Hi friends, we got you something we think you're going to love. It's a new fabric. In two ready-to-run styles. It's called Flyout Wool and it's as if two of our most popular fabrics -- Flyout HoverFit and Wazzie Wool -- had a beautiful baby. Developed in partnership with our friends at Polartec, it is both lofty and wicking (like our regular Flyout tops), but also warming when it's cool. It's so versatile, in so many different climates, it's been called the Swiss Army Knife of fabrics.

So what do the runners think? What better way to find out than with a wear test from the Little Wing crew. So we sent off the two styles, in the two colors (including a long sleeve with our signature Watch Window) and voila, some straight scoop feedback:

At Oiselle, we feel like every day is Girls and Women in Sports Day! We live it, we breathe it, wear it, and we get outside and run it. We also know that too many women and girls don’t have access or the freedom to participate in sports. And that for many, the path from girl to woman in sports is rocky. And that motivates us to just. keep. going. 

I hadn’t heard of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, so I had to look it up. 

“National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) began in 1987 as a special day in our nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports…GWSD has since evolved into an event to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports.”

In 1987 I was just graduating HS and beginning my stint as a collegiate athlete, and I really had no understanding of the relative newness of my opportunity, nor the history of the women who had paved the way for me. 

I think one of my jobs in life (and at Oiselle) is to tell the stories of women and girls, to draw the connecting line between the past, present, and future. Some of my recent favorites to celebrate are below.

BY: CAROLYN SU

It’s a scary feeling, speaking up and asking for equity in representation. There’s a fear of being told, “you don’t matter,” or worse, that “you don’t matter enough to make a difference.”  Well, last April, I did a scary thing: I messaged a popular running podcast to ask if they would consider featuring a more diverse cast of runners — or, in other words, feature more runners who were persons of color. 

I love listening to running podcasts and following runners on social media. It’s inspiring, motivating, and educational, and there are so much camaraderie and friendship that’s grown from connecting with other like-minded people. But, as I’ve grown more immersed in this running culture, watched more Insta-followings bloom, and listened to more origin stories, I’ve noticed a pattern: most of the time, the runners featured, re-posted, and amplified are White and come from affluent enough neighborhoods to “not really run (but still play sports) as a kid.” They typically have supportive family networks, start running as a way to lose baby weight, and then have since run numerous half- or full-marathons and BQs.

That’s really different from my origin of the running story.

I believe in love at first sight. Especially when it comes to apparel design. And sometimes, from the very first moment, a design hits my heart. That’s what happened when I saw the first prototypes of the Flyte long sleeve and tank back in 2012. It was love at first run. These Oiselle exclusives have always been made from the same soft, high performing yarns - with our iconic birds and the word “fly” knit right in, to remind us that we can. The funny thing is that our factory partner was concerned with the design. He called me and said “We are worried that the birds are very, very big!” Yep. Big birds...big plans, big dreams.

Every year, the Flyte Collection has been our playground, as we explore new colors to throw in the game. This year is no different, as we introduce not just new colors, but also a new mélange that is powerful because so are its colors: Epic Purple + Blaze! But also coming in strong are Fast Pink and Smoke, for different reasons. Fast Pink, or "Living Coral" for the Pantone color of the year followers, is both soft and bold; a living contrast. And Smoke, like a foggy sky turning to blue, brings a cool vibe to all the hot colors this spring. True blue is hard to beat.

Flyte Long Sleeve in Smoke + Flyte Shorts in Blaze

Flyte Shorts have been a favorite for years... worn solo, or under as a baselayer. This year, these pants get hot: hello Blaze! (We like to say this color is scientifically proven to go faster).

Flyte Long Sleeve in Fast Pink... the #NotSorry pink ready to go big and bold.

Epic Purple/Blaze. 

The mixing of two strong colors makes a unique mélange that's greater than the sum of its parts.

Flyte Long Sleeve in Epic Purple + Flyte Tank in Black

We love the seamless construction so much (strethy, breathable, anti-stink), we put it into a small collection of, yes, rundergarments! Sporty basics for sporty living.

The Flyte Bra. It’s that daily driver, with light but just-right support for every day wear. An extra wide chest band gives it comfort and plenty of stretch.

The Flyte Brief. A mid-rise brief with all the coverage and all the comfort for travel, working out, or daily wear. Perfect with street clothes, or for those who run with unders.

The Flyte Thong. Are you a marathonger? This one’s for you.

In my early 20’s, when racing performance was the variable I solved every equation for, and elite racing was the only running world I knew anything about, I was conditioned to think racing past your prime was pathetic. It’s hard to write that now, but it was true at the time. Watching a veteran pro getting gapped at the tail end of their career was hard to watch, and harder to process. “When I start slowing down, I’m moving on,” I’d say, or she’d say, or he’d say, the group of us pro athletes in our prime sitting around drinking coffee in some European cafe, passing the days before our next race. “Don’t let me keep going when I’m running around getting my ass kicked,” one of us would say. "When I retire, I'll never run another step," said the most extreme among us.

