How many times have you heard: “Stay in your lane”? We hear it at Oiselle.

“You make running apparel. I don’t want to hear your opinion on X, Y, Z.”

“Keep to the clothes, don’t talk about politics.”

And we hear this said to our athletes as well. “Don’t tell me what you think. I just want to see you run.” And the put-down: “______ just likes to hear herself talk.”

But where does that come from?

When an athlete is starting out, often she wants to focus on her craft. Put her head down and train. Not put herself out there for criticism. And then when success comes, there may be an instinct to not rock the boat.

Why? We (the public) like our idols as empty vessels – so we can pour whatever feelings/ideas into them to make them into our ideal. But not only is that shallow, it’s false. Every person has innate personality. Fears. Struggles. Opinions. And when those are hidden from the audience, that perpetuates a falsehood.

In my tenure at Oiselle, I’ve been witness to injustices in the running world that athletes agreed were important and outrageous. Those athletes reached out to me but chose not to speak publicly with their eloquent and impassioned thoughts- due to fear, primarily. Fear of criticism, fear of being wrong, fear of sticking out. I understand. I truly empathize.

But you need to realize this: opportunities to speak out in meaningful ways are finite. There is never an opportune time to make waves. So those are now just missed moments, missed opportunities for growth and change.

Sally has a saying: “I’m a person first and a CEO second.” Everyone is a person first, and whatever brought them their audience second.

Oiselle came out against Donald Trump before the election. We took some heat. Lost some customers. But: we are a feminist brand in the Pacific Northwest. We stand for female equality. We support female athletes. Who would we be if we refused to take a stand against a man who bragged about sexual assault?

This is our life. We will stay in our lane. Our lane is bigger than women’s athletic apparel.

This is your life. You have yourself, and your experience. You gain power and identity however you are able. And you are free to wield that power to speak as you wish. It’s ok to be wrong. It’s ok to be human. You can stay in your lane. Your lane is you, and it’s as big as you want it to be. Maybe our lanes have crossed or will cross one day. In the meantime: head up, wings out, voices up!

Blue is strength and trust. It’s also first place – the blue ribbon!

Physiologically, blue is known to be calming, slowing the heart rate, reducing blood pressure.

When I got my first big job in my 20’s, my boss told me that I should wear blue collared shirts when I met with C-level executives because blue equaled trust and confidence. I never liked those blue collared shirts with their awkward buttons and cuffs, but in sports bras… much better!

Blue is so safe, in fact, that I sometimes find it too…well, safe. So at O, we’ve looked for blues that are beyond the primary blue of elementary school. Big Blue is a great example! The hue is huge. Punched up with color and saturation. Big Blue is ready to go big, practically running out the door.

And beautiful, deeply saturated knits take the color exceptionally well. The Ballard Bra in Big Blue or Roga Shorts – both favorites.

The best colors to pair with a bright primary like Big Blue can either be a contrasting color (like red or yellow) or a complementary color – such as Dream! Dream is a soft, beautiful lavender that – while in the pastel realm – holds its own.

One of the things I most like about dream is that it plays in the purple family without being too overpowering. Dream can be paired with lights – for an overall airy look. Or it can be emboldened with Big Blue, Black, or other strong colors.

Big Blue and Dream together are dreamy. Bold and soft. Fast paced – and an easy jog. Easy to wear together, or with many other pairings (whites, neutrals, prints, and more).

My fave combos…

Shade Tank in Dream + Roga Shorts in Big Blue Diamond Print + Ballard Bra in White

White Shade Long Sleeve + Spandos Ikat Ukat Print + Bae Bra in White

Shade Long Sleeve in Dream + Spandos Capris in Wave Print + Spandos Racerback Bra in Wave Print

Flyte Long Sleeve in Violet + Portman Shorts in Big Blue + Spandos Racerback in Onna Print

Or you know… go rogue. Big Blue, Dream, Lavender…they’re ready to heat up, or cool off any run.

The Tenacious10 is fast approaching and speaking of fast, we are thrilled to announce the Oiselle elites who will be making an appearance on race day. 

We're talking BIG names, people! We're coming back even more tenacious in our 2nd year. 

