (Olympic Trials Qualifier) time by only 11 seconds. 2:45:11. I also PR’d by over 11 minutes. So, yeah, there are some feelings. But let’s back up a bit.

BACKSTORY:
My name is Carrie Mack and I think I always knew the marathon was my jam. And as of late, American women have been creating some spectacular moments and stories in this sport. Like many others, I am 100% smitten. A year ago I was starting to run again after a summer of adventuring that ended with me attending Wilder - Lauren’s running and writing retreat. Which was promptly followed by my husband and I moving to Bend, Oregon. (Oddly enough, two completely separate decision processes that just happened to be in the same place at the same time, but maybe that’s another story.)

In classic Lawrence sister fashion, Mel and Collier made sure to invite me over before we even had a chance to fill our fridge. Collier had just had her navicular surgery (hi, Tyrion!); and Lauren was a new mama of two; (hi, Zadie!) so Mel may have been extra open to the idea of me tagging along for some training runs. She kept asking if I wanted to meet for a run. And so I kept saying yes. 

In December, I went down to Sacramento and watched my dear friend and college roommate Jamie run CIM. She was shooting for the OTQ (sub 2:45) and she just squeaked under. It was a day I will never forget. Watching such an incredibly stacked field of women race their hearts out on that day did something to me. I saw Lyndy Davis smile that entire race. I watched a steady stream of strong bad ass ladies kick it into the finish. It rekindled and stoked a fire that had been left unattended for a while. I remember talking to Lauren the next week and I had this nervous giddiness as I shared the race recap. I think I may have even told her I wanted to commit to training and see what happened. What the hell was I thinking? I discussed it with Mel on a run. She said I should totally do it. As an honorary member of Littlewing, I just kept showing up. 

BUILD UP:
In January I hired a coach for the first time. I continue to be inspired by all the incredible performances and stories by women in this sport. I went to PT. I started lifting again. I signed up for the Tenacious 10. I filled out my race calendar a bit. My coach, Elliott, and I selected Chicago as a good option for the marathon distance after what would be the first consistent year of training I’d have in the last decade. I jumped into some track races. I had a huge PR in the half marathon at Grandma’s in Duluth this past June. Most importantly, and really the main goal for 2018, was to build a really solid foundation. Be patient and smart about training to slowly increase my baseline. Brick by brick. 

Going into Chicago I felt confident and calm. I believed I was ready to break 2:45, but also well aware that I have multiple chances. I have had such a blast in this build up - and truly saw the race as the cherry on top. The build up wasn’t perfect (because that doesn’t exist) but it was definitely solid. I am beyond grateful for the support and guidance I have had from my coach, Littlewing, and my family and friends. Two weeks out from race day, I did my last big hard effort long run and it was HARD. I felt trashed and happy that afternoon. The hay was in the barn. 

I flew into Chicago on Friday - my bag full of recovery tools, good luck cards, Oiselle flystyle, and Picky Oats. I did a really light tune up run with strides and 3x3 min at hard effort. For a travel day, my legs felt good. I took it easy that night and slept well. Saturday, I went to the expo in the morning, did a short shakeout run by the start/finish, met with Elliott to go over race strategy, and then laid low. I like to eat before a big race like this (I had salmon, quinoa, roasted veggies, good bread and butter, dark chocolate) and so it was pretty low key at our Airbnb that afternoon/evening. 

The Chicago marathon is flat and fast. This is no secret. The rain can be a wildcard, but I’ll take 50’s and rain over heat and humidity every time. My only real concern was in staying warm and dry before the race started. Fortunately, I was accepted into the American Development Program (sub-elite field) and we had access to a seperate tent/gear check that made this a little easier. I really only jogged like 5 or so minutes, did some activation drills/stretches, and then was called to the corral.

RACE:
We planned to approach the race in three sections. 

Be Patient (miles 1-14)
I feel very strongly about not going out too fast in a marathon. It seems simple, but the adrenaline at the start can make this tough. The plan was to focus on fueling during this section, to run at a comfortable race pace (6:05-6:15) and try to zone out as much as possible. Chicago is notorious for being a GPS nightmare. Weaving through all the close buildings, a lot of people have trouble with their watches. After manually checking the first few miles, I felt like I had decently dialed in around 6:10 pace and it felt comfortable. I had hoped to be able to latch onto more of a pack during this section, but that never really happened. It was fairly strung out, but so it goes. With the exception of the first fluid station, I grabbed Gatorade and water at every station on the course. Just a small sip of each. (And an occasional splash in the eye, but that’s the hazard of the job.) I slowly ate a gel during mile 5 and mile 10. Coming through the half at 1:20:45, I thought there was a decent chance of maybe breaking 2:40, I hoped to negative split and I felt super relaxed and groovy. At this point, I can’t think of much I would do differently in this section. 