Meanwhile, we frequently got our ass kicked anyway, because that’s the way of sport, but we felt that as far as careers go, we were still on the upswing. So long as you were getting better overall, so long as the line was trending upwards, or holding steady, one could justify staying in it. Not everyone felt this way of course, but the inclination to hold oneself and others to a ridiculously high standard lingered around stadiums and their warm-up areas with a measles-like resilience. It was reinforced by the scarcity of opportunity, our rewards structures, and our winner-take-all media coverage. Continuing past your prime, toeing the line with the world’s best when you were on the way down, it looked hard to take. The culture of elite sport was not kind to the washed up pro. Perhaps it's better now.

It’s a funny thing how judgement works. I’ve never been more judgmental of others than when I was approaching my athletic prime, when my own window of acceptability was too narrow to slip through without shrinking and greasing myself. I’ve since learned that judgement is really a mirror. When you find yourself standing in judgement of someone else, it is often a reflection of your own shame or insecurity. When I was most judgmental of the bodies of others, it was a reflection of my conditional acceptance of my own body. When I was judgmental of others’ performances, it was a reflection of my own fear that I was unloveable without success. 

In my mid-20’s, it was a near-miss of the Olympic Team (again) and a very serious injury that forced me to confront the mirror. I became the person I had previously thought should quit. But I didn’t want to. When I listened to my heart in the quiet moments, with Jesse asleep and the darkness of the popcorn ceiling a canvas for my imagination, I felt a desire to chase my potential, even if there was no guarantee it would surpass previous results. I wanted to become as good as I could be, even knowing that there would be people who would look down their noses at my more realistic and less sexy goals. I realized I was drowning in shame that was propagated by the dominant culture of elite sport, and I couldn’t move forward without rejecting that culture. I realized that anyone else’s judgement of me was really a reflection of the cages they had built around themselves. I could choose to accept myself as I was, injured, softer, anxious, slower, and start spending my time going on a journey with my actual self instead of chasing some idealized version. So after much stewing, that's what I did. This choice dramatically changed my experience with running for the better. I ended up having some of my best career performances after that, but by then I didn’t need them to be whole.

“The more self-acceptance you cultivate, the more acceptance of others you create.” -Dr. Melody Moore

Now I am retired from elite racing, and I’m finding my way back out onto the starting line of the recreational running world. This world, in addition to all the good stuff it offers, is also full of judgement, in particular about bodies, and aging. Standing on a start line with your fastest days and your most idealized body behind you and still daring to give it your best on the day is challenging for many because it requires self-acceptance. To really go for it in a state of “imperfection” requires presence. It requires self-esteem: a realistic view of yourself, the ability to hold the present moment and present iteration of you as valuable and worthy without condition. It also often requires a big “fuck you” to the dominant culture. It requires seeing the judgement of others in a different way.

Racing beyond my prime today is fun! It is also a way of cultivating self-acceptance; it is an exercise in presence. It is a way of saying “I’m still here! Like it or not!” Daring to race when I know I’ll be slower than one might expect or find acceptable for me feels empowering now. My running and my racing is my own, and freed from the expectation of improvement, it is easier to be with my body and my breath, to push against my edges, to give my best effort on the day. The time on the clock is like the weather. I take it into account but it doesn’t get beneath my skin. 

As a child I knew this,
But then I forgot.
Be wary of cages disguised
As commitments
To perfection.
Where there are conditions
To belonging,
There are barriers
To connection.
—to your wilder self
—to your community
—to your work in the world.

REPRESENTATION.

Is everything. We can choose to accept that which we’re given. Or we can make our own images, in our own likeness. To share with the world.

A story: In 2018, we visited the African American History Museum in Washington DC. It was the day after running Marine Corps. After Courtney scored us the tickets online (thank you DC insiders), Lesko, Jacinta and I made our way to the museum. Words are wholly inadequate. It was one the most powerful experiences I've ever had.

Among the MANY layers of information and insights was a single placard that jumped out at me. It wasn’t the biggest display in the museum, in fact, it was a bit tucked away. It was a photo of Frederick Douglass. Beneath the photo were the following words:

"Photography fascinated Frederick Douglass because he believed it captured the truth. He thought artists were biased and would not paint or draw African Americans accurately. To represent himself correctly, Douglass had many photos taken over the course of his life."

When I read these words I had an abrupt recognition of truth. The idea that diversity and representation is much bigger than simply asking the makers of cultural images or media to show us as we are, but rather to BE the creators of those images. And the notion that we cannot trust this work to others. We (Oiselle), and we (women and non-binary fem individuals) must define our own imagery. Authenticity matters. Accuracy matters. Diversity matters. Being an independent, women-led business matters. Otherwise, we’re just along for the ride.

To create a new narrative around girls and women in sports, we must first take control of representation. This is a sea change. Bigger than any one group or even generation. It’s up to all of us to show the beautiful, diverse, breaking-the-mold images that create a more true and authentic representation of who we are.

