Living in a van is a simpler way of life. A way to focus more on experiences + relationships over the allure of material things. But despite the simplicity, there are some unanswered questions that we all have about #vanlife... and luckily, we know just the right person to ask.

Oiselle pro trail runner and owner of a big beautiful red van, Sarah Bard, answers all of my questions… even the weird/personal ones, so thank you Sarah!

HC: We’re going to start with the one that’s on everyone’s mind but we're all too afraid to ask… Where do you go to the bathroom? Is there a preferred bathroom of choice? Or does it just come down to the closest one you can find?

SB: Honestly, this is not really an issue – even though you’re right, it’s usually one of the first questions I’m asked about living in the van. If I’m in a rural place, like camping, I’ll just go to the bathroom outdoors (following Leave No Trace principles). If I’m in a city, there are plenty of public bathroom options: coffee shops, grocery stores, the gym, friends’ homes, park facilities, etc. There are bathrooms everywhere. But maybe what you’re asking is, have I had to go to the bathroom and not had an option? Maybe. I have a special Nalgene for that.

HC: And of course to follow that up… Showers. We’ve all seen you, you’re a clean person. Where does the showering take place?

SB: Also less of an issue than one might expect. My standard has been yoga studios and gyms, as well as friend’s houses when I’m in town for a visit. I do shower a lot less frequently than I previously did when I had a home with a shower, but it works out. In rural areas where access to a shower is more challenging, even though I may encounter more dirt, it doesn’t feel as icky as if I spend a day in the city, so I don’t mind missing showers for a day (or a few). But typically, if I’m in the city I’m there visiting friends or have access to a gym and can shower regularly. It takes a bit more planning, but…not really. I have a bag that I keep packed with all my toiletries and a towel, so it’s easy to just grab and go, with little organization and forethought. 

I also have a solar shower, which I used a bunch last summer when I was in California before the van was fully built out. I’ll only use in warm weather though – otherwise it’s really just kinda cold and unpleasant. I’d rather just stay dirty. 

I DO wash my face every night and every morning with hot water that I heat in my Jetboil. This makes me feel relaxed and refreshed for sleeping and tackling the day. I bought 8 very nice knitted washcloths and I use one a day. Small things, but they make a difference. 

Lastly, I had read about this prior to living it, but showering less frequently has made me feel cleaner in general. I feel like my hair is much healthier and manageable now with a wash every 3 days or so. Even when I find myself with the ability to shower multiple days in a row, I’ll forgo the hair-wash and just rinse it. 

PLUS. Showering is SUCH A TREAT now. I have minimal cleaning products, that are used so much less frequently, so I have the budget to splurge on nice shampoo (Living Proof, Davines) and face care (Aesop, Acure). Each shower is like a trip to the spa! It’s SO nice. 

HC: Okay so now that the basic hygienic questions are out of the way, tell us about finding a place to park for the night. Is that tricky? Have you ever been confronted by someone about where you have parked?

SB: Shout out to all those people who have done a long drive, tried to pull over and get some sleep only to be woken up by the police telling them to move along. It’s a little tricky, yes. But it is so much less tricky in a windowless van. 

In general though, it’s been pretty easy. It requires a little bit of common sense, like if you’re in a city, don’t park on a street where you are the ONLY car parked in the street. These neighborhoods not only tend to have watchful residents, but you’ll stick out like a sore thumb (see Netflix’s Easy: Season 2, Episode 1)

So, in a city, I usually look for quiet neighborhoods (small streets) where there are a lot of cars parked on the street. I want to look as inconspicuous as possible. Maybe that’s laughable in such a big red van, but it’s possible. In cities, I try to get ready for sleeping somewhere else than where I plan to park for the night. So I can just roll up, get in bed, and draw as little attention as possible. I imagine if anyone even notices that I’m a foreign car/new to the neighborhood, they think I’m just in town visiting a friend who lives on the street. There are certainly other little tips and tricks, but this is the general approach.

In more rural areas, there are websites and online tools you can use for finding fire roads that have been vetted by other ‘car campers’. BLM or USFS land is available (PUBLIC LANDS FTW!), but it’s nice to have some feedback from people as some places can be better than others.  Often times, there’s a recommendation for a dirt road right on the edge of town with be pull offs every 200-400 meters or so where you can have your own little plot of land. Usually the rule is that you can remain there for 14 days without issue, but then have to move. It’s funny to find these little van/RV communities just outside of sometimes bustling towns. 

But long story short: City = quiet side streets with other street-parked-cars. Country = BLM/Forest Service/Public Land for dreamy camp sites on fire roads.

FAVORITE SPOT SO FAR: Mojave National Preserve. Best places to sleep, hands down.

HC: Runners love to eat. How do you cook your meals? Any favorite van meal pro-tips?

