We love cheering on fast masters! These athletes are consistently pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible as we age. Christy Peterson is no exception: crushing the masters scene and excelling at distances from the 800m to the half marathon. When is she going to stop running? Read below to find out! 

Whenever I’m asked, “how long have you been running?” I say, “forever”. The question often comes after a conversation regarding my current laser focus on masters running. In my 43^rd year, I have competed at a high level in at least 18 races so far which have included local and national races in distances ranging from the 800m to the half marathon. 

My forever flight began when I was a little kid chasing my dad around the gym which he jogged around daily. My competitive streak showed up in grade school during the President’s Physical Fitness test. I remember the nerves and desire to win to this day. That test made it obvious to everyone that I should run in cross country & track for Park Falls High School. I was blessed to have been coached by hands down one of the best all-time high school cross country coaches. My Freshman year, I managed my way onto the varsity team and we had an incredible year that took us to the State Championships. That race was a very defining moment for me. Somehow, I went from ranking in the middle of our team to leading the team in that race, ending up 9^th place and beating everyone from our conference.  

After high school, I ran cross country & track at University of Wisconsin La Crosse. A similar story happened in cross country. I made my way onto varsity and was middle to back of the pack on our team. Then at a meet my junior year (after getting hurt early my freshman year and taking off my sophomore year) my coach approached me during one of our conference meets my parents were attending. He said, “Today I want you to just run as hard as you can the whole time. If you bonk, you bonk… I don’t care. I just want to see how fast you can run. You always look so comfortable.” So, I followed the order and just like that from that day forward I was the front-runner for the team. 

After college, I ran a decent number of local races and eventually put in more miles. A marathon seemed like a fun idea and I had about 8 weeks to get ready for my first marathon in the fall of 1999. I was able to qualify for the Boston Marathon on that first try and yes like most 1^st marathons it was UGLY. Next, came a 10-year break when I prioritized work and fun above running. I ran almost every day but never competed. I enjoyed running with friends but went out of my way not to mention much about my competing in the past; I was afraid I would be expected to live up to that. I had a friend who would constantly egg me on to run the Indy half. In the Autumn of 2009, I caved. I ran the half in 1:29 and change. That changed everything. I had a new spark… I wanted to compete, I wanted to be fast, I wanted to achieve impossible goals. I then worked to find the most fiercely competitive races I could and did what I could to squeak into the front as a sub-elite runner. I was 35  and I had a sense of urgency… I wasn’t going to be young for much longer.

A couple years into this focus I remember asking an elite runner friend, “would it be weird if I wanted to compete and have a coach like this forever? Can I do that?” She gave me a funny and almost disapproving face and said “I guess you can… if you want to?” At that point, I realized that desire is probably not all that normal. I remember panicking a bit inside wondering if I would have to stop at some point… or be considered weird. Around the same time, I started noticing masters teams and masters runners. For some reason, it seemed kind of weird to me. I wanted to compete forever, but not as a masters runner. Wasn’t that a demotion?

The year before I turned a master was the best racing year I had ever had from the 5k through the half marathon. I did many things I had always thought impossible like breaking an hour for 10 miles, breaking 1:20 for a half and running in the low 17s for a 5k. It was surreal hitting all those goals I had thought impossible and wondered if I could ever pull off those types of performances again.

My first masters event was the half marathon in Indy. The half went well and I was bouncing off the walls excited about winning my first masters scored event. It was now evident that masters running was not a demotion. Instead, it was my ticket to help me run forever! My first marathon as a masters was my fastest marathon by about 5 minutes in 2:47:59… but I was fourth masters… wait what?! Who are these crazy fast old people? I was shocked. That was the realization that masters running isn’t easier, the same talent level is there. Once again that fire of competing, wanting to win, wanting to beat my times boiled up just as strong as ever. I found myself again searching out the fiercest masters competition and racing I could find. 

Three years into masters running and being competitive, I start to sweat a little thinking about all the talented runners just turning 40. However, I still have insane goals. These goals cover all distances, but one clear goal is in the mile. In September, I ran a 5:04 mile at the 5^th Avenue Mile in NYC. Had I run that time a month later on my 43^rd birthday, it would have been a world class time for my age. I just have to run that time again this year. 