As we start rolling with 2019, we’re celebrating the fact that we’re ALL real runners. We run. We exert. We work and push and thrive and fail and rise again. We represent ourselves. And together, we represent the run. It looks different today than it did 20 years ago, in part because girls and women are rising like never before. We’re showing up. And we're asking you to show up too. We’re sharing our lives in new ways. Not just challenging stereotypes, but tearing them down, with every step, every exhale of who we really are. In the coming weeks, you'll see us sharing #RepresentTheRun, and we hope you'll join us.

BY: KRISTEN GARZONE

Postpartum depression. Something I never even knew existed until about a month into maternity leave. I remember a post popping up on Facebook where a new mom of a 6-month-old had taken her life and thinking, “how could that happen?” It didn’t even cross my mind that I as I read that article, I was going through PPD myself and would never imagine that I would lose one of my best friends from the very same thing months later.

I have always been afraid of becoming a mom. With a history of mental illness (anxiety and depression), how could I possibly raise a child? This was something I worried about constantly throughout my 41 weeks of pregnancy.

I found out I was pregnant in February of 2016; 2 days into training for my 5^th marathon. Luckily, I had a super supportive doctor (AND husband) that said since my body was used to it, I would be able to keep training and run if I felt up to it. I proudly finished that marathon at 20 weeks pregnant along with 3 half marathons; one in each trimester. To me, running had helped me still feel like my old self as my body went through all these changes and also gave me something to share with my daughter. But really, a part of me felt like I kept running because I was afraid that my running days would be long gone once Ellie came into the world. 

I ran up until the day I went into labor at one-day shy of 41 weeks. I logged a little under 1,000 miles and tried to enjoy each mile no matter how slow they were or how sore they left me because in the back of my mind, I constantly asked myself, “when will I have the time to do this when I’m a mom?” Looking back on that now, I feel like I was going into motherhood like it was a punishment in a way; that my life was being taken away from me and there was nothing I could do about it.

After 25.5 hours of labor, when Ellie Josephine Garzone came in to the world, I remember my husband Steve crying uncontrollably as they placed her in my arms and thinking to myself, “What is wrong with me? Why am I not crying?” I think that’s really where it all began; that constant confusion as to why I was not feeling all the overpowering happiness others had boasted about.

I read an interesting article on Scary Mommy recently that said throughout 40 weeks of pregnancy, women interact with their healthcare provider at least 16 times yet what’s shocking is that they are then allotted only one postpartum visit at 6 six weeks after giving birth. Unreal, right? When I was leaving the hospital, all they had me do was fill out a single “special form” because it was noted in my chart that I had a history of mental illness. Nothing more until 6 weeks later at my OB follow up. My doctor had told me to call if I had any problems within those first 6 weeks but how would I know I was struggling with PPD when I didn’t even know postpartum depression existed at the time? 

The thing is, pregnancy and motherhood are portrayed as this wonderful, beautiful thing. Don’t get me wrong – it is indeed a blessing – I mean, it’s the gift of life! But it is certainly not all rainbows and butterflies. When Steve went back to work after spending the first 2 weeks of maternity leave at home, fear shook me. I remember celebrating the fact that I had made it through the first day alone with Ellie but it seemed to go downhill from there. It was basketball season which meant Steve coached after work and was not home from 7am to about 10pm every day. It was during the winter months so it was gloomy most days, dark early, too cold to get out a lot, and friends/family were busy with the upcoming holidays. And on top of it all, my 96-year-old grandmother, whom I was extremely close with, was dying in the hospital. I had never felt so alone.

My days were filled with feeding, pumping, cleaning bottles, putting EJ down to sleep, and then trying to feed myself. It always seemed that by the time the cycle was complete, it started all over again. I was miserable and frustrated always. The only way I could get a run/workout in (which has always been my main therapeutic way to deal with my anxiety and depression) was at 5am before Steve went to work. On top of it all, every day (weather permitted), I would bundle Ellie up and take a trip to the hospital to visit my grandmother and Mom who stayed by her bedside. (Thankfully, my grandmother was in the neuro wing so it was super clean which enabled me to bring Ellie or else I would never be able to get there to visit)

When I think back on maternity leave, it isn’t filled with constant smiles and cuddling this beautiful baby as many moms often describe. All I picture is me crying hysterically (while trying to pump or something along those lines), Ellie screaming at the top of her lungs and Troy (our golden retriever) howling at it all which led to me just screaming myself and crying even more. Crazy, right? I felt like I was losing my mind. It still makes me sick to my stomach and leaves me feeling embarrassed to picture that real-life scene in my head… and how awful is that? 

I cried a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot, a lot. I took 12 weeks of maternity leave thinking it would be the “greatest time of my life” when honestly, I was miserable and hated most of it due to my (not knowing at the time) postpartum depression. I couldn’t wait to go back to work. It seemed ridiculous and left some mom guilt, but sadly, I didn’t feel connected to Ellie AT ALL. Don’t get me wrong, I loved her but I didn’t get all the warm and fuzzies that so many other’s talk about. I found myself constantly questioning why we even decided to have a child. I had thoughts like, “I miss my old life. I miss my independence. Why does Steve get to go to work and I’m stuck being a mom? This isn’t what I signed up for. I wish we never had her.” Those negative thoughts were paired with constantly asking myself, “Why am I not happy? What’s wrong with me? Why am I an awful mother?”