• Kara Goucher, 10 mile: That's right you heard it here first, we even have video evidence! 
• Lauren Fleshman, 10k, 7:00 min pacer: Picture it..,THE Lauren Fleshman leading you to a 10k PR
• Mel Lawrence, 10k: 5th USA's steeplechase, 4th USA's Indoor 3k 
• Lyndy Davis, 10k: 2020 US Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier
• Sabrina Lopez, 10k: 2020 US Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier
• Regina Lopez, 10k: 2020 US Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier
• Erin Ward (aka Jungle Chicken), 10k: 2008 US Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier
• Theresa Hailey, 10k: 2020 US Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier

NEW this year - we're announcing today that TEN participant race packets will include a Oiselle Golden Ticket ($100 Gift Card). The Golden Tickets will be randomly added to participant packets and eligible for spending upon packet pickup or anytime thereafter - at Oiselle Flagship Store or on Oiselle.com. Will you be the lucky winner? Register now to be eligible! 

And just when you thought this race couldn't get sweeter, it does. Sally wanted to celebrate the fast women of the 10 mile race and is throwing in prize money for that distance as well! The top female finishers will receive $1000 for first, $250 for second, and $125 for third. (More info about the 10k Elite Challenge and prize money here.) Time to woman up!

Whether you’re racing the 10k or 10-mile you're in good fast company, even if they are just a few minutes ahead... So don't forget to REGISTER HERE, spots are filling up fast!

This is the passenger seat of our rental car. It's where my husband would be sitting if we were going up this ten thousand foot volcano like average tourists.

This is a nine thousand foot cliff, a mere eight minutes from our final destination according to Siri.

And this is the pull out I’ve been desperately looking for ever since I made the decision to prioritize my babies screaming hungry wails over my screaming bowels.

This is the parking lot, goddamn it where is a parking spot! I recognize that building over there. There must be the bathroom, “kids get ready!”

This is the filthy corner of the family restroom where I had my son sit so he could hold the baby while I went cheeks to stainless.

This is a one hundred bazillion year old volcano – ish.

This is a trail up a cinder cone that looks like it goes up to an overlook of some kind. It also overlooks the road we came in on in the parking lot and this is my son hand waving wildly as his daddy summits by bicycle the same road we drove up.

And there he goes up somewhere else. I hope he is coming back soon.

These are my two hundred and fifty dollars sunglasses on the face of my four year old because he insists on smashing together volcanic rock into stone tools while we wait.

These are my husband’s cycling shoes crunching the rocks as he leads us up the trail to the overlook. He forgot to put his running shoes in the car that we drove up here for him.

And this is this sweat, white encrusted on his skin, and laced through his black cycling shorts.

This is my hand shielding a bald head of my baby from the blistering sun.

As we climb, thirty-four daggers in my spine, holding her body close to mind as she sleeps.

This is my son hurling a rock into the red and orange and yellow guts of a volcano from the top of the world.

And this is me, ignoring the pain, forgetting the fear, separating from the strain.

Leaving it all for another time.

Another time when I won’t be missing a moment. 

The first Oiselle shorts were an orange-red we call Oiselle Orange. In the early days, at marathon expos, I used to jokingly tell women that the color was a PR color, guaranteed to go fast (and take chances). Or was I joking…? (I ran my first sub-3 wearing Oiselle Orange Roga Shorts…)

This season, we’ve brought back Blaze – a lovely, energetic red. Blaze is one of the most vibrant reds we’ve worked with…I love it because it’s not a flat primary red; it jumps and flames, lighting the run on fire!

In color theory, red is associated with fire and warfare. It’s also associated with love and passion. Red can cause physical reactions, raising blood pressure and respiration rates. It’s been shown to enhance human metabolism too. In apparel design, red is a great color to embody power or passion. 

Red can also be associated with importance, like the red carpet at awards shows. In other countries, red has different associations. For example, in China, red is the color of prosperity and happiness.

But hot colors can be overwhelming, and so pairing them with a hue like pale blue, or our Tide, cools it off.

Blue often represents calmness and responsibility. Light blues can be refreshing and friendly. Dark blues are more strong and reliable. Blue is also associated with peace. 