The forever flight is not for everybody as it definitely becomes more challenging. One of the toughest things for me as a masters runner has been my asthma. I’m not sure if it is a problem that will stick around, but it has really tested my resolve. My lungs are ok and it’s not as if I’m in a life-threatening state. However, the struggle and discomfort I have are insane at times. This week at an appointment with my pulmonologist, he started asking questions about all of the running. He works with amazing athletes, but I think a Masters runner is something he hasn’t dealt with before. His last question to me that he prompted with somewhat of an incredulous look was, “how long are you going to keep this up?” Without pause or any thought at all I responded as if it should be obvious to anyone, “well, forever!” We just stared at each other a little awkwardly him with more of a surprised look and me with fire in my eyes. And it hit me, that I have never just stated it without thinking. I have thought it deep down and joked about it, but now I realized it to be true. I have every intention of running and competing as fiercely as I can for as long as I can, whether it is normal or not. I have already plotted out my goals for my 60’s and even 90’s.  

The forever flight will not get easier, but I’m not going to stop.

- Christy

#FlyCIM was my very first cowbell corner experience and yes, yes it did live up to the hype. Once drumsticks were pulled out to be used on an extravagant cowbell belt, I knew that the role of cowbeller was no joke. I felt like I learned so much during that race, I learned what to wear, how to pace my cheering to last the entirety of the race, and the right phrases to say to really give the perfect amount of encouragement.

Turns out, first time cowbeller Amanda Chambless felt the same way and even wrote into Oiselle sharing all of the rookie cowbell corner mistakes she felt she made and learned from. Needless to say, I couldn’t agree more with her pro tips.

Spectating a marathon seems straightforward enough, right? Well, it is if you’re not excited by marathons, which is a state of being as confusing to me now as running marathons was before I was a runner. I’m fairly new to the running world, having just started from scratch February of last year, but I’m definitely itching to run a marathon. Unfortunately, it’s all clamshells and balance boards for me right now (rehab/prehab), so to give myself a shot of inspiration to put in the work, I decided to spectate the California International Marathon just a quick 90 minute jaunt from home (ha). I wasn’t really sure where along the course to be or what time to show up, but in the days leading up to the race I learned that some friends of mine were running it, and that Oiselle was setting up camp at mile 23.6. Score! I set my alarm clock and showed up the next morning around 8:30 feeling suddenly a bit shy, which hasn’t really been a thing for me in my adult years. This brings me to the first bullet on the list of things I learned about marathon spectating (that’s a pun, in case you missed it, because the spectating becomes its own sort of marathon) and who doesn’t love a good list?

1. You’re invited! The more the merrier when it comes to making noise. Within minutes I’d learned some names and had a cowbell bestowed upon me like a lei directly from a big bag of them brought specifically for sharing.
2. Bring a reusable mug. Oiselle was set up ingeniously in front of two coffee shops. There was plenty of coffee flowing, and aside from the obvious environmental benefits, having a distinct mug kept my drink hot and easy to find whenever I needed cowbelling fuel.
3. Protect your eyes. I spent the first two hours using a small tree to shade my eyes because the low angle of the sun shining right behind approaching runners made it impossible to see otherwise. A hat would’ve been ideal; relying on a tree limited my range of motion and increased my wallflower factor. Sunglasses would’ve come in handy when the lead woman (Sara Hall - now I’m a fan for life) ran by and inspired me to tears. Ditto for a mid-packer fighting off tears whose feelings I caught. Or stick with the hat and let your emotions show freely; there’s no shame here.
4. Say what you’d want to hear. It’s surprising how difficult it is not to sound condescending while encouraging a runner. Just take my word for it from the back of the pack. Couple this with the fact that it’s very loud and your target audience is running, and you’ve got about three syllables to get your point across. Choose them wisely.
5. Consider gloves. Runners know that hours of repetitive motion results in some chafing, but I never thought to apply that to clanging a cowbell until I discovered I was missing a couple spots of skin on my left hand. This might be the most selfless reason someone can have to buy lux gloves. “It’s so I can support runners to the best of my ability!” Sounds perfectly reasonable.
6. You need earplugs. I was too focused on the race to notice, but hours of clanging, yelling, whistling, and generally being as loud as possible caught up to me and my ears are still ringing. Oops.
7. Wear your Oiselle in layers. Marathons start in the cool morning hours of Cat Lady Scarves and Pom Beanies, but if you’ve got any kind of stamina (and I’m guessing you do) you’ll be needing to shimmy out of your Yeti and... I was going to say into something more comfortable, but I hear that’s not a thing, so… out of something more comfortable? You know what I mean. Things are going to heat up. Wear shedable layers.
8. Bring a sign. This is my most flexible advice. You do need your hands for cowbells and whistles, but being heard over all the #birdsofencouragement (please tell me this isn’t already a thing - ridiculously proud of having thought that up) is no easy task. If you’re looking for someone put their name on a sign! Bonus points for having something funny on the other side for after your people pass by.
9. Keep your afternoon open. I thought going down to Sacramento would be the end of my #FlyCIM FOMO, but that was before someone asked me, “Are you going to the after party?” You mean there’s an event with running AND party in its description? Next year, whether I’m a runner or a spectator, count me in.