SB: There are many options for cooking in a van. I chose a high end marine alcohol stove, and I also use my Jetboil (more for drinks, coffee, or quick cooking grains like oatmeal, or quinoa to add to salads). 

The alcohol stove works great, though if I’m being honest propane would be stronger (read: faster). However, propane is notorious for small leaks and that’s just something I wasn’t ready to f**k with- not just because of my own health, but because I sometimes leave Sue (my dog) in the van for a couple hours at a time. I have a really nice carbon monoxide detector, but if I’m not in the van, an alarm is meaningless to Sue. The alcohol stove is a standard 2-burner cooktop, alcohol is available at a handful of easy to access places– Amazon, REI, etc. It cooks a little bit slower, but it’s a nice mindfulness exercise to cook with attention and patience.

Favorite meals:

Lentil Soup (see my saved instastories for recipe) and other varieties of soup

Flatbread Pizza, always varied, but some suggestions

• kale, parmesan, onion, roasted garlic, tempeh, olive oil, garlic sauce
• sweet potato, goat cheese, onion, tempeh, olive oil
• brussel sprouts, goat cheese, onion, tempeh, bbq sauce

Hearty Salads (Kale, Avocado, Quinoa, Pepitas, Cranberries, Cheese, Tempeh, Hemp Seeds, etc. etc.)

Eggs (obviously) – with veggies, with cheese, on toast, with hashbrowns, alone. 

Grilled Cheese (obviously) – standard, or with avocado, and / or with sprouts, and / or with sliced granny smith apple. GET CREATIVE. 

Curries – green curry with broccoli, spinach, potato is my fave. Typically with rice. 

Soups – from scratch, from a box, whatever suits what’s on hand and the timing available

It’s a bummer not having an oven sometimes, but I make it work. I’m about to reinvest in a FryBake, which will really enhance my baking abilities. But for now, cooking is pretty much the same. My PRO TIP is to minimize dish use. Cooking in the van is actually pretty easy, but dishes are exponentially more annoying. It requires a bit of organization, but I can do all of the above in just one dish or one pan.

HC: I’m going to back it up. Where do you store your food? 

SB: I have a refrigerator, specifically made for RVs, Marine-use, vanlife. It looks like a fancy cooler and it’s very efficient. It’s not huge, but it’s definitely enough. I’ve learned to store fruits and vegetables (that aren’t refrigerated) in a small hanging basket right above the fridge. This way they are easy to see and I don’t forget what I have and what I need to eat. No one likes smelly rotting food in the van. Also, no one likes waste! Then I have a small cabinet that I use for dry foods – nuts, dried fruits, canned items – coconut milk, beans, rice, and quinoa. Treats and snacks are also stored in the cabinet to keep them out of Sue’s reach. 

I like food and I eat a lot, so there’s actually a lot of space in the van that is reserved for food storage.

Also, shout out to WHERE I buy food. I mean everywhere/anywhere, but special shout-out to Grocery Outlet. For real. My friend Christine introduced me to ‘Gross Out’ earlier this year and it is a super fun part of my week. They have some good quality stuff that I normally wouldn’t justify buying at typical price (read: kale chips), some good quality organic stuff, bagged salads that you’d find at WF but at half the price, AND a great beer selection! Hot tip: Sportiva-athlete and registered dietician, Maria Dalzot has an Instagram account devoted to Grocery Outlet.

HC: I for one am a heavy sweater and accrue an insane amount of dirty laundry in a single week, is dirty laundry ever an issue for you? Or do you have a secret storage spot to keep it contained until you have a chance to hit up a washer or dryer?

SB: I just store it in a small-ish bag. When it fills the bag, it’s time to do laundry!

When I rented, I always looked for a place that had laundry on-site, because who wants to spend all their time at laundromats. But actually, they’re pretty efficient. Those washers will take care of your stuff in under 30 minutes to wash, and usually 15 minutes to dry. So I can be in and out in about an hour or so – with workout clothes, sheets, towels, everything DONE. I’ve had to minimize my closet size since moving into the van. All my clothes fit into 3 drawers. So, I just do laundry often and when I do it, I try to do a good amount. So far, I’ve been traveling in pretty cool weather, so smell hasn’t been an issue. But summer is just around the corner, so we’ll see. However, the biggest issue with laundry has been rain, mud, etc. and summer usually means less of that. So maybe there will be a bit of an equalizer there.

Shout out to my favorite laundromats so far: Brio Laundry in Bellingham, WA and Spin Laundry Lounge in PDX. They both make doing laundry pleasurable – like going to a coffee shop and getting some work done. 

HC: So now that you’ve been cruising along for a while, what have been your low’s and high’s from your experience?