Tide is intended to represent the sky above us, or the waters around us, infinite and peaceful. 

Blaze + Tide = the fiery passion of the run plus the cooling powers of hydration and relaxation. Race and recover. Run and rest.

This spring, we have an entire collection of designs in Blaze and Tide. Among my favorites are...

Blaze Roga Shorts plus Tide Flyout Tops (Tank or Mile One).

Or my current bra obsession, the Team Bra, Logo Tee in Red and new Wave Print Spandos.

Roga Collared Dress in Blaze over Wave Print Spandos.

Blaze too hot? Substitute Ember… the Flyout Short Sleeve in Tide plus Ember Go Joggings also look amazing.

Or go off script and make up your own color story…as always, it’s all about just getting out there. Just keep running!

*WARNING: The following video and excerpt contain strong language and sensitive content about assault. It may not be appropriate for all audiences.

By: KELLY HERRON

Running Journal
Date: Sunday March 5, 2017
Distance: 4.78 miles

It wasn’t easy getting out for my 10-mile training run today, but when the day’s temperature hit a high of 38 degrees, I could no longer put it off.

Two years prior, this would be a Sunday Funday reserved for day drinking. But shortly after getting sober - I had so much free time - why not train for a marathon?

I now realized that what I signed up for was running in harsh elements that very few people are willing to endure. The rain was coming down sideways when I got to Golden Gardens and the beach was nearly empty.

I spotted the park bathroom, my halfway point, and decided to take a quick break before heading back home. The concrete walls and steel toilets reminded me of a prison cell. With my GPS still ticking, I tried to make it quick - I wrestled with my compression pants to get them back up my cold, sweaty legs and they suctioned tightly against my skin.

After quickly rinsing my hands under ice cold water, I put them under the hand dryer. Just as I felt the relief of warm air, I became aware that something was very wrong. I turned around to see my worst nightmare standing in front of me. A right out of the movies bad guy. 

He lunged at me like a bear on the attack, backing me into the corner. This isn’t happening, I thought. And then the smell -  the pungent foul stench of human filth. As reality sunk in, he threw me to the ground and I decided that this was NOT GOING to happen. “NOT TODAY MOTHERFUCKER!!!”

Pinned by the weight of his body on top of my back, with the side of my face on the cold concrete floor, grit in my teeth, I threw my elbows back at him scampering under the stall wall - I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU MOTHERFUCKER!

A phrase I had heard in self-defense class 3 weeks prior rang in my head - “Fight Like a Savage”. With my one free hand I dug my claws right into this motherfucker’s eyeball.

I remembered another phrase from class: “Hard Bones to Fleshy Places”  I pounded the side of my forearm into his skull. I flashed back to my childhood rough-housing with my big brother. I knew if you thrashed around enough, you could sometimes catch a break. I did. At least for a moment. 

With a newfound agility, I maneuvered into the next stall and kicked my foot up to the stall lock. My adrenaline was so powerful, I jammed the door right into its frame. 

My heart sank as the creep followed me under the stall wall and got on top of me.  As I took repeated blows to the head, the finish line I thought I was approaching started to slip further away. What would my life be like if I didn’t get out of this? 

I then heard a familiar voice in my head, the same one I have heard in the last .2 of a half-marathon. “C’mon Kel, girl you got this, you are almost there. Go Hard.” 

With one last surge, I pulled myself out the front of the stall from under him and with the muscle memory of every burpee I had ever done, found myself on my feet.  I lunged for the door while that sorry piece of shit was trapped in the stall, a loser in every sense of the word.

I will have to add six miles to tomorrow’s training run because this is not going to stop me from becoming a marathoner. Not today, not ever.

Something's happening.

It might be a little hard to see...after all the world is a noisy place. 

But something is definitely happening. 

Sports bras, bralettes, even structured bralettes for bigger cup sizes, are trending hot. Less structure, more softness, new types of engineering and fit and adjustability.

There are many women at Oiselle who wear the Ballard, the Team Bra, and Spandos Racerback on the daily.