Here’s to bringing race support to the next level!

Britney Henry, hammer thrower and human extraordinaire, is announcing her retirement from track and field. Brit has been such a cherished member of our team, from meeting her in Des Moines in 2013 to her 7th place finish at USA's this summer. Thank you for sharing your personality and mojo with us, Brit! We love you! 

You've been a hammer thrower for over 17 years. What is your favorite throwing memory? 

It is so hard to just pick out one memory from my throwing career. I would have to say that at least every year that I threw, I had a pretty epic event happen to me. Either during a competition or afterward:)

The one memory that I will hold dear to my heart is the one and only USA team that I made, NACAC Under 23 meet in the Dominican Republic in 2006. Not only did I place 3rd at the meet but I made lifelong friendships. During the trip Kara, Dana, Russ, Adam and I competed hard and enjoyed the island life harder. I am forever thankful for their friendship and support through the years. I am pretty sure that when I am on my death bed, I will remind Dana about the time she climbed a coconut tree. 

What advice do you have for track and field athletes coming out of college who want to continue competing? Re sponsorships? Training? Prioritizing parts of life? Keeping grounded? 

I will give them the advice that my coach, Lance Deal, gave to me when I first came out of college: “You better like this sport a whole lot because you are going to be giving a lot of yourself to this event” —or something like that. I would add; keep a balanced lifestyle and remember every day why you fell in love with your event. 

The balance lifestyle comes into play because as athletes we can get so involved in our event that we lose touch with what is going on in the outside world. I encourage athletes to have friends who have no idea about track and field. They help you stay grounded and keep you in touch with the world outside.

The love of the sport comes into play when you most need it. I always needed to think back to the day I started throwing the hammer and how much fun I had on days that I would drill the hammer to death. I hated drills and always will but drills made me the best hammer thrower that I could be. 

Let's talk body image. You're super strong! and confident. And I’m not even getting to your sweet dance moves. What makes you so awesome? Seriously, what would you tell a HS girl who shies off of a sport because of body image? 

Body image to me is expressing all the hard work I put into my body to make it a hammer throwing machine. As you can tell I am on the smaller size for a hammer thrower and I loved it. I loved that I was small and could throw the heck out of the hammer. When my coach suggested that I needed to put on weight to throw further, I had a real issue with it. I didn’t want to be bigger, I wanted to stay smaller so I could prove to myself and others that I could throw it far. At the end of the day, I put on some pounds and my body could handle the hammer a little better; fewer injuries and such. 

On the confident end, I pretty much faked it until I made it. Honestly, I was never 100% confident in my ability to throw the hammer far. It wasn’t until last year that I truly believed that I was growing and building each week. I knew going into Nationals that I was going to throw a season’s best. Each meet I threw further and I could feel that my body was progressing upward. It also helped me tremendously to visualize the whole competition beforehand. Once I got that nervousness out of competing, I was able to let my confidence flourish. Really wish I would have started doing that sooner in my career;). 