I became angrier and angrier each day it seemed, which my husband did not and could not understand. It was an awful chain reaction where that growing anger led to more guilt and lingering depression which then of course led to an increased disconnect from my family. I felt useless, like I had no purpose; that I was not important and my family would be better off without me. Sadly enough, I felt that I was the only one to feel like this. I was ashamed and afraid that people would judge me for these feelings as a new mom. And to make things even worse, I hid it from everyone.

On June 2, 2017, Steve got a phone call that would forever change my life. I had just finished the Freihofer’s Run for Women 5k, I was hanging out with some running friends at the finish line when Steve called me over to tell me he had a missed call from our friend, Mike. We decided to leave and as we were walking back to the car, I saw the tears streaming down Steve’s face as he told me the earth-shattering news -- my dear friend, Kristin, (who felt more like a sister) had taken her own life. I could barely breathe. How? How did this happen? Kristin was a great mom; much better than me. She was a natural. She loved every minute spent with her daughter. She was better than me. She was one of the best people I have ever met. And then I started thinking, “why her and not me?”

Those first couple of days, I barely got out of bed, didn’t interact with Ellie at all, and could not stop crying. When a new week started and I had to drag myself out of the house, I figured I would just put a smile on my face and act like everything was Okay. Realistically, that couldn’t be any further from the truth.

After Kristin’s passing, my “episodes” got longer and more frequent. Nights of uncontrollable crying, mood changes like no other, constant fighting with Steve, lying flat on the ground and not being able to move for hours, and so many days feeling stuck and never believing that it would ever get better.  “Why her and not me?” became more of an everyday thought, and when I felt like that, I would get even more upset over the fact that Kristin and I were more alike than I had ever realized. With that came the fear that I too would come face to face with suicide. I then couldn’t help but wonder if that is how Kristin must have felt before it got to be too much which still brings on so much grief and guilt. If I could’ve shared my own struggles much sooner or reach out a little bit more, maybe I could have saved her. I wish I could have saved her because in the end, she saved me. Sadly enough, losing Kristin ultimately saved my life.

I remember people commenting to me about how beautiful Kristin was after her passing and how she looked as if she had it all.  That really opened my eyes to the current stigma surrounding mental health. Just because a person may seem “picture perfect” and you can’t physically see their pain does not mean they aren’t suffering on the inside. Case in point – I finally realized I was knee deep and struggling with PPD yet I was 100% guilty of playing into the “picture perfect” defense mechanism. If it wasn’t for one of my best friends, Erin, making a doctor’s appointment for me, I honestly don’t know where I would be today. When she texted me one morning at work, telling me my appointment with my doctor was on this day at this time, I felt an instant relief. For me, making an appointment with my primary doctor was the hardest part that I couldn’t quite do myself. When I went in for that appointment, my doctor was so kind, welcoming, and thankfully understanding, as she had just become a new mom herself.  This was a major step in the right direction at 6 months postpartum; however, it was nowhere close to the end of my postpartum depression. 

My marriage continued to struggle largely and I still felt a huge disconnect with Ellie. My husband Steve has always been so good with Ellie from day one and they have a bond like no other (which I am so thankful for) but I constantly felt like I was the odd man out; basically living a different life than the two of them. So, I did the one thing I knew I could do and that was to throw myself back into my running. I set a big, personal goal of breaking 4 hours for the marathon, hired a coach (Toni with Relentless Runners), and concentrated on training for the Chicago Marathon; my 6^th marathon. I know I obsessed about it and pretty much made it my sole concern but at that time, it was the only way I knew how to survive; how to get through each day and keep myself going.

I really do believe running helped me survive my first year of motherhood. (I was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression at the age of 21) Running has been a vital form of therapy over the past 10 years. It has helped me through the best of times, the worst of time, and even through the anxiety stricken days. It has taught me to never give up and is a constant daily reminder to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes, it takes everything to get out the door, especially when you feel broken down. Sometimes the stress piles up so badly that you feel like you can’t move; but once you do, it’s as if a weight is lifted off your shoulders. It’s as if once you start running, those anxiety-driven thoughts seem to diminish and reality sets in; it provides clarity and has a way of showing us all that we are much stronger than we think we are.

Eventually, I did come to realize I needed a little bit more help than just running. When the crying didn’t go away, the anxiety progressively got worse, and the sadness didn’t seem to lift, I was pushed to see my therapist again and put back on medication, both of which I hadn’t done since my early 20s. My therapist is a wonderful, older lady who always seems to put my crazy mind at ease and makes me truly believe I am this amazingly strong person that is enough. I had not seen her for over 8 years.  At that initial PPD visit, after I caught her up on my life and becoming a new mom, she told me something that has stayed constantly in my mind – “You were prone to have postpartum depression based on your history. There is nothing you could have done about it but you will be stronger for it.” Talk about powerful. Lots of tears came after that and still many bad days but you know what? It helped me believe for the first time that I was going to make it through this.