SB: Oh, this is hard. For me, there haven’t been a lot of lows of vanlife. 

I guess one low is that actual traveling is harder now because I’m becoming accustomed to having my home, and all my stuff with me all the time. A few weeks ago I flew to Vegas for a race and I had to stay in a hotel. I was really annoyed about having to pay for a place to sleep in a bed that wasn’t as comfortable. I missed my home. You can say the same thing about living in a house, but in the back of my head I kept feeling like I should have just driven instead because I could – it would have been less expensive, and more convenient. (Why didn’t I drive? Time, but also leaving Sue in the van for 4+ hours while I ran a race in Vegas in late April wouldn’t be safe.)

There are some lows, but they’re usually just due to mechanics. It’s nice having your home with you all the time, but if your home stops working, that’s an issue. It's a lot more likely to stop working, when your home is a vehicle. The first low that comes to mind is one day I was in Portland. I was meeting friends for a run in the Gorge, and I woke up and was having a quick breakfast. It was cold and a bit rainy and I had just recently installed a heater in the van that will run without the engine. The heater install was less than optimal, but I thought I was through with the headaches and frustrations. However, when I opened the door to the van after breakfast, I realized that the heater had been putting out huge plumes of white exhaust. The van was surrounded by smoke! 

I shut it down and drove to meet my friends, but I could tell that very small amounts of diesel was leaking from the van. I didn’t know what the issue was, and as it was a Sunday (and most auto-businesses closed), I felt stymied as to how to solve my issue without potentially dripping diesel everywhere I went. I caught a ride with my friends and then spent the afternoon, alone, under the van in the pouring rain trying to diagnose the problem. I did end up solving things temporarily until I could consult with a professional, but it was a frustrating and somewhat scary day. 

I’ve had other small things – like my windshield wiper straight up snapping in half while I was driving to Seattle in the POURING RAIN. Not only did I lose visibility on the highway – basically stranding me, but it’s hard to find a replacement wiper on short notice for a Sprinter. Luckily it worked out, but sometimes those things don't. 

The only other general low is in attitudes and preconceptions about vanlife. Certainly most reactions to the van are excited curiosity, interest, and stoke. But even so, it’s a non-traditional way of living that makes some people uncomfortable. To see this discomfort manifested in personal interactions has been disappointing. However, it’s made me more cognizant of stereotypes and preconceptions, and helped me to be a more compassionate person in my interactions with others. So, it’s a low, but it’s also a high.

Here we have photographic evidence of a low and a high.

The highs of vanlife are realizing how much little stuff I need – and in fact, how stuff can really get in the way of living. The highs are in making more connections with strangers, and spending more time with friends. The highs are the kindness and generosity that I experience on a daily basis. The highs are getting to spend real, quality time in beautiful places: to really appreciate the desert, to stand in awe of huge mountains, to explore the rainforest; to embrace the cold, to literally bask in the warmth of the sun. The highs are being more attuned to my actions and my choices, and to being more appreciative of little things that make my life more pleasant now in a more dramatic way.

For me, living in the van isn’t a vacation from life. It is a lifestyle choice, and something I love and would like to adapt my life to for the long term. It's had significant changes in who I am and how I live. I am totally open to the fact that life is an experience though, and it’s possible that I’ll find myself in a position in the near or far future where living in a van doesn’t make sense. However, regardless of if I’m in the van or not, I’d like to continue living like I live in the van – which is being more mindful in my life and of my time - spending it on relationships and experiences.

Follow along with Sarah Bard, the Red Van, and her dog Sue, here! 

We are quickly approaching the beginning of summer relay season – that time of year when all the planning, training and van organizing finally comes to fruition. We are kicking off the Oiselle Podium Project this Friday as we get ready to cheer on the women of Bird Machine Cape Cod!

As important as preparing with long runs, hills, and doubles are, a key part of the preparation is in the packing. That’s why we decided to make our own relay packing list.

Fear not, grab all these items and you should be rolling through your relay with ease!

Time in the van is critical. It’s critical refuel time, rest time, teammate support time, overall it’s your mini home for the duration of the race. Make yourself comfortable, as comfortable as you can be crammed in a van after logging hard miles, sitting in the stench of your fellow teammates.

If you’ve got an extra organized captain or crew, have them create a supply bin for shared essentials. This will eliminate duplicates and save on critical van real estate. (Trust us, space will be at a premium!) Things to include:

• The race booklet: at least one printed copy and one downloaded on a device.
• First Aid items and toiletries: Sunscreen, Tums (to help with the weird eating schedule), hand sanitizer, baby wipes or Shower Pills, tampons, hair elastics, and a mini bottle of dry shampoo if you’re feeling extra luxurious. Also, don’t forget ibuprofen, it will come in handy later down the road… literally.
• Extra toilet paper! Let’s be real it’s not something you want to run out of.
• Foam roller or stick to help roll out those sore muscles.
• Garbage bags because, as mentioned earlier, this van is your current home so keep it clean.
• Shared snacks because everyone loves to snack and you don’t want to end up each bringing a dozen bananas!