To all the high school girls out there, you are building a machine; you are just starting and developing the key components. Be proud of what you are building and embrace every step you take towards your goals and dreams. 

We at the Nest are all nostalgic about your moments with Oiselle. Do you have a favorite moment (other than the hike at Leavenworth Birdcamp haha)? How do you describe Oiselle to others? And what is your favorite #flystyle of all time? 

So. Many. Great. Memories! From meeting you all in a bar for the first time to dancing the night away at the after-parties, it is so hard to choose one. 

For me, walking in New York Fashion week pretty much tops the list. It was my first time around all the amazing Oiselle athletes and staff and I couldn’t help but smile the whole time. I loved that Bob sent an Uber to pick up a hammer for the show, I loved being able to walk with it, and I loved the reaction that I got when I came to the end of the runway in front of all the cameras. 

The hike at Birdcamp is the worst. Period. I will never hike that far ever again! :)

When I talk about Oiselle to others, the first sentence that comes out is “They are more like family, then a sponsor”. And that is the honest truth. You all brought me into a family, and never expected more than just performing to my best, not any other standard. 

My all-time favorite Flystyle would have to be anything lux. I will forever buy anything that you all put out that is Lux. It looks, feels and fits great; couldn’t ask for much more out of an amazing fabric. 

We love you Brit! Thank you for being so classy, authentic, open, and uniquely you. Fans for life - because in our world Hammer Time is forever.

BY: SARAH BARD

A few weeks ago, I traveled to the Run the Rock race at Smith Rock in Terrebonne, Oregon. There were three trail races, a 50 mile, a 50k, and a half marathon being run through the beautiful state park.

I planned to run the 50k (and even started the race), but was nursing a sore hamstring and decided to give it a rest at mile 6. This gave me the opportunity to quick-change my role from racer to spectator and get out there to cheer on the competitors (with fellow #Birdstrike team member & Bend local: Collier Lawrence).

There were 4 Oiselle Volée runners in the race that day: Claire Wallace, Carrie Mack, Katie Dougherty, and Stefani Faunce; with both Carrie and Katie running their first trail races!

Trail running is super fun, but throwing yourself into something new in a competitive environment can be a bit intimidating. I caught up with both Carrie and Katie to learn more about why they chose Run The Rock, how they liked it, how they prepared, and their thoughts about trail racing again in the future.

Both Carrie and Katie have a strong running history – they both come from families that were involved in running and have been running since they were in elementary school, through high school, college, and now post-collegiately. When I asked them what surfaces they usually run on, both said that they typically find themselves on roads. Neither of them had run at Smith Rock before, so, why this race? Why now?

CARRIE: “I've been curious about trail running for a while and in September I paced a friend in the Superior 100 Trail Race in Lutsen, MN. It was epic. I was completely captivated by the whole experience - the beautiful scenery, the amazing community of volunteers/fans/pacers, the incredible gutsiness of all the runners. As far as why Smith Rock - I've just been sort of building a base again this fall. But the forecast looked great on race day and I just kind of wanted to jump in there and see what it was like so I signed up about 40 minutes before it started. Mel and Collier said I should go for it and they seem to know what they’re doing, right?”

KATIE: “Fellow bird, Stefani Faunce and I became friends, thanks to Volée! She had decided to run the Smith Rock Half and encouraged me to join her. I just completed my first marathon in October and have fallen completely in love with running. I thought, I haven’t been running trails... but might as well try something new with friends. Smith Rock is absolutely gorgeous and I was really excited to see what the whole experience of trail racing was about.”

Sometimes the most intimidating aspect of trying a new thing can be feeling unprepared - “Do I need specific gear?” Neither one had run there before, though Katie had hiked there a couple years ago. Carrie noted arriving at the line in new trail shoes she purchased just 4 days earlier, and seeing several people with hydration packs – something she hadn’t even considered. There was a slight feeling for both that they were winging it, but it not only worked out, they both had really great race experiences (though Carrie was thankful for the water at the aid stations)!

Running is running, right? Road or trail, it’s the same movement! But I was curious to hear what these ‘road runners’ might have found surprising in their first trail race.