Where can you find me now? Well, you can find me running, embracing motherhood and still struggling. I mean, it never really gets easier, right? I use my Instagram to not only share my running journey but to openly speak the truths of my every day struggles, including my current battles of glaucoma, anxiety, and depression with a little bit of postpartum depression still sprinkled in. After a little over 2 years, I feel as if the PPD has subsided quite a bit although I do still see hints of it every now and then. Most importantly – I finally have a connection with my beautiful girl! Ellie J is such a special kid and I totally believe I was meant to be her mom. She waited for me to grow into being a mom and loved me through it all. I will forever be in awe of how patient she was and continues to be with me.

My journey with postpartum depression has found a way to humble me, break me, and re-grow me. It also has brought personal blessings into my life. For example, the Instagram community. I found that as I started to open up and share my truth and struggles of everyday life, the more people chose to share their own insecurities and stories of their experience mental illness with me as well. Those messages continue to give me the courage to share more and more of my not-so-perfect life. It has also become another form of therapy and as I continue to share, it helps me honor Kristin by spreading awareness, hopefully helping someone else out there that may be struggling and is too afraid to ask for help; just like I was. Maybe if I would have read someone else’s story when I was on maternity leave, I might not have felt so alone and may have gotten myself help a lot sooner. 

Instagram and the running community has also brought me to connect with more mothers worldwide. With the help of Kelly Vigil, we created the Run to Believe 5k/10k Virtual Run, which had its inaugural race held on May 12^th, 2018.  This race is in honor of my beautiful friend Kristin Nicole Thorsen, who I truly believe was one of the best mothers and people I have ever met. All proceeds were donated to Every Mother Counts. We look forward to holding the 2^nd Annual run on May 11^th – Mother’s Day Weekend, Kristin’s birthday weekend, which ironically will be my next attempt at a Sub 4 marathon. I miss Kristin so much, each and every day.

I wish more women felt safe enough to talk about the reality of what motherhood may bring. I know now that when people told me that having a baby is the happiest time of your life, it also is a HUGE transition as well. It is a process. Motherhood does not always look and feel the way we expect it to. I also wish that I knew with entering the new world of motherhood, would come struggle, and there would be many ongoing struggles, but that it would be okay. I wish I had known those tough days and thoughts would not make me a bad mom.  I really do believe we need to start being more honest with new mothers and not shaming them into believing that they must keep all the bad in; that it is okay to let their emotions and raw feelings out. Mothers should not be afraid to embrace these emotions, despite how scary or crazy they may seem. Sadly, there is a lack of postpartum care (and screenings for PPD) when it comes to mental health. I believe so much more needs to be done to help new mothers, such as an increase in follow-up visits post baby, having an option for hired help, such as nurses or aids, as well as providing valuable resources, such as telephonic care.  I truly believe that more post-partum medical options can help (new) moms in so many ways! I know every mother’s experience is different but we are all in this together.

After doing my first podcast with Kait Wheeler on Chasing Bravery last year and discussing my experience with PPD, I felt insanely anxious about what others would think.  Fortunately, after the amount of love and supportive responses shared, it inspired me to speak up more through these different social media outlets. Thank you all so much for that. Thank you for welcoming my story with open arms and helping me feel brave enough to share because SO much more needs to be done to help spread awareness for PPD. Also, a special thank you Oiselle for giving me the opportunity to open up and write this blog. And most importantly – a BIG thank you to my friends and family for your endless love and amazing support.  I most definitely wouldn’t have gotten through this all without each and every one of you.

So, with that, I will keep on running and taking that time for me, while sharing my story despite the stigma that sadly surrounds mental health. Even though I know running will never fully cure me, I have no doubt in my mind that my marathon training and quest to breaking 4 will help me continue to grow and mentally heal.

If you’re a new mom and my story resonates with you, hang in there. It sucks and it’s tough but you will get through this. If you’re someone that struggles with depression and anxiety, you are most definitely not alone. Remember - we are all in this together and it’s OK not be OK. (Some days I must repeat to myself that it’s just a bad day, not a bad life.) You are not defined by your mental illness and despite those suffocating inner battles and manic highs and lows, you are so much stronger than you think, and one hell of a role model for your child.

“When my daughter remembers her childhood, I want only for her to remember that her mother gave it her all. She worried too much, she failed at times and she did not always get it right… but she tried her hardest to teach her about kindness, love, compassion, and honesty. Even if she had to learn it from her own mistakes, she loved her enough to keep going—even when things seemed hopeless. Even when life knocked her down. I want her to remember me as the woman who always got back up.”

Classic post-marathon feels. 

BY: SASHA GOLLISH

Thank you sisterhood for welcoming me with open arms to the marathon club. What a journey it has been to get here, one I am thankful I had you alongside to help me through. From the highs to the lows, from workouts to recovery, from the laughs to the tears, it has been amazing to share my journey so far with so many. 