• ALL THE NUT BUTTERS!!! Peanut, Almond, Sunflower, Hazelnut, you can’t have too many.
• Something salty – Potato Chips, Pretzels, Tortilla Chips, basically whatever your favorite chip or cracker is.
• Fruits – Bananas, apples, tangerines…
• Bars and cookies (They basically serve the same purpose) – Picky Bars, oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies.
• Bread & Bagels, by the end of this 11/10 chance you won’t want to see a slice of bread.
• Gummy Candies or dried fruits
• Beef Jerky
• Trail mix
• If you have a cooler: Lunch meat, hummus, spring mix
• Bottled water and a stock pile of LaCroix
• Coconut water for some extra electrolytes!

• Anything cozy to keep yourself comfortable after each of your legs. NBD Pants, Kara Pants, Lux Pants, or Track Attack Pants are all great lounge options.
• Your go-to slip on comfy shoes (Birkenstocks, Oofos, Fuzzy boots) slip-on shoes are ideal to slip over compressions socks. (Also, pack your compression socks!)
• Miir Flock Water Bottle. Staying hydrated is not a performance-enhancing secret, because it’s that important, and that proven.
• Think of how many socks you need… okay now double it.
• Runner Stuff Pouches packed with personal essentials. Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick, etc.
• Three separate spike bags or Ziploc bags containing one outfit for each leg you’ll be running. Having your outfits already sorted and separated will prevent the frantic searching through snacks and piles of sweaty running clothes. Only use your energy to move those legs people! Once you’ve run your leg, the sweaty clothes go right back in and the back gets zipped back up. No hassle and, most importantly, no stink!
• Your favorite pump-up Spotify playlist that’s at least 200 songs long, no one likes looping through the same playlist five times. And don’t forget your car phone charger to keep the good times rolling.

You may be wondering what three outfits to pack. Maybe you need more than that? What if there’s a weather disaster and somehow it snows in the middle of June and you didn’t pack your Super Puff mittens!? No, stop that. Don’t be the person who rolls up to the van demanding the whole backseat to be reserved for you and your military grade duffel bag.

Here’s a breakdown of the essentials you need for each leg of the relay.

Temps are chillier, the vibes are calmer, and your body may be wondering why it’s not in a warm bed.

• Have you ever been momentarily blinded by a beautiful rising sun? Yeah me too and as glorious as it is, it’s also terrible. The Runner Trucker Hat is perfect to shield your face from the sun and then fold up and tuck away when it’s no longer needed.
• A light top layer is a great source of extra encouragement when you are lacking a little motivation hopping out of the van on your third leg. Vim Jacket, Vigor Vest, and Mile One Pullover, are all great options that are easy to stow away once your body is warmed up.

Don’t daydream of your lunch quite yet, you still have some work to do. Here are some items that will help you kick ass and take names.

• Goodr sunglasses in case that midday sun is out and in full force.
• Manifesto Bandana; aka a utility wrap. Shield your neck from the sun or use it to wipe away sweat.

Also don’t day(night)dream about sleeping because sleep doesn’t really happen during relays. The highest priority for the night leg, is making yourself seen. Here are some items to make you obnoxiously (and safely) noticeable.

• Lightning Layer: look at that you’ve turned into a lantern.
• Headlamp: Look at that you’ve upgraded from lantern to a lighthouse. Well done.
• Just because it was warm during the day doesn’t mean it’s warm at night. Keep yourself warm with a Wazzie Wool Homerun Half Zip or Base Layer.
• When you’re waiting to run your next leg with your safety vest and headlamp on, you’re going to want a nice, warm, temporary layer as you wait for your runner to come in and hand off. This is a great use for the Cat Lady jacket. Plus, you can pet it to make yourself feeling less anxious about running in the middle of the night.
• When you’re settling in for your night’s “sleep” you are definitely going to want your warmest coat. The Call Her or Quill Jacket is as close as you may come to getting in a sleeping bag.

You did it! Congrats on keeping it spicy and eating up all the miles. You may be sleep deprived but once you cross over that line as a team, your body will hit a new level of euphoria, ready to keep the party rollin’ with your favorite eats. It’s not like clothing can perform miracles… but there are some items that give the illusion you are a showered and generally put together, which, after finishing a relay, is probably far from the case…

• Roga Dress or Story Dress to really air everything out.
• Or give zero f***s and throw on a Yeti or Lux Sweatpants with your favorite hoodie.