Be Present (miles 15-21)
This is the section of the race where my coach likes to say you discover whether you can “make the day.” I love this saying. There are so many factors that come into play for the marathon and these middle meaty miles play a big role. My focus here was to react a little more to what was happening and access what was still in the tank. If possible, start ratcheting the pace down, but more through the effort of moving up in position rather than forcing a specific pace on my watch. Miles 15-18 felt incredible. The energy of the crowd propelled me forward. I knew I was running well, but didn’t feel like I was having to work at all to chip away at my pace. I had another gel during miles 16-19 and continued to get fluids at each station. If you look at my tracking from 25k-30k, I sped up quite a bit. In hindsight, I probably got too excited here. It wasn’t completely outside the realm of possibility, but dropping to a 6:00 min pace was definitely pushing that edge. There was a moment between passing the Oiselle cowbell corner and seeing Elliott, my coach, when I was telling myself repeatedly “make the day, make the day, make the day” and I had a huge smile on my face. Those moments were magic. Go fast, take chances. And I was doing it and it felt GOOD. I feel like I learned a lot in this section. I definitely have some feelings of frustration - like my experience should have reminded me that at the 17-18 mile mark you still have 8+ miles to go. However, I feel like I gained some tools for next time.

Be Brave (mile 22-finish)
This is where things got interesting. I was fully prepared for the moment on Sunday when it would start to hurt. I wanted the chance to race hard, be brave, and finish strong. Elliott thought that if things were going well, that I should have confidence in picking up the pace and picking people off right up to the finish. I started to falter after mile 21, faked my way through mile 22, and knew I was in trouble by mile 23. But even still, I knew I had banked some time and would race up to the line and surely that would be enough, right? I remember being a little disappointed that breaking 2:40 was out of the equation, but was still very confident in breaking 2:45. Yep. That happened. At this point in the race, it is just that - a race. No reason to look at your watch. Just be brave and leave it out there. I’ve faltered here before. I can be very tied to pace and predictions and mental math mindfucks. I had promised myself that would not be the case. I wanted to be in the race and stay strong all the way to the finish. I had visualized what this would be like countless times. I was heartbroken. I couldn’t feel my legs. I guess I knew I was making forward progress because the scenery was changing, but I don’t really know how I was doing it. My dear friend Erin was going to be at the 25 mile mark and I kept thinking once I saw her, I could power to the finish. She was having trouble getting the tracking results, but was texting with my husband and was well aware that I was cutting it close. She was there, and I could feel her efforts to move me forward. “I can do this.” “Make the day.” “Strong as a mountain.” “Be brave.” “I can do this.” “Make the day.” “Strong as a mountain.” “Be brave.” Over and over and over again. At the 400 meters to go sign I still believed I could do it. I really did! But the clock said 2:43:20 something, and I knew I was in trouble. I didn’t know my exact pace, but I knew there was no way I was running 400 meters in 90 seconds. There is this burny little hill right there, before the final turn to the finish. It’s so short, but brutal. It’s a victory in itself that I stayed upright in some version of a running stride on this thing. What the hell? How is this my finish? I turned and tried to find any last turnover I could while I watched the clock click over 2:45. I was baffled. I had given every last drop. Did I make the day? I don’t know. But I fought until the finish. So, maybe? Probably? 

AFTERWARDS:
I was quickly reminded of the post marathon finisher chute death march, where you have to walk what feels like miles back to your gear check and then stumble around and wait for your people to find you. Everyone has their flashy (s)hero cape and we all looked a little confused. I took my blue lips back to the American Development tent and peeled off my wet stuff as quick as possible, all while trying to decipher what had just happened. I simultaneously wanted to be in touch with everyone and also be alone. With a lifetime bad habit of always wanting to make people happy, I feared I had disappointed everyone. I called Travis telling him this and apologized. And then I apologized for apologizing. He said all the right things. I was shivering and shaking from tears and cold and whatever else. I called Elliott and after making sure I was okay we picked a meeting spot back at his hotel. Erin was waiting at the gate and I ugly cried all over her. Collier and Mel and Jess Facetimed me and their smiles and cheers helped me scoop my heart back off of Michigan Avenue. And the outpouring of support through social media was incredible. Thank you to everyone who followed along and reached out.

It’s hard to be too disappointed when you know you did everything you could. It’s a lot easier to think about running 2:45 or faster now that I’ve actually done it. The curtain has been unveiled and I’ll definitely be back for an encore. Elliott and I have talked some. He knew I was disappointed, but mostly we talked about what’s to come. He reminded me when we picked this race that using it as an honest OTQ attempt wasn’t really even part of that conversation. I have made massive strides this year. I got to the start and finish line healthy. I just PR’d by 11 minutes in the marathon. Sure, it would be great to have this all wrapped up with a nice shiny bow after my first race. But who doesn’t love a good plot twist?