Women are stepping up and out of heels: High Heels are the Worst and Women are Finally Ditching. Sneakers, flats, and boots, and - hello Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph - slippers, are on the Academy Awards red carpet.

PC: US Weekly

Retro sport style is holding strong! From Rihanna and Gucci to Louis Vuitton, the fashion world dabbles in the look that is our lifestyle. Chances are the fashion world will move on (but they'll never forget the comfort of their spandex!)

PC: Getty Images

At the same time, back in the real world of sports participation among girls, those numbers continue to rise every year - meaning more and more girls learn to appreciate their bodies as athletes first. And once you've been to the mountain top of form + function, it's pretty hard to settle for painful clothing and shoes.

Comfort, breathability, function, design, innovation -- that, oh by the way (and this is big), isn't void of style. Truth be told, for women, this is our holy grail. And the market is game! Pain leads to innovation leads to change. And I don't know a woman on this planet who doesn't look forward to the moment she can take off her high heels or her uncomfortable, ill-fitting, traditional, lingerie style bra.

Something's definitely happening. We're calling out the tyranny of painful women's fashion.... as we head out the door for a run!

BY: JASMINE BLOCKER

Hey everyone! So I’m always asked how exactly a long sprinter trains. Do I just run 400 meters over and over again? My answer is no, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

The 400m dash is interesting because it requires a high level of speed over a (rather ridiculously) long period of time. While no one has ever claimed the 400m to be an easy event, science and proper training can always help you get you physically prepared.

In a nutshell, my coach dedicates Monday to speed endurance, Tuesday to lactic acid tolerance, Wednesday to active recovery and general fitness, Thursday to speed work, explosiveness, and block work, and Friday to intensive tempo work. On top of this, I do Olympic and accessory weight lifting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Building strength in the weight room increases the amount of force I apply to the ground, which in turn propels me down the track faster.

Monday - Speed endurance

My coach likes to kick the week off with speed endurance. These workouts are tough, so they make me at least somewhat nauseous (if I’m doing them right). Performing 150m-200m reps near race energy effort or faster improves strength under fatigue. Not to mention that developing basic speed enables you to run the race with significantly less effort. After the workout, I usually continue with plyometric jumping activities (e.g. hurdle hops, alternating bounds, tuck jumps) to develop explosiveness.

Example:

• Workout: 5 x 150m
• Plyometric jumping: 3 x 6 hurdle hops, 2 x 20 tuck jumps, alternating bounds
• Weights:  total body lift (focusing on lower body)

Tuesday - Lactic acid tolerance

Tuesday workouts separate the girls from the women. On these days we focus on lactic acid tolerance, making this the hardest day of the week by far. By producing more lactate in training we try to simulate the final 100m of a race. This excruciating final stretch of the race is why the 400m dash gets such a bad rap.

Quarter-milers often experience pain likened to “dying,”“hitting a wall,” or (my personal favorite) “a monkey jumping on their back.” What causes this? The 400m dash requires contributions from the anaerobic glycolytic system, which produces large amounts of metabolic waste products (e.g. lactate)  that ultimately leads to the “burning” feeling in your legs and reduced ability to produce more energy as the race continues.

So, it’s not surprising that 400m races are won and lost in the last 100m, usually by the athlete who “dies” the least (i.e. decelerates the least). Nobody wants to get walked down only a few meters from the finish line! Pushing my body to produce lactate in workouts trains my system to use and remove these products so I can run faster for longer on race day.

Example

• Workout: 4 x 300m with a strong 200m finish

Wednesday - Active recovery day

After a Tuesday workout my body is crying out for some TLC. Thankfully, my coach agrees! Wednesday workouts are dedicated to accelerating recovery and general fitness.

While its the perfect time to indulge in recovery treatments like a soft tissue massage, my coach also has me take out some time to cross-train. I usually pick a spin class or hot yoga class (anything to get a good sweat going) at a local studio. Later in the day, I’ll do a bodyweight circuit that focuses on strengthening smaller muscles (e.g.  ankles, abs, lower back, hips) that might get a bit neglected during my usual Olympic lifting sessions.