KATIE: “One key difference in trail races compared with road races I’ve run was the size of the field. I haven’t ever been to a race where I could high five the race directors and chat with them after, that was really cool. I was surprised at the way the runners leisurely walked up to the start, how everyone was so friendly and encouraging every single time someone passed by, and how everyone was really enjoying themselves. It surprised me that throughout the race I kept thinking, “this is so much fun!”

Moments before the start of the race

CARRIE: This was the first time I've ever walked in a race! Maybe not surprising given the course, but something I didn't really consider going in. I was surprised at how much the technicality of the course felt outside of my wheelhouse. Overall, I was much more timid with my footing than I expected, but it’s also super exciting because I feel like there is a whole new world of running just waiting for me to explore and conquer. And that makes me very happy. 

No matter what level of runner you might be, even if you’ve been running since you were a child, there’s always more to explore and learn!

And even if you have done numerous trail races, you can still find ways to seek new challenges the next day while your legs recover!

- #BardBird

We all know that working out gets results. What most of us overlook is that working in also gets results.

Runners are aware that recovery is important. From cooldown routines to meditation apps to self-massage tools, the means to aid the process have gained consideration and adoption in recent years. This is a step in the right direction, but the misconception remains that recovery is automatic on “rest days” and a separate, less important endeavor that happens by default when we’re not working out. Moreover, social media is muddling the distinction between increasingly popular “self-care” and real athletic recovery.

The term “self-care” has always been really off-putting to me. There’s just something so flakey about it, conjuring up images of mani/pedis, wine-o-clock, and bubble baths with candles. Don’t get me wrong, I dig all of these things — a glass of wine, a long soak. I eat lots of kale and the amount of candles I burn is a legit fire hazard. Stuff like this is meant to be restorative and often times it is, but it’s no substitute for intentionally and effectively transitioning all of your biological systems from working to not working.

It feels more and more like the Instagram version of self-care is stealing the focus from activities that actually refuel us — and real recovery. And as noise about self-care gets louder, it’s increasing rather than easing the weight of our to do lists. Drink three liters of water, eat superfoods, sleep eight hours, sweat 30+ minutes a day… it starts to feel like an endless checklist rather than a meaningful restorative practice. We serve up self-care as more things to do, something we can earn as a treat once we’ve done all the things, and as a result they’re deprioritized and relegated to the weekend or vacation — or used to fill up our rest day schedule.

As a result, recovery remains one of the least planned, underutilized tools to optimize performance.

The reality is that real recovery takes a lot more than foam rolling or post-workout refueling. It requires you to calm and balance your nervous system, which doesn’t happen by default when you’re not training. If you have trouble sleeping, don’t feel rested after weekends, or find relaxation elusive even when you have time to chill, then you know what I’m talking about. Treating self-care as more tasks to do is like running to stand still, and is more likely to drain your energy than facilitate an effective transition from effort to ease.

So I use another word for self-care: Working IN.

The distinct moment of relief when the run is done, the simultaneous agony and ecstasy of completing an effort that literally collapses you, the two minutes of anticipation for the day ahead while you wait for your coffee to brew… I believe these are the moments that hold the greatest potential for working IN — to recover, to take care of yourself, and to optimize everything you do — if you fully engage in them. And the more you pay attention and respond accordingly, the more you’ll default to balance and discover your innate ability to relax as you work, to recognize the moments when you most need to pause, and to recharge effectively in that time — whether two minutes or two hours. 

You don’t need to do more, or more time, to take care of yourself, feel better, and ultimately perform better. Working IN can happen every time you take a deep breath in, a slow breath out… you just have to pay attention. And then notice the difference.

You know how to work out. But how do you work IN?

Erin’s new book, Work IN: The Athlete’s Plan for Real Recovery and Winning Results, comes out in mid-December. Download a free preview and order your copy here.