As for what’s next? Some solid recovery for the next few weeks. I’ll process this race a little more with my coach and then we’ll figure out the next training block. Rumor has it Littlewing might be at USATF club cross, so that’s definitely on the list. I’d love to get back on the track next spring if that fits in the long term plan. I’m excited to keep building off of all I’ve accomplished this year.

Stay engaged. Stay inspired. Have fun. Head up, wings out. 

Carrie Mack

While the Internet is good for many things, conveying tactile sensation is not one of them. And when we’re introducing a new fabric, and that fabric is softer than any fabric we’ve worked with (and you know us, we’re queens of soft fabric), our powers of communication are put to the test. So we scoured the universe for things that could do more than depict soft. It has to be SOFT. Or maybe it’s soooooooooft. Or maybe it’s O-M-G SO SOFT.

Soft like a herd of ducklings?

As soft as kittens AND birds?!

Baby and puppy soft?

Tiny koala soft?

Bird Hug puts superlatives to the test….

On the volume dial of soft, Bird Hug is an 11.

At the mini-mart of soft, Bird Hug is a super size me.

On the court, bird hug is DEFINITELY a national champ #SueBirdHug

Even TV influencers are in on it #BigBirdHug

So yeah, a first time Bird Hugger is likely to say things like “WHAT?!” or “Oh mama…” or “Sweet sister, Frances!"

*But wait, there’s more.*

Not only is Bird Hug the champion of soft…it’s two times soft.
Specifically, it’s a dual-knit, with the same face on each side, meaning it’s….REVERSIBLE. 

So two times the color options…red to blue, and black to charcoal. One way or the other, you’ve got choices.
And every woman wants choices.

You smarty birds out there might be thinking "well yeah, it's reversible, but that means it can't have a pocket..."

Seriously? Would you doubt our pocket power?
Bird Hug wins again... there is a large, smartphone-ready pocket at the center back of the waistband that holds it all.

Plus, with that just-right-dose of Spandex, you know the hugs are 100% legit. No half hugs here.

As if the softness and versatility weren’t enough, there’s a height story too...
After all, not all bird huggers are the same, and not all want the same length tights.

That’s why we have an inseam solution:
The reversibility, and the clean marrow stitch along the hem, means you can customize the length with a simple turn of the cuff.
Petite? Regular? Tall? Or height that defies a category? Yeah, so many possibilities….

Magical softness
Two times the color
Versatile length

Bird Hug has it.

And we could all use a bird hug right about now.

Because of its quantitative nature running can seem pretty simple, almost black and white, like you’ve done well or you haven’t. I run similar workouts and race distances from year to year, making it easy to overanalyze the results afterward. I intuitively want to see progress over time, which seems logical and linear, or at least that's how I rationalize it, because we all know running long distances isn’t either!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been training for the 2018 TCS NYC Marathon. I had the pleasure of having a breakout race in the 2017 version, covering 26.2 miles in 2:29:39 and placing 5th. My goal this year is to finish in the top 3, with a time under 2:27:00. I thought both of those goals were rational - a step above last year, but not the whole staircase.

So how is this year going compared to last year? I’d like to report that I’m stronger, faster, and have more endurance. I’d like to tell you I’m 100% confident my goals are attainable. But, it hasn’t been easy to compare the two years. For starters, I’m living and training at altitude compared to sea level last year. I’ve been logging more miles than 2017, albeit slower. Interestingly, my interval sessions (up to 3K reps) have been the same speed, but my long runs are slower. 

The truth is, progress isn’t linear. And I don’t think my own synopsis of my training can be objective enough to answer the question honestly. I can attest to my consistency though, which has been far superior to last year. I feel like I am handling the workload and able to complete the planned workouts, as opposed to last year when I failed and/or felt like poop for a third of the time. And, in my opinion, I’ve already made progress, because I’ve laced up the shoes for another whole year!

I started coaching five years ago, capable but not yet confident. Having trained under some of the best coaches in the world, (and paying close attention), I was ready to take the creative reins in coaching myself. But I needed quite a bit of life coaching from Bob and Sarah Lesko before taking the leap into coaching other professional athletes. Lots of late night chats in our respective living rooms is how Project Little Wing was born. So much has happened in these five years. I've had the privilege of coaching incredible women, who were my teachers as much as I was theirs. 