Back in September when I attempted the marathon in Berlin and made it to 31.04 km/19.3 mi (according to Garmin) I thought my running world was shattered. And maybe it was. A very good friend of mine told me to grieve, to treat my failed attempt as a loss, and to work through my emotions. It was the best advice I could have received.  

Like all the losses we go through I will carry the Berlin Marathon failure with me forever. But that’s not a bad thing, in fact I see it as a good thing. Like losing someone we love we remember the good, not the bad, and that fueled me to put myself out there again for Houston. The Chevron Houston Marathon was always on my calendar so after the Berlin attempt, I left it there as this looming future goal. Post-grieving, I got to planning. 

I hired a new coach. I got fired up about running again. The runs got longer. The workouts got harder. The gym sessions made me stronger and tougher. 

On Sunday before I stepped up to start the marathon, I was dancing - come on, there was good music, what else was I supposed to do?!  I had posted on Instagram a few days before the marathon that I was going to try and step up to the start line and smile. Smiling carried me through the rough moments because as you marathoners know, there are some dark moments out on the course. When I smiled it also reminded me that it is such a privilege to do what I’m doing. Plus, the science says when you smile your body relaxes and that definitely helped carry me over that 26.2 mi of Houston pavement.

Now that the marathon is behind me there are a few things in the very near future I’m looking forward to. I’m jumping on my alpine ski boards to celebrate my mom’s 65th birthday. She rented a cabin in the woods at a resort and alpine is our fam jam sport, so I’m really looking forward to flying free in a different way. I should also finish that PhD thesis I keep talking about! 

But running, really you want to know what my running plans are. I am pretty sure I’m going to step back on the track. I’d really like to run a 10,000m since I’ve never done one of those before. I suspect I’ll run some of the shorter stuff. I also fell in love with road racing over 2018 so I will definitely run some 10k’s & ½’s. Really, you probably want to know if I’ll run a marathon again. I think so… now that I’ve run one (and crossed the finish line!) I’m ready to think about building a plan to race another, just not in the very near future! 

Hard to believe we're already approaching February of 2019! And that means the marathon Olympic Trials in Atlanta are just over a year away. Whoa. 

I feel like I just got back from the whirlwind of Rio! Speaking of the Olympic dream...we are so proud to be on the support squad for our rings-aspiring athletes, including Allie Kieffer. I love following Allie's training and Coach Hudson's posts because they give such a real window into the day to day work and focus. Turns out, there really is no secret. Allie updates us on her 2019 spring below! We can't wait to follow along. 

PC: Melissa Ruse

Lesko: We've loved following your and Brad's new Youtube Channel, can you share what led you to start a channel?

Allie: Social media accounts can be more like an individual's highlight reel than real life. We tend to share the best snaps from our phones - standing in the most flattering positions, our fastest workouts, the prettiest destinations, and the rare occasion dinner looks well-presented.

I partake in it too, having hired photographers to grab shots of me running in front of epic skylines and mountain peaks with a hidden, constant inner dialogue to pick up my knees. I try to keep the message real and deep, but as I scroll through Instagram I usually wonder what’s really beyond the pretty little pictures. So, in an effort to keep it real, to share who I am and what I’m about beyond the run and a character limit, I started a Youtube Channel!

I hope to share a better look of my life - not just the highlights, but the struggles, challenges, and the journey behind the race results. 

Lesko: Looking ahead, what races do you have on the Calender this Spring?

Pacific Pursuit, Feb 17th, San Diego...looking to break 31:50! 
Road to Gold: An Atlanta 2020 Test Event March 2nd, Atlanta, 8.2 miles of the Olympic Trials course. 
Around The Bay 30K, March 31st, Ontario
London Marathon, April 28th, UK, with the goal to PR

Lesko: And, last but not least, I wanted to share your quote I loved from this post. Thanks for your perspective. 

If I hadn’t lost the sport I wouldn’t have realized how much I wanted it.
If it came easy it wouldn’t be so empowering to strive to master.
If it wasn’t challenging I wouldn’t have risen.
Life gives us an abundance of opportunity. How you frame it frames you.

Mac Rogas in Cloud Print

I just got back from Hong Kong where we met with one of our longtime factory partners. Two women; sisters, who have been with us through so many ups and downs. As we caught up, they told me about how they had recently moved the factory to a bigger space. “You know, it’s good to change,” one told me. She said people “get stuck in the old” and that the move had - and here she gestured with her hands coming up like new growth “Refresh! It’s good to refresh!”

Refresh. Renew. Rewire. Revive. We're grateful to live and work in the culture of sports, where renewal is known and valued. Where the beauty is the build up. The working toward. And with each finish line, comes a scanning of the horizon: What’s next? Where to? In what direction? What we believe is that if running is consistent part of life, that direction—though always full of ups and downs—is likely to be a good one.