Share with us your favorite relay tips and tricks using #RoadToRelay and follow our Podium Project Team's races by following the Oiselle Podium Project Twitter.

May 5th. Cinco de Mayo. And an O-style party at Oiselle Store! It's all happening this Saturday from 10am - 3pm. Internally, we've been calling it Roll Mamacita. 

Moms, margaritas, Mexican history. There's no one better to help you learn (and be entertained) than our very own Brenda... Chief Good Vibes Generator, Oiselle Store and community leader, always living life to the fullest, funnest, and most fabulous. Without further ado, Brenda breaks it down!

Although Tenacious Ten and Nee Day have passed, don't take off your party sombreros just yet!! We got another fun store event around the corner...Roll Mama babies! Well this year it's gonna be Roll Mamacita. A fun play on Cinco de Mayo, but first a quick history lesson. 

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. I repeat. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. Mexico's Independence Day is actually on September 16th (which is a HUGE deal in Mexico). That's the day Mexico said no mas to more than 300 years of very naughty Spanish rule. 

Cinco de Mayo is a whole other business. Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla. A battle where the Mexican army in Puebla was outnumbered by Napoleons' French army and won. It's part of the Franco-Mexican war, back in the days when Napoleon wanted to learn Español and carve out a little piece of Mexico for himself. The Mexicans basically said, non merci (no thanks, no gracias) and gave the French la botte (the boot). Well it took some time, but you get the gist. So there you have it friends. A super abbreviated mini chapter of Mexican history on two days that people often mistake.

Cinco de Mayo is actually not that big of deal in Mexico and instead has morphed into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in the US. What's not to like about that? But enough of the history lesson. Who's ready for margaritas and an afternoon of fun? Since Roll Mama falls on both Cinco de Mayo and Opening Day in Seattle, we're gonna celebrate a la Pacific Northwest Style. 

You still with me people? Focus. Focus, all the good stuff is right below. Keep reading. 

This year we're gonna celebrate all our hard working Mamacitas by throwing a Cinco de Mayo Rowing Fiesta!! We're gonna row, cheer, eat, drink and raise money for Bras for Girls. Who's in?! I hope you all raised your hands. Guys!!! Did I mention that we're gonna have Mexican themed food and drinks for all and prizes for the team that rows the most meters. Another event exclusive item will be our new customized Oiselle Goodr glasses, these will go fast some make sure to come grab yours!

Here's what you need to know and do for this year's Roll Mama:

What: Roll Mamacita
When: Saturday May 5th
Where: Oiselle Flagship Store
Time: 10am-3pm
Cost: Free and open to all

Yes there will be an actual rowing machine in the store, and the teams competing will be Oiselle HQ (aka The Nest), Store Staff (Flagship Team), and team TNFC. Door prizes and raffles will be taking place throughout the event!

Last but not least, our Roll Mamacita event is open to all!! So save the date and see you there. 

Brenda

BY: ALI BUTLER GLENESK

As a kid, I thought nothing of hopping off the school bus a few stops early and running through the fields before strutting home covered in dust. I was lucky enough to be raised with lots of time camping, hiking, and generally playing outside in the dirt. Who I would become was also shaped by family folklore. Ask any of my cousins and they’ll tell you with pride about the time their grandfather tried out SCUBA diving with a fire extinguisher in the 1950s, or the time he took all his kids out to run a marathon in death valley. My dad and his brothers were world class modern pentathletes before I was born, but perhaps more importantly to me, they were adventurers, and took me bushwhacking through island wilderness, relishing in the joy of being outdoors and off the beaten path, quite literally.

So for me, running helps me feel like myself, connecting me to my family history, to nature, and to the broader running community. As I built my career, I also built a running habit, logging thousands of miles on the trails off the freeway exits on my commute home. It only made sense that last year during a career transition I turned to running as a path through some of the liminality. I hatched a plan to run across my home state of California and I had two friends who wanted to join me! The plan was that I’d run about 26 miles each day, with Maryam and Noam alternating driving the car and running with me, until we reached the ocean. My audacious goal was to set a supported fastest known time for the route, although it was a bit of a new route we were making, and it wasn’t easy to find information about women who had done it before. All of us had our own goals for the week - Maryam wanted to run farther than she’d ever run before and Noam wanted to make a film documenting our adventures. For all of us, the idea that our ragtag, middle-of-the-packer group could play a small part in making the door into adventure sports a bit wider for underrepresented groups was inspiring.

Our view of Squaw Valley from the western states trail.