Coaching is always that way, at least it is for the coaches I've admired most. A great coach never thinks they have it all figured out; they bring their knowledge base with them but always approach each athlete with the expectation that there is more to be learned. I aspire to be a great coach that way. And I'm about to get more chances to make that happen! Little Wing is growing!

Here are three things I'm super excited about:

1. Continuing to work with everyone's favorite sisters, the always "low key matching" Mel and Collier Lawrence. 

Mel is fresh off a podium finish at USA's in the steeple, and a dozen back-to-back baby PR's. With Collier recovering from surgery last year, and Mel doing so many tough workouts in scary new pain cave territory alone, I caught myself wishing upon many stars for her to have a larger lady gang to work out with. There comes a point in most athlete's careers where you really need to be injected with a fresh dose of drive, a little bit of healthy competition, and peers to learn from. Being the veteran pro in the group will be a new experience for her, and I'm thrilled for her. 

Collier, the forever older sister (even to me sometimes if I'm being honest, she's my emergency contact), recently celebrated her one year surgery-versary, and is catching some good health momentum. She's at a stage in her career where she gets to dream a little bit again, and reassess which direction she wants her running to go, and I'm here for it. This will be a development year, I believe deeply in Collier, and I know her leadership on the team will be vital for the newbies. Wait, what? Newbies??? About that...

2. Coaching New Athletes Rebecca Mehra and Maddie Strandemo.

The past two years I've been very resistant to growing Little Wing and adding new talent, even though it had always been part of the long-term plan. Mostly it had to do with timing and the stage of my life. I felt confident coaching the Lawrences, I enjoyed it very much, and I was afraid to add anyone else to the picture. With pregnancy and a new baby on the horizon, and adjusting to retirement from my own professional racing, I wanted stability and known entities around me. I started to wonder if I'd ever want to grow the team. But after Zadie turned about six months, I became more open-minded to the idea. I found myself wanting Mel and Collier to have opportunities to train with a group and learn from people. I wanted them to get a chance to be the veterans passing on what they've learned. I wanted to bring my coaching experience to a couple of new athletes, athletes who I was excited about who felt like a good cultural fit for our team. And so it is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Rebecca Mehra and Maddie Strandemo to Little Wing. 

Rebecca is one year out of Stanford and will continue to hone her miler skills. Maddie, just graduated from University of Minnesota, is joining the #steeplepeople contingent. They are both polyglots (Maddie is fluent in Mandarin, and Rebecca speaks Spanish, Hindi, French, and Urdu), so their house might just become the cultural epicenter of Bend! They will both add so much personality and character to the group.

3. Getting Older.

I just turned 37, and the older I get the more grateful I am to get older. I look back at ways I've changed and things I've learned and I am grateful for the passing of time and the people in my life who keep encouraging me and challenging me to step up to the plate. I'm looking ahead and absolutely bursting with gratitude that Little Wing exists, that Oiselle believes in it and supports it, and that I get to be in partnership with the Leskos who I adore, doing what we love. I approach the 2020 Olympic Cycle with gratitude, hopefulness, enthusiasm, and a hunger to learn and provide an environment for these very deserving women to come into their own and thrive as athletes and people.

Through our sports bra donation program, Bras for Girls, we tell middle school girls… “A sports bra is just a tool in your toolbox. When you need one, get one. And keep going.” Keep moving and jumping, running and rolling, climbing and reaching.

This season’s assortment adds more tools to the toolbox, with new options for style, comfort, performance. And without giving too much away, we have a secret style we’ll debut in Spring 2019 for the ladies of the larger cup sizes. Good things ahead!

Hello Bralette 

Thanks to a growing number of women who demand support AND comfort, the bralette is on the rise. And there is an art to a great bralette. It starts with the right fabric - and the understanding that it’s designed for comfort vs. high impact. Introducing the Lux Bralette - our best ever, and I clearly am a huge fan. Beyond the ultra softness (both outside and skin-side) of our beloved Lux fabric, this small but mighty style includes adjustable AND convertible straps, removable cups, and an ultra plush elastic that is so soft and stretchy, you’ll forget it’s there. And forgetting it’s there is the ULTIMATE achievement for any bra.

Colors: Black/Black, Heather Cosmos, Curfew/Smoke
Low impact / A-D cups

Strappy Love

We’ve long been known for our strappy style. And while yes, multiple straps are stylish, there’s a logic to the look: weight distribution. Multiple straps reduce stress along the top of your shoulder and neck, making the miles more comfortable. Introducing the new Strappy Bra. This design is a bit of a comeback, made all the better with our classic, soft and stretchy Nyelle fabric, plus removable cups, and easy pull-on design. 