Example

• Workout: Spin class
• Treatment: 10 minute ice bath, 20 minutes in recovery boots, soft tissue massage
• Weights: Total body lift (focusing on upper body)

Thursday - Speed work, explosiveness, and block work

Thursday is the day of the week I look forward to most! These workouts are a little different, and a lot more fun. Thursday is dedicated to speed and explosiveness and tends to be more technical. My coach often puts me through a combination of speed drills, sled pulls, block starts, and wicket drills, focusing on running form and the initial phase of the race.

Even though it’s fun to add more “toys” to the mix, you’ve got to stay focused.  A Thursday workout proves over and over again how running is far more complicated than simply putting one foot in front of the other. For example, improving my hip position as I get out of the blocks prepares me to get off the line and accelerate quickly on race day.

Example

• Workout: 5 x 30m wickets, 3 x 40m sled pulls, 5 x 60m

Friday - Intensive tempo work

If you’ve ever seen sprinters train, you’ll notice that each rep is usually followed by ample rest. Fridays are the exception to that rule.

On these days we slow down the pace of each rep and the rest is pretty much nonexistent (super fun right?). Stepping back on the line before I’ve had a chance to catch my breath isn’t really my jam, but these workouts are crucial to recover from hard training and improve general fitness.

Example

• Workout: 3 x 3 x 200m with 30 seconds rest
• Total body lift (focusing on lower body)

Oiselle is so excited to be flying at the United Airlines NYC Half for the weekend of MARCH 16th-18th! 

Chief Bird Sally Bergesen, Maria Elena Callé, and Devon Yanko are racing, along with so many Volée teammates. And Allie Kieffer is joining our cheer squad! We hope to see you out and about over the weekend...tweet at us if you want us to cheer for you!

Friday, March 16th: 

• RUNTalk with Allie Kieffer & SELF Magazine, 6:00 pm
• NYRR RUNCenter
• 320 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
• RSVP for RUNtalk HERE

Saturday, March 17th:

• 3 Mile Shake Out Run, 9:30 am
• Grand Army Plaza, near Prospect Park (bonus points for wearing green)  
• We'll be giving out swag! Crossing our fingers that you show up and join us!

Sunday, March 18th:

• Oiselle Cowbell Corner, 8:00 am
• 152 West 57th St, SE Corner of 7th Ave & W 51st St
• We'll be on runner's left for high fives! 

Follow along on the Oiselle Instagram Story, Saturday and Sunday, to see all the race weekend fun!

It's true, we have a lot of options, so many it can be overwhelming. But hopefully this inforgraphic here helps you find your perfect pair! For the road, track, trail, or wherever your legs may take you.

#DearMe,

Don’t be so frustrated with mom, she is trying her best. She works hard to give you opportunities she didn’t have herself. She tells you this, but you still don’t seem to appreciate her. Try to be more accepting. You’ve been given the unique ability to see life through rose-colored glasses, a glass half full, not a worry in the world. She gave you this and more, be thankful.

There is an inherent disadvantage of being born a woman. Like girls in Africa missing school because they can’t afford sanitary pads during their period. Like getting paid 85 cents to a man’s dollar. Like being penalized in the workplace for bearing children. Learn from your mom's example, keep showing up. 

Society will feed you a warped perception of what you should look like. Don’t measure yourself against it. Push the envelope, speak up, have a courageous conversation. Other women are sharing your struggle; be vulnerable, the world needs it. Have the confidence to stand up for yourself and those who can’t for themselves. 

I know you think you need someone to protect you. That you value stability in others because you don’t think you can provide that need for yourself. That since your sister died you feel helpless and alone watching your parents grow old on different sides of the country. That because you have struggled, you are broken.  

The truth is that a simply strong man is a far worse protector than a loving, kind, smart man. That someone who stifles your dreams for their own betterment doesn’t deserve you. That you don’t actually need anyone because you are brave, resourceful, and resilient.

You’ll travel the world. You’ll meet lots of people and see new cultures. Some you will love and some you don’t fit into. It’ll be the opposite of what you expect. Remember, there is a lesson to be learned everywhere. Don’t make the mistake of thinking people with less have less knowledge to offer. Be open-minded. Let the world give you perspective.