I had an obnoxious taper week before CIM, all my taper runs were significantly slower than my usual recovery pace, my legs were super heavy, I had headaches, I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning (usually I'm a morning person) and I felt like my muscles were tingling from running withdrawals. I wasn't going to lose focus a week before the marathon so I kept reading over my training log from the last 5 months to remind myself how prepared I was to PR, but I was still frustrated and anxious about how rough I was feeling. In January, I wrote my goal: "Break 2:40" on a #DestroyCreate tag and hung it from my 2016 Oiselle Olympic Trials team photo. I looked at this nearly every day to remind myself to stay focused; I was going to fight to earn a sub 2:40 marathon. 

When I got on the bus to the start line, my Dad waved goodbye and said: “Today is the day you get to shine.” I thought about what my Dad said the entire bus ride to the start.

When did I know it was going to be a good day? 6:15am when I took my first step of my 1 mile warm-up. My legs felt like a bounding deer, my stomach wasn't gurgling and my shoulders were relaxed. I probably looked mischievous, because I felt like I knew a secret: I was going to have a GREAT DAY.

Before the race started, I turned around and looked at the mass of runners behind me. I find it inspiring to see all types of runners hungry to reach their goals; standing on the start-line. Then, I gazed ahead as far as I could see the course in the distance. I pictured myself soaring over the pavement in pure bliss.

Once the race started I felt all the built up energy from my taper week unleash. It was hard to hold back. My goal pace of 6:05 pace felt way too slow; this was exciting and scary at the same time. Each mile split was faster than my goal paces; I saw a couple low 5:50 miles and put on the brakes. Andie and I matched strides and smiles for the first half as we rolled over the hills. It was really fun to run with a teammate especially as we passed Oiselle Nesters and Volée. I couldn’t stop smiling. The Oiselle Cowbell Corner energy was electric!

The last 3 miles were the most challenging, but I was prepared for the pain. Going through the finish line was a flood of emotions plus the instant need to use the bathroom. There was no secret. I didn’t do anything too fancy. I worked the hardest I ever have and ran the paces I practiced.

- Lyndy Davis

I'm still having a tough time coping with what happened on Sunday. I write this because I think it’s important to acknowledge how you are feeling when things happen. I have feelings of inadequacy and feelings of losing everything I worked so hard to get. I'm scared of losing the support and opportunities I had which is a rabbit hole I cannot afford to fall down. I took risks this year to pursue my running passion and it's hard seeing such a tough result. I put so much work into this training cycle and the race ate me up and spit me out. I felt prepared and ready, but I'll admit, in the last month of training I began wondering if I had overdone it. With my confidence issues, self-doubt tends to fuel these types of thoughts. But in this instance my intuition was right. I had pushed too hard. This year has been tough on me mentally. 2 years ago, I ran a 1:12:50 half marathon and this year 1:17:18 was the best I could do. Last year my saving grace was Indy Monumental. Coming off Indy I wanted to begin healing from Secondary Amenorrhea. I knew this would make things tough, but it's not something I was fully prepared for.

Going into this season things were looking up. I decided that CIM would be my turning point, hoping that just as last year, CIM would be the end I needed to a tough year. When I put my whole heart into this build-up I pushed my limits. I wanted it so bad but I didn't fully have the confidence in myself to do it. I fought every workout to try to prove it to myself. Instead of running the prescribed paces I pushed to go faster. As I have now learned, training for the marathon is just like racing a marathon. You have to be consistent & patient. Each workout and run works together to get you to the line ready to race. When I began pushing my workouts, I began running my race in practice. It hurt really badly to come to that realization. I felt like I needed to prove that I was a great runner to be accepted, and in turn I self-sabotaged. 

The other things that I have been coping with have also now come to a head. Earlier this summer I found out about 2 gut bacterial overgrowths. Then a little over a week ago I found out that my hormones are still not functioning correctly. I am moving in the right direction but things aren't perfect. This next period for me will be about fully recovering from all of this to start fresh in the New Year. I will take it very easy through December and see where I am. I don't want to rush it, I just want to be ready.

This whole experience empowers me to keep sharing. All of this is entirely preventable by putting your body & health first & believing in the cards you've been dealt. I say this because I myself struggle with this daily by comparing myself to others. I get it. Secondary Amenorrhea & disordered eating is seen more and more in high school & college athletics. I want all younger athletes to hear this: 

“Momentary & instantaneous success is not worth it. Be mindful of this because your capabilities are so much more if you are patient in your growth. You will find more happiness if you remember what matters. It's a game of would you rather - Would you rather run a 5 min 5k PR tomorrow and never run again or run 15 second PR's every race for the rest of your life?”