Colors: Blaze, White, Curfew
High impact / A-C cups
Low impact / A-D cups

The Ballard Bra was new for Spring 2018, and it quickly became a crowd favorite. The fabric, yes, our Nyelle is buttery soft and supportive. But also it’s strap system and inset mesh that is at once functional and fierce.

Colors: Burgen, Stone, Black, Big Blue, White
High impact / A-C cups
Low impact / A-D cups

Better Basics

There’s a design philosophy that states simplicity wins. No unnecessary parts. no gratuitous bells or bows, no fussy panels or contrast materials. Enter the Hi Ten Bra. It’s a perennial favorite at Oiselle because the fit is great, the Nyelle fabric is soft and supportive, and it’s easy to wear for both running or with street clothes. Tip: the new color “Stone” disappears under lights and whites. Colors: Black, Blaze, Stone

Colors: Blaze, Stone, Black
High impact / A-B cups
Low impact / A-C cups

Graphic Lesko Bra. Medium coverage, wide supportive straps, our classic birds across the front, and made from our Plya(tm) Compression, the Lesko Bra is a beloved favorite, like its namesake, ready to run, ready to GSD!

Color: Black, Tide
High Impact / A-C cups
Low Impact / A-D cups

Bae Bra. Who says a sports bra can’t be interesting? Or different? The Bae is bae…she has wide, structured straps that are adjustable, a beautiful panel of mesh in the back triangle, small slices of heather charcoal compression fabric, plus removable cups and an ultra breathable liner. 

Colors: White, Black, Big Blue

High Impact / A-C cups
Low Impact / A-D cups

Support and Coverage

Blackbird Crop. The 3/4 crop is both a bra and a top in a single integrated garment. What makes this crop special is both the exterior fabric and the interior construction. The exterior fabric, a poly-based knit from Italy, is both sleek while also being highly supportive (compressive). The interior uses our keyhole mesh with an internal bra that also holds removable cups.

Color: Black
High Impact / A-D cups
Low Impact / A-DD cups

Spandos Racerback Bra. This bra is deceptively supportive. The fabric, our Plya Interlock has 21% spandex, but remains light enough so that you can stretch and move. The compression, as well as the higher neckline, makes it a favorite for up to D cups.

Color: Blue Wave, Downtown, Girl Code, Rear Window
High Impact / A-C/D cups
Low Impact / A-DD cups

Power Pocket

Sometimes you need to carry your phone, and then it becomes the “where to carry?” game, and often there isn’t the right option. Introducing the new Flyout Bra. It has a pocket in the center back of the bra, which stays flat against your back with a power mesh. It also has wider straps for both support, and to reduce chafing underneath hydration packs.

Colors: Black, Curfew
High Impact / A-C/D cups
Low Impact / A-D cups

Rad Reflective

Safety first! The You Glow Grrl Bra is the first of its kind: a fully reflective technical sports bra. Our reflective stretch mesh is not only brilliantly bright when any kind of light shines on it; it’s also very stretchy and comfortable, lined with a black stretch knit that’s comfortable against the skin. Finished with our plush logo elastic, it can be your go to for warm night runs or can double as a safety vest for relays.

Color: Reflective
High Impact / A-C cups
Low Impact / A-D cups

Introducing the new Firecracker Racerback Bra. It starts with our signature Plya Interlock - which is both lightweight and compressive - and is made strunning and brightly reflective with a unique reflective printing technique. The mill brings life and light to our Onna Print. Not only is the brightness undeniable in the dark, but when in regular light conditions, the print is tonal and subtle. The best of both worlds. The style is completed with removable cups and an ultra soft, brushed Oiselle elastic.

Coming Oct 4th...have you heard of Bird Hug?

Bird Hug, a new fabric to the O line, is so insanely soft that those who have worn it, have been stunned. And also very hestiant to take it off. A pile of kittens? A basket of ducklings? A dozen baby bunnies? Yep, it's soft. Not only that, but it's a 2-ply knit, which means it has gorgeous, rich - and contrasting color - on each side. Twice the softness, twice the color options. One try and you'll know... (refersible bra - above, plus tights and a long sleeve).

Have fit questions? We’re here to help. Simply email hello@ for guidance on size, compression, fit, style or colors.

We have so many awesome HS Coaches in our Oiselle community; we want to celebrate them and share some of their wisdom! Each of these 5 coaches answered the following questions: 

1. How long have you been coaching and what is the thing you most look forward to every season?
2. What is your favorite workout day with your team? 
3. What is your coaching "moment of power"? 
4. If you could give HS parents one piece of wisdom that you knew would be internalized, what would it be? 

Great advice from these awesome coaches!