Welcome to the Roga Revival. Our most meaningful to date. A tiny fit tweak (the sisters tease me for my 1/4” here and 1/4” there) but the upshot is that the fit changes we made in 2018 are just ever so slightly improved. And so. Many. Cool. Updates. I’ve outlined them all below. And the wear test results have been phenomenal. We hope you agree - and await your feedback. From us to you, I hope you love the Roga Revival as much as we do!

Mac Rogas (L) and Rogas, both in Moody Floral

LEG OPENING // We heard feedback from you all (thank you) that the 2018 models flared a bit at the leg opening, and we agreed, and shaped it back straight. The other major measurements remain the same.

Left to right: Rogas in Storm Clouds, Summer Rogas in Douglas Fir, Mac Toolbelt Rogas in Black

POCKETS // Power to the pockets, always. While the previous Roga styles had some small pocket options, we all wanted more! Not just bigger, but more ergonomically located—along the waistband where any weight will be felt the least.

    ALL Rogas have the new, extra large zip pocket at the center back

    New Toolbelt Roga Design with our new 360 Pocket: center back zip + power mesh

    New Mac Toolbelt Roga: including our new 360 Pocket: center back zip + power mesh

    Updated Summer Roga with new center back pocket in power mesh

PRINTS // Meet Moody Floral and Storm Clouds—vivid, photographic prints that tell a story. Our O-exclusive floral is both beautiful (flowers) and dangerous (thorns), the way we like to think of our athlete selves; and Storm Clouds is quite simply an ode to our lush and lovely Northwest. Both play major roles throughout the season.

Summer Rogas in Douglas Fir with power mesh pocket

FABRIC // You know we don’t play when it comes to fab fabrics. And fans know the Roga is the leader in being a stretch woven super short. Any replacement needed to be an improvement, and this one is. If you’re a longtime fan, you may remember the Embossed Roga collection. If so, we crowned that fabric the new Roga Stretch Woven across all styles (with the exception of the Summer Rogas which remain in the same ultra-lightweight stretch woven). 

Rogas in Curfew

This new (but prior and proven) new Roga Stretch Woven: same stretch, same durability, improved hand feel - softer, and the little known attribute known as fabric noise level. Yes, the fabric is quieter.

Note: all Rogas in the Moody Floral and Storm Clouds prints use the original Roga fabric. Summer Roga fabric is unchanged from previous seasons.

The waistband fabric, across the Roga Collection, gets an upgrade too! Starting with 2019, we use our ultra-light, ultra-stretchy Plya Compression that you might know best as being the Spandos fabric. Mmmmm smooth, light AND compressive.

Mac Toolbelt Rogas in Pop

NEW DESIGN // Because yes, “refresh!” We heard from many of you that you wish we had a Toolbelt Mac Roga. And you know, we can’t say no to your #flystyle wishes. 

Mac Rogas in Black

BRANDING // A small version of our beautiful new crest makes its way onto the scene...head up, wings out!

Thank you for following along - and all your Roga love over the years. See more 2019 new over on our season launch blog!

RENEW. REWIRE. REVIVE.

REPRESENT.

Start lines are a beautiful thing. Not just in races, but on calendars, in life. And in DESIGN. This season, our creative inspiration and theme is REPRESENT THE RUN. At its core, is the idea that everyone's invited to the sport of running. And a beautifully diverse world has shown up. And even if you don't love the sport, the sport will always love you. Because baby we were born to run. And baby WE were born to honor that with the best, highest performing, and most beautiful apparel we can humanly create. For us. For you. For run lovers around the world. We ALL represent the run. 

SO MUCH GOODNESS. THIS SEASON IS A #FLYSTYLE HIT PARADE WE'RE THRILLED TO SHARE...

1 // Roga Redesign. Improved fabric and pocketing system for our signature shorts collection. Read the full Roga Blog here
2 // Summer Lux (and more TBA). New versions of the fabrics that you already know and love.
3 // New Prints. Meet O-exclusive Moody Floral and Storm Clouds, that express a runner’s joy — feet on the ground, head in the clouds.
4 // A Triumphant Return. The OG Distance Shorts (and more), crowd favorites, return to the line.
5 // Graphic Language. Our biggest, most beautiful graphic tee collection, all on our uncompromising Tee-Lux fabric. 
6 // Runner Trucker Hat. Flowers! Photos! Oiselle Crest! All the new - in the same beloved design.
7 // Pocket Jogger shorts. Return! In both lengths + new colors.

And more... we can't show you ALL our feathers, now can we?!

(RE) MEET the ROGA - OUR SIGNATURE SHORT FEELS THE LOVE

Yes, sisters. The super shorts take a super leap into the future!

New extra large waistband zip pocket across all Rogas
New 360 Pocket on Toolbelt Rogas
New Mac Toolbelt Roga with 360 Pocket
New mesh pocket on Summer Roga
New Roga Stretch Woven fabric
New prints, Moody Floral and Storm Clouds
Same semi-fitted super short we all know and love

Read the Full Roga Blog here

Introducing SUMMER LUX

Lighter, even lovelier. And now with birds everywhere. Meet the newest addition to our family of LUX. 30% lighter than Classic Lux, this is the Lux you always wished for in warmer climates, on all those runs! Of course it's Lux, so it's likely to get equal play in the rest of your life.