On July 31st, Noam and I set off at a tentative and hopeful jog from the Nevada state line on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore. I was shaking in my shoes. To be at mile 3 of a 262 mile adventure, with two friends willingly believing in and supporting you, even as you aren’t completely sure you can accomplish the undertaking at all, was a special experience to say the least. Day 2, Maryam and I started out on the Western States Trail at sunrise. Day 2 was one of the hardest days, but I think it was when I found my stride. The Western States Trail is where the legends of many of my running heroines took shape, and it runs through an area of the High Sierra steeped in memories from my childhood and family. My grandparents met in those mountains and their ashes are now scattered there. To be on that trail that day, floating down the switchbacks, it was a coming home.

Over the course of the week, I ran what amounted to about 7 marathons in 7 days. I cried on day 2 thinking about how far there still was to go. On day 3, there was the magic of realizing I had legs after the marathon the day before - my first ever back-to-back marathon. On subsequent days I did it again and again and I remember running along thinking to myself, dang I’m really doing this thing! I ran while eating trail mix out of a baggy in the darkness and I ran chatting with my friends and I ran wearing a burger king crown I found on the sidewalk in Sacramento. I ran wondering how my aches would feel the next day and I ran until I found myself unable to bend my legs to get into the car. I ran into the transcendent experience of pushing my body beyond what I thought was possible, before we stopped short of our goal outside the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield.

In Fairfield during RAC with the squad. Got that Runner Trucker Hat full of ice.

The story of our run isn’t a story of a smashing success, but it is a story of camaraderie and bravery. I’m a middle-of-the-packer who ran 175 miles in a week and had a silly amount of fun (and a crazy amount of digging deep) out there with my friends. In the aftermath of the run I didn’t become super confident overnight, but I was reminded that I can be bold and that friendship, family, and community are everything.

Looking back, last year was an awe-inspiring year in women’s running. I was incredibly inspired by Oiselle’s all-female team at the speed project, Natalie Larson’s solo FKT of California south-to-north, and Cat Bradley’s super badass FKT in the Grand Canyon R2R2R. In an era of women elevating women in running, it feels incredible to be a part of that. During my run across California, my friends slathered sunscreen on me and hollered words of support out the car window. They ran farther than they’d ever run before by my side and embraced that road life - including all the 4am wake ups to beat the heat! We raised each other up. Whether you’re a professional runner or not, it is incredible to feel that sense of belonging - to a team and to something bigger than yourself!

Check out our film and learn more about the film here! Running Across California is Premiering online on May 8: Click here for the film!

A Roll Mama is a woman we admire. A strong woman who shows up for herself and others. Someone we either want in our lives. Or simply appreciate.

I asked the Nest who a Roll Mama is to them - and the women of the Nest spoke…

1. Lesko: Fierce. All in. My friend Mindy Leffler is a competitor, ran in college. One of her sons has muscular dystrophy. She knows more about DMD than almost any doctor. But she also maintains her humanity, and her energy for her two other children and her own running.
2. Steph W: Proficient at multi tasking. Someone who juggles a lot of balls. My girlfriend Myra who has two kids, works full time, and just ran the Big Sur 20 miler.
3. Jess: Unapologetic. Knowing that there isn’t a specific way to do things. Lauren Fleshman comes to mind. She’s not sorry for things she does that others don’t think are the right way to do it. Being a mom, while being open and honest.
4. Katie: Independent. Mom. Someone who has built a family but it's not their full identity. It’s part of who they are but they are their own person in the world.
5. Hannah: Someone who views the world open to all possibilities, but paired with humility. "I’m human and I can try big things. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work." Gwen Jorgensen said, “I want to own an Olympic gold medal in the marathon.” Some people pushed back, and she was like “Yeah I said it, I’m not going to unsay it.”
6. Atsuko: Courageous. Flexible. A lifelong learner. Humble confidence. Someone who knows how to let go. Know how to let something be, as opposed to micromanaging. I'm a badass roll aunty.
7. Jenn: Willingness to be there for so many people, but not a martyr; in it and very present. Even if a person has a propensity for drama, when faced with challenge, they center. Show up, with strength.
8. Rebecca: Capacity for burden. Sharing the yoke, not self-sacrifice. The tree is half the apple and knows to fertilize itself and continue to live. My own mom had my brother and I, my Dad had health struggles, and eventually died of brain cancer. Her own mother was an alcoholic. But she also had the support system that was the fertilizer. And she fertilized herself.
9. Sally: Loyalty. Women who are true. To themselves and others.

Who is your Roll Mama? Let us know on the socials with hashtag #RollMama

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Whether you just crossed the finish line at a marathon (Boston or London, anyone?) or finished a big long run, Congrats! Now is the time to Hit Reset — use yoga to restore balance — and optimize the recovery process. Let’s be real, after 26.2, your legs are dead. One of the best ways to promote post-run recovery is to “invert” your legs (put them upside down), which helps to drain and recirculate any excess fluid, and is incredibly calming for your nervous system. Simply put: The wall is queen when it comes to recovery.