REBECCA TRASCHEL

This is my 8th year coaching both XC and track for LHS. Cross country is definitely my favorite season and I always look forward to our first meet as it sets the tone for the rest of the fall. I love our long run day. On Saturdays, we meet up at the Battle Road Trail which is a beautiful, rolling, hard packed road that goes on for miles. There are usually several other teams out on the trail with us (other high schools, colleges and clubs) which enhances the positive energy due to the instant camaraderie among peers. The girls love it, too, so it always puts all of us in a good mood. 

My moment of power is watching things “click”. We train in groups because the only way to be successful in racing XC is to close the gap among your teammates. When the girls work with each other during a race I know our training has paid off. Last year at our Divisional meet, four of my top 5 girls came in within a second of each other. That was amazing.

Parents: Let your kids advocate for themselves. They know what they need as much, if not more so, than you do at this stage in their lives. Step back and let them take the reins during these formative years. It will serve them so well in the future.

SUSAN EMPEY

This is only my 3rd year in an official role but feel like I’ve been at it a lot longer! I love watching the team camaraderie develop through runs, workouts and pasta dinners. It makes me so happy knowing that the memories and friendships they’re making will last a lifetime.  

I really like a workout we did recently on our home XC course of 5 x 1ks  on gentle up and downhill soft surfaces. Any workout they do where they are slightly anxious before it begins but get that incredible sense of satisfaction when they accomplished it feels really great. 

Parents: focus on the long haul and don’t expect instant, amazing results. Success comes from steady, consistent running and if they like what they do, it will come naturally.  

KAYLA ROBERTSON

I’ve been coaching since 2012! Each season I always look forward to seeing athletes come together from various backgrounds and become each other’s biggest fans on and off the race course. My favorite workout day with our team is our Neon Greenlake Scavenger Hunt! It’s a great secret fartlek workout too that goes the distance all around the lake from Super Jock & Jill to the Rose Garden at Woodland! I make a fun GooseChase scavenger hunt with an assortment of challenges, and each training group has a captain who is in charge of snapping photos & videos for their group. It’s also a great way to get photos for our team Instagram.

They begin their celebration of a good race with writing on the back of their bibs with a motivational quote or mantra to keep their minds focused while racing. After a good race, our team celebrates with sharing kudos with each other and lots high fives. I know it’s simple, but it’s meaningful.

We spend all season prepping them to fly on their own when it matters most at championships, so I feel a great sense of pride when our athletes can take ownership of their team and go out there and race without looking back. Another moment I know I’m coaching for all the right reasons, is when athletes fall and have the courage to get back up again, on and off the course, to truly embrace their potential as good people, not just good runners.

Parents: every person on the team is meaningful, whether they are first or last. Coaches have everyone’s best interest at heart. Trust the process and know that your child will be challenged in various ways physically and mentally in order to overcome barriers they thought were impossibilities.   

COACH JANILLE

This season is my 6th year coaching XC and track at a very small, very rural high school.  I love watching the new athletes as they discover that they are better at an event than they expected.  But I also enjoy seeing the growth in the more experienced athletes. 

I love hills!  We have a great one that is rough but gives them a hard workout and a lot of confidence because they know they’ll see that same kind of hill at the state meet.

There is nothing better than working with an athlete on specific goals and knowing that they’re trying to trust you, they’re doing what you ask but they just aren’t sure.  And then they have that one race that you’ve known all along they could have and you can just see their confidence soar. 

Parents: you have more power than you know, please use it wisely. Your support, or lack of, can determine how successful I am in coaching your child and also how well they will perform. Let me be the coach and you be the proud parents, no matter what you think of the results you are currently seeing.

HOLLY PELLITTERI

I've been coaching since 2005, I'm usually most excited for our Alumni race and picnic, secondly for our league meet. I love long run Monday for sure! Miles of convo, water and snack stations, spending time on your feet, being outside after school. 

The team sings "You raise me up" in a big circle with their arms around each other after getting off the bus. It always makes me cry, especially when it's the last meet for the seniors.

When we have our Monday meetings, we recognize PRs and performances from the past meet, talk about what we can improve and I let them know the plan for the week. I try to include myself in the "improvement" category. Sharing the plan for the week helps them see and "buy in" for the work ahead.

Parents: comparison is the thief of Joy. Please don't compare your child to their teammates or other competitors. This is also advice for athletes, however it's been my experience that more often than not, it's the parents who plant the seed of comparison. And it's a hard weed to get rid of!

We are so thrilled to introduce new Haute Volée athlete, Valarie Allman! Val is the real deal: reigning US champion in the discus, project engineer, and professional level dancer (*we have yet to certify her dance moves, but her credentials are legit). Val has an amazing year on deck and we are so honored to be a part of her journey. Please help us welcome Val to the Oiselle family, and get prepared for lots of beastly throwing and fun shenanigans! 

Tell us about how you started throwing the discus!

My path to discus is a little unconventional. 

Growing up, my parents encouraged me to try a bunch of different sports when I was really young. I fell in love with soccer at first then transitioned into dancing. I was fortunate to be selected as a protege by the choreographers from the show “So You Think You Can Dance” to be part of a touring group called “The Pulse”.  During the week, I went to school then on the weekends I would travel around the nation to assist them teaching intensive dance classes to kids of all ages. By the time I got to Silver Creek High School, dance had become a full-time commitment.

When I became a freshman in high school, my brother Kevin was a senior on the track team and encouraged me to get involved in our school. Ms. Keith, the track coach, invited me to be part of the program. She told me I don’t care if you can come one day a week or once a month, I’d love for you to be part of our team.

I started off trying sprinting and jumping events and wasn’t very good to be honest. Near the end of the season, the throwers were hosting their annual spaghetti dinner. They announced that anyone who tried one of the events could attend. So OF COURSE, I went and tried discus. Right from the start, I had a weird knack for the event and found myself throwing as far as the boys. 

Track and field quickly became a rewarding passion for me. I began to love the sport where you could get immediate feedback with measurable results. It became gratifying to work on my technique and see the implement go further. The sprints coach, Brian Gunnarson, saw potential in me in the discus and started coaching me. Over the next three years, we learned the event together. He maximized my potential more than I ever could have dreamed. Never did I imagine that just two and a half years later, he would help me go on to break the Colorado state record, become the #1 prep discus thrower in the country, and earn a scholarship to Stanford University. 

Who would have ever thought a dancer could throw the discus?

PC: Stanford Athletics

You had a great collegiate career! What is your favorite memory from Stanford, and one you'd rather forget (or a "learning moment")? 

The time I got to spend at Stanford was a dream. The creative courses, iconic red roofs, warm weather, and funky mascot all will have a special place in my heart. Now when I reflect back to life on the farm, it’s the people that made my time at Stanford University so memorable.  It’s the memories with my teammates, friends, coaches, and professors that will stay with me forever. 

The first time I competed in the Stanford uniform as a freshman was a big learning moment. With the competition being at our rival school, Cal, my nerves were elevated thinking about how the meet was going to unfold. I showed up bright and early with the other throwers and couldn’t get my mind to stop thinking about the competition ahead. We loaded up and headed North toward bear territory. Halfway into the drive, it felt like a lightning bolt hit my heart when I realized I left my throwing shoes at the track! With my voice trembling, I told my coach who silently turned the van around… it felt like the longest car ride ever. 

Now when packing for competitions, I literally make a clothes version of myself on the floor from head to toe to make sure I have everything I need for the comp. No matter how ready you are to compete, I learned you always have to take care of the basics first. 

My teammates and coach had a lot of fun teasing me that day, but also helped me bounce back to set the Stanford freshman discus record on my very first collegiate throw. That’s when I knew I had found my Cardinal family. 

You recently moved to Austin to train with your coach. What do you like most about your new digs? Any culture shock? 

To be honest, moving to Austin came as a bit of a surprise. My plan was to stay in the Bay Area and finish my master’s program in Augmented and Virtual Reality and keep training at Stanford. However, sometimes the pot of life gets all stirred up with lots of seasoning and it turns out extra extra spicy… good thing I love me some hot stuff ;-). When my coach, Zebulon Sion, took the job at The University of Texas, I was able to take a leave of absence from the program in order to keep training with him. Having found a coach who is my rock and maximizes my potential, I knew we had to stay together. I’m also so excited to be a Longhorn volunteer coach, but need to get better at not giggling when people say “Hook ‘em Horns”. 

I’m just getting settled into my new digs in Austin, but can tell already I am going to love it. I’ve quickly fallen in love the BBQ and low-key have become obsessed with lean brisket. From the people to the music and food to the weather, there are so many things I can’t wait to explore. 

What are your big hairy scary goals for this year? What are you most looking forward to in your first year out? 

My goal for this upcoming season is to compete in international competitions confidently. Leaving the bubble of American Track and Field can be big, hairy, and scary, but my hope is to be consistent and competitive when up against the best in the world. Being flexible and able to adjust to new time zones, long flights, and cultural differences are all part of this new chapter. I want to walk into competitions feeling prepared knowing I did all of the small things to the best of my ability. In college, it felt like there was never enough time to juggle athletics and academics with the quality I wanted. Now being able to fully focus on track, I am looking forward to optimizing my recovery, sleep, nutrition, and training. Taking care of all the small details will help align with the big goals. 

How do you "go bananas" / have fun? 

My go to is to throw on one of my favorite playlists really loud and just dance.  I recommend “New Romantics” by T-Swizzle. It’ll really make you go bananas. :) 

What makes you most pumped about partnering with Oiselle?