#MOOD – MOODY FLORAL

This spring we’re feeling moody. 
We’re feeling floral but not flowery. 
There are petals but also thorns. 
Life grows that way, doesn’t it?

Moody Floral, Storm Clouds, and our Crest Print are available on the Passport Racerback Tank and Distance Shorts... and Rogas too!

BIRD HUGS!

The fabric that launched a thousand "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhs" delivers the goods. Not just softness, but dual-knit thickness and tons of stretch. This season we bring her back in our beautiful Onna Print, in a new 3/4 Tights length, plus the reversible bra.

FLYOUT ALWAYS FLIES!

When the temp and mileage rises, so does this fabric. The one and only sweat busting design that's, literally, knit right in. One touch, one wear, and it changes the game. Lifting moisture off the skin's surface and into the tiny cells that float above the skin, Flyout is an athlete's secret weapon. Checkout the brilliant new colors...in those just-right silhouettes: Flyout Long Sleeve, Flyout Tank, and Flyout Short Sleeve. Shades of pink, blue, green and white capture the best of our Spring palette!

POCKET JOGGER SHORTS ARE BACK IN STOCK!

After launching in 2018, these shorts took off, flew fast, and sold out. We've been busy remaking them in new colors and are thrilled to restock them. Same pocket system (hello five pockets), and same two lengths: Pocket Jogger Shorts, and Long Pocket Jogger Shorts. Of course, the Pocket Jogger Capris are a year round style with all the same bennies.

NEW FABRIC FOR THE STRAPPY BRA AND HI TEN

Both the Strappy Bra and Hi Ten transition to our Plya Compression fabric this season, for high performance support (21% spandex) but in a fabric that is also smooth, light, and incredibly color fast. Lined with High Compression Plya and removable cups, they're the runner go-to styles.

The one, the only RUNNER TRUCKER

New prints, same brilliant design:
Foldable bill, one-tug closure, breathable mesh, trucker hat style. 

Thank you for checking out the new and notable. As always, we're here to answer any questions at hello@

From our 2019 start line to yours: Head Up, Wings Out!

We believe in team. In the power of team to collectively achieve more than we can do individually. In the momentum of team to keep going forward when individuals rest. In the goodness of team spirit to overcome individual disagreements. In the idea of team to propel us to higher motivation and more gritty performances. 

When Sally founded Oiselle, team was at the core of her inspiration. And team is still a centering force for the bird. The Volée has evolved over time, from its scrappy early days (2013 and 2014 flashbacks!) to the powerful group of women around the country (and globe) who guide our team today.  

As we begin 2019, we are very excited to continue the evolution of our team and celebrate this experiment of #runlove! What does this year have in store? 

A new Team Shop! Sally and the design team have been in their magic workshop cooking up a new team crest, singlets, crops, and other team gear. Volée will have exclusive access to this shop, starting with our January team opening! The best part? Inventory is in stock and will ship right away like regular O.com orders. 

Bras for Girls education and donation program: the Volée team has been a driving force of support for this program and the team has facilitated many giveaways. After a successful first two years, when we supplied nearly 5,000 bras and informational booklets to middle and high school girls, we are looking to ramp up even more in 2019. In addition to building year over year partnerships with athletic programs for girls, Oiselle will begin manufacturing a dedicated bra line exclusively for the Bras for Girls program. We are so appreciative of the Volée’s enthusiasm for Bras for Girls, and their material funding of this program we all highly value! 

Team meet-ups and events: 2018 brought us an abundance of amazing team experiences, from Big Birdcamp to Grandma’s Marathon, from the TenaciousTen to CIM. And 2019 is already getting packed with options: Shamrock race weekend, Boston marathon get-togethers, the TenaciousTen (of course!), USA Nationals in Des Moines at the end of July, Big Birdcamp (lots of details and registration here!), and many other team opportunities facilitated by our amazing Volée Leaders. Nothing is better than the camaraderie of run friends and the meaningful bonds that form over shared miles and cowbell-induced blisters. 

Elite Athlete Support: Volée team memberships also enable our elite athlete program, the Haute Volée. These women athletes are working to achieve at the highest level of their sport, and benefit from the material and community support of the Volée team. Over time, we’ve seen strong and enduring relationships blossom amongst the Haute Volée and Volée, and these team bonds are proof of concept for the program. In 2019 we are excited to grow the Haute Volée program from within, as we advance Volée members who have met the OTQ standard in the marathon. Full circle. Full team. 

And that’s not all! Seriously, you know how we roll over here: rapid-fire shenanigans. We are thrilled to be opening the Volée again later this month, so be sure to pre-register here so you don’t miss out. And let us know any questions by emailing volee@oiselle.com!

With love and appreciation, 

Sally, Lesko, Steph + the Nest