Use this quick wall-based (or side of your couch, or any wall-like surface) routine as often as possible in the weeks post-marathon to ease lingering stiffness and tension in your hamstrings, hips, and back. Hold each pose for 5–10 deep breaths, and Legs up the Wall for up to 15 minutes — if your knees, hips, or back are uncomfortable in any of these poses, move father away from the wall.

Butterfly at the Wall

• Lie on your back and put your legs up the wall.
• Bring the soles of your feet together so that your feet and all your toes connect.
• Rest your arms open, palms up.

Figure 4 at the Wall

• Put your feet flat on the wall so that your knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle.
• Cross one ankle over your other knee, keeping that foot flexed, and keeping the knee of the leg that is touching the wall aligned over the ankle.
• If needed, slide your foot farther up the wall to get the ankle crossed over the knee while keeping your spine neutral.
• Rest your arms open, palms up.
• Switch sides.

Squat at the Wall

• Take your feet wider apart, keeping your feet flat on the wall, and turn your heels in/toes out.
• Back up as far as needed to neutralize your spine, while staying close enough to the wall that you feel a strong stretch down the inseams of your legs, into your inner hips.
• Rest your arms open, palms up.

Legs Up the Wall

• Extend your legs up the wall.
• Bend your knees slightly and turn your feet away from each other.
• Rest your arms open, palms up.

For more post-run recovery, check out Jasyoga’s complete guide to marathon recovery, and hit up recovery videos in The 26.2 Collection, on Jasyoga Video.

Designs are like children. I have many. Some required pain meds. Some have fallen by the wayside. But many are extra special. They happened at a time that was formative for me. Or taught me something I didn't know about apparel design. Or today, they just make me laugh when I look back on them. 

There was "iRun without" which spoke to my internal Luddite and belief that the best of running is disconnected, technology-free running. I'm a purist that way, even as I learned through the launch of this tee that most runners disagree. Let's just say sales weren't off the charts. And yet I stand by the original statement, even as I nerd out with my Garmin and occasionally haul around my phone for pics and stories and selfies and buying coffee post run. The creep of technology is hard to resist - but resist, sisters. RESIST.

A classic, that we launched in 2008, was the "Big Run Tee." This simple typographic design instantly took off, and we still bring it back. It just happens to be in our Née Day Sale this week!

In 2010 or so, we stopped embroidering our logo on shorts and started using the reflective "circle bird" that was common in the brand up until this year. We're celebrating that original embroidery with our limited edition OG Rogas. Later this year, we'll be updating our brand again. The bird can't be caged!

Three styles that I'm especially proud of, considering the design background they include:

1. The Kara Collection. Working with an athlete, from start to finish, was a dream come true. From designing the silhouette to picking the fabric, to working through fittings, these styles exceeded my expectations in all the right ways. Not ashamed to say I own every piece in both color ways. The Kara Pants in particular are my down-day go-to.

2. The Vim Jacket and Vigor Vest. Creating a weather-ready lightweight shell that works for runners in a variety of climates and conditions is a tall order. We agonized over every single detail of this jacket and it's one of my favorites of all time. I have a running joke that the Vigor Vest is my security blanket.

3. The Big O Hoodie. These hoodies, which are no longer in the line, are beloved by many. The making of them is unique... the white or "PFD" fabric (prepared for dye) is printed with an invisibly layer of temporary ink (in the pattern you see), and then the entire garment is garment dyed, which means that the fully sewn garments are bathed in huge vats of dye. The result is the fabric takes the dye differently, depending on where the invisible ink is printed. The combination of this tonal print process and the garment dying results in a wonderfully soft garment that is uniquely Oiselle. We don't do much garment dye any more, particularly because the dyes are not environmentally friendly.

I'll conclude with the election tees from the 2008 presidential race. Shortly after we released them, Runner's World included them in one of their issues and at the time, for a tiny company, it was a big deal (ie, crashed our website).

Creativity is just another muscle in our bodies. We all have the capacity, and it's just a matter of finding that area of interest. Today, it's such an honor to lead a team of innovative thinkers and designers, developing that next Roga, that next Flyte Tank, or that next election tee...

Recently we had the privilege of bringing Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman to Seattle, for a photoshoot and interviews as well. These interviews with Sally touched on topics ranging from their personal running stories, to team, to marketing of women athletes. We love this story from the one and only Fleshman Flyer about the history of the “Objectify Me” poster.

Who had this up in their room in the 00’s?

Source: New York Times

“We always think we’re a little bit more ahead with feminism than we are, but the reality is we’re always going to be presented with options that are from the past, that are comfortable. We have to be the agents to help push things forward.” - Lauren Fleshman

Tenacious Ten you treated us oh so well. There was sunshine, a Oiselle 10k and 10 mile win, a professional team of hype women, an abundance of PR’s and race goals conquered, expert level pacers, hardcore cowbelling, a speedy kids 1k, and most importantly... donuts. Need I say more?