Empowerment and contagious enthusiasm are what make me so excited to join the Oiselle sisterhood. Getting to be part of something bigger than myself provides a sense of purpose and source of joy.  It is so motivating to be part of a company that is advocating for women during a time where females are constantly breaking barriers and setting the tone for future generations to take flyte.

We can't wait to cheer you on!

Now that cross country season has kicked off you may or may not see the following shenanigans come across your social feed. 

Consider this the cross country trend watch of 2018.

Porta Potty Stunts

#PortaPottyChallenge WHAT?! This is insane.

Only in XC...pic.twitter.com/Si7neMSnaC

— SPIKES (@spikesmag) October 4, 2017

I don’t even want to mention the Porta Potties, but it would be a disservice not to prepare you, it was a trend that took off XC season of '17 and is expected to make a hot return. Why cross country runners are so obsessed with Porta Potties, toilet paper, and cramming as many humans as possible into a plastic box filled with human feces is beyond me. Okay, it’s not beyond me…  I get that a good portion of race prep revolves around timing a few (if not several) bathroom breaks, and that yes, they can run tragically low on toilet paper. With that being said, I have been at some races where toilets have been on the brink of causing a tiny natural disaster - that natural disaster being a small flood… but a small flood of shit so really how small can that be? One thing I know for sure is you won’t catch me being the base level of a human Porta Potty pyramid. Top tier… maybe. Catch me on a good day. 

Dramatic Falls

Almost had it pic.twitter.com/O9PgogFoVh

— MileSplit US (@milesplit) September 15, 2018

The fake falling to make your rise to internet stardom via RunnerSpace or Flotrack gram. I only mention this because I once had a “did-she-even-see-the-steeple-barrier-fall” or “who-made-her-try-steeplechase-fall?” or “she-did-this-for-the-gram-fall” Nope, that was real. And that’s why I take some offense to you falling on purpose. AND even more offense to a casual somersault out of your fall because that just makes my very real fall look that much worse. You’re giving the running world unrealistic falling expectations. What? Now every cross-country runner is supposed to double as a stuntman? No. I refuse.

Ironic Costumes
The kids in the banana suits or hot dog suits or pizza slice suits. What’s their deal? And that’s coming from a woman who owns a shirt that shows a bundle of bananas with “go bananas” in text so it’s not that I don’t love bananas – it’s just that I LOVE competition more and your banana suit at Cross Regionals seems like a slight hinderance to your performance. Who knows though maybe you have a separate mascot PR category which I’d have to respect.

Dirty Swims

 

 

 

 

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Great approach, great dive, great recovery. 10/10 belly flop — #dyestat #runnerspace #crosscountry #mud #mudrun #xcnation

A post shared by DyeStat (@dyestat) on

Sep 1, 2018 at 3:33pm PDT

Swimming in the mud pits. Refer to above for concerns of hindering performance… I don’t want a gritty soggy uniform rubbing my skin, there’s already chaffing happening as is. 

Unreal Course Records

Katelynne Hart throwing down her meet record at the Richard Spring Invite.

5:10 mile one ▶️10:38 mile two ▶️16:15 mile three pic.twitter.com/n0cxaXv8EG

— MileSplit US (@milesplit) September 18, 2018

The high school prodigies who makes you wonder if the youth are just really convincing robots. All these high school girls running sub 17 5k’s on hard cross country courses!? It’s all a conspiracy man. 

There you have it, so don’t say you haven’t been warned…

As seen at Tenacious Ten, black bottoms are the race day outfit of choice.

I lay you out the night before, on a chair in my room, near the door. I tuck shoes underneath. Shirt choice can wait until the morning, but you, YOU are the first piece I reach for to start the pile.

A uniform frees us from making decisions that derail our best intentions. You beckon me to walk through the door.

And then we run.

Sometimes evidence from our mutual adventures follows us home:

Brush off the dirt placed by the happy dog’s paws.

Sew up the hole from a trip root fall with Grandma’s sewing kit.

We keep each other’s secrets:

Sometimes I reach into the dirty clothes bin to find you in the morning,
when the day before got away from me and laundry is still undone.
And you show up for me anyway, no judgements.

My body is a wonderland. And a recreational facility.
And sometimes the sprinklers go off when they’re not supposed to.
But you never tell on me. 

Do I think that I look slimmer in you? I cannot say. I care but I don’t care but I care but I don’t.

Do I know that we are stronger together? YES. You are my second skin. You hold me together.

Only my own legs and lungs work harder than you do.

And we have work to do.

Black-bottoms, we make the running world go ‘round.

Explore our full range of black running bottoms,