I can say with complete certainty that I wish I tackled my hormonal problems sooner. The longer you wait the harder it is to recover. I am still young but I could have achieved more by this point if I had. Either way I am going to keep moving forward. I am still the same athlete that ran a 1:12:50 half and a 2:38 Marathon. Sunday wasn't my day but there will be another in 2018 and I think I have learned my lesson. 

I plan to forgive myself for this race and move past it. This does not mean forgetting about it. I had to fight my emotional & physical state to finish on Sunday. I had thoughts of dropping out because it would have been easier. I stopped for the bathroom, I walked, I limped for a brief period before stopping for the medic, I stopped just to stop, and then I just ran until I finished. Reflecting on it now I am more than happy that I choose to keep on going and in the months to come I can imagine that I'll be that much more grateful. As my good friend Johnathan Levitt reminded me, 

“When it's hard and you complete it, you can draw from that for years to come, knowing that you can do ANYTHING.”

Andie

We would never play favorites. Oops, we just did!

“You know those cozy super soft blankets that feel like butter that you just melt under? Well the Cat Lady Mobius Scarf is that for your neck. The volume of this scarf wards off any cold weather that Mother Nature has to serve up. The performance style and functionality make this scarf a trifecta for winter and fall.” – Val Woods, Store Team

“Wazzie Wool Gaiter! So simple, but so perfect! Two layers of wool that don't leave me itching to take it off means this is a piece that gets used for everything - cold morning runs, snowboarding, or even hiking (easy to wear multiple ways or stash when no longer needed)! I have a couple of these and even keep one in my car for the on-the-go mom who doesn't pack enough layers and has a child who needs a little extra warmth, not that that's ever happened... ;)” – Kami Beckendorf, Designer

“The problem with the Wazzie Wool Base Layer is: it’s too durable. I still have all of my Wazzie Wools from the first season (was that 2014?). Soft, warm, highly technical, perfect in drizzle, 1st under-layer for snowboarding, travel godsend (air conditioning kills me). These Wazzie Wools never wear out. So I have no reason to buy any more. (Spoiler: I always do anyway. Current count: 6)” – Sarah Lesko, Queen Of Shenanigans 

I don’t know any marathoner who didn’t watch this year’s New York City Marathon and get teary eyed watching Shalane Flanagan run a gutsy race, grab hold of her fate at mile 23 and run away with victory. Was she scared in that moment? Did she have doubts as she pushed to run away from the 3x NYC marathon champ Mary Keitany? Was she hurting? Of course she was! But she made a choice in those late miles of the race; she pushed that all away. Her run inspired us all. And now, standing here on your own race day, filled with nerves and excitement, I want to challenge you to do what she did: Be brave. Push it all away.

We know there will be pain. We know it will be hard. But what I want you to also remember is that there is huge capacity for joy, for bravery.

As you get ready to toe the line, I want you to remember why you started this journey, why this start and finish line meant something to you. Return to that purpose, let it be your armor. These last moments before the gun goes off can fill us with uncertainty and make us question our sanity. But not today.

Today you will stand on the line and remember what you came here for. You will remember how hard you have worked. You will remember that you are strong as hell. You will remember that you are running for more than just yourself. You will remember that you have nothing to prove and nothing to lose. Today, you will be brave. When you think of the challenges in front of you, the problems you will have to work through, smile, because you are ready to take them on. Smile, be brave because you have made the choice to challenge yourself in this way.

Today is your day to fly fearlessly in the pursuit of your dreams.

Get ready world... (and podium), these women are comin' for ya!

First off, let it be known that the competitive fire burns BRIGHT. With our call out, and invitation - to storm the podiums at six Ragnar Relays - the only thing faster than the response rate was the mile splits on these applications. We received hundreds of initial replies, and more than 80 finalist captains who had assembled seriously fast and badass teams. We were floored