Here’s a glimpse of race day through the lens of one of our favorite photographers, Heather McWhirter.

Peace out Ten10, see you in 2019!

I get it… The whole point of a high five is to provide a purely physical nudge of support, to not have to waste energy by forming coherent sentences. BUT, if high fives could talk this is definitely what they would say,

"Workout is done and dusted. Should we get a beer now? I think we should get a beer now"

"Go on with your bad self"

"Giiirrrrl I see you running those 26.2 miles! You're getting every high five that's physically possible"

"I don't know you, but I respect that"

"I am the hand of Kara Goucher, touch me and turn to gold"

"We did that. WE DID THAT." *9/10 chance there is a foot stomp involved that we cannot see. 

"You’re not going anywhere… I now have you in a firm, supportive grasp”

*speechless, actually speechless

Now go out there and give your tenacious peeps a high five! BECAUSE IT'S TENACIOUS SATURDAY!

I’ve got pretty varied taste in movies. Some of my favorites: Terms of Endearment, Sling Blade, District 9, Day After Tomorrow, Moonlight, and most recently Call Me by Your Name and Black Panther. I think what I connect with is the portrayal of an essential element of human truth…which isn’t always written into a script, or even if it is, isn’t always portrayed effectively by actors. A lot of movies try, but fall flat. But when it works, it works, even when the movie seems lightweight or hokey. So bear with me. Crazy, Stupid, Love can teach us all some lessons.

When Steph Willett and I traveled to Richmond last November for the Richmond marathon, I was a little down: in a boot after PRP to my achilles, which had prevented me from running since July ’17. I was of course excited to travel and hang with my team (I really needed it)…and I also needed something to keep me from moping. In hotel movies are the best!

When we flipped on the TV and I saw Crazy, Stupid, Love was just starting, I squealed with excitement. I think Steph gave me a bemused raise of the eyebrows, “you’re really into this movie, eh?” [I just made up the “eh” part – Canadian jokes.] I hunkered down for every word of the movie, commenting and laughing…and yep crying. I know, it’s ridiculous. And then after the movie I felt So. Much. Better. Lightened, yes, but also hopeful. In a true, deep way, hopeful for the capacity of true change. Remarkably better.

I don’t want to give away the whole plot (because you’re certainly going to watch this movie immediately haha), but I’m going to try to explain the essence. One of the characters has lived his whole life a certain way, he’s “that type” of person. In the way that we tend to characterize people as “being” a certain way. And then he changes, but the people in his life don’t believe he can change and still hate him. But then you (the watcher) realize that he actually has changed, and finally people in his life recognize it also.

They ALLOW him to change.

Whoa, that really resonated with me. How caught up are we in categorizing people, in using conflict to put people in a box? Arguments (online) and even in real life are used for defining how someone “is”, not for educating and allowing for change. What would happen if we used conflict to explain viewpoints, and then graciously allowed someone (or ourselves) to change? It sounds crazy and stupid, but I love how a fluff movie can open a window of hope. 

The Tenacious10 is just around the corner! And Oiselle could not be more pumped. We survived the 2018 Boston Marathon Deluge so we are prepped for anything! We have so many out of town visitors to welcome…here are just a few highlights of the Tenacious10 weekend:

Packet pickup at The Watertown Hotel 11am-7pm Thursday, April 19^th and Friday, April 20^th. Get your race bib, Oiselle top, and check out a sweet Oiselle pop-up! Word is Oiselle HQ and Haute Volée will be dropping by on both days for mingling and pics.

After you get your official race gear, swing by Oiselle’s only brick and mortar, our treasured Flagship Store at University Village. You’ll need to get a “oiselfie” in the dressing room,  take a picture with Lauren’s nose, and get #flystyle recs from the one and only Brenda.

Race day at iconic Gas Works Park has something for everyone:

• National Anthem by Jess Barnard
• Mercer Island HS Drum Line
• Post-race donuts!
• Kids 1k race!
• Sweet age group prizes
• Butt slaps from Running Evolution’s Beth Baker

Have you always wanted to be on a starting line with Kara Goucher (racing the 10 mile) or Lauren Fleshman (pacing the 7-minute group of the 10k)? Online registrations for the Tenacious10 are closed, but you can still register at packet pickup on Thursday or Friday. Seriously, you don’t want to miss it.

And, we still have a few slots for our Bright Birds Dance Party on Saturday night on Capitol Hill, so get registered and get signed up for the party!

We can’t wait to see you there and celebrate Seattle, Earth Day, and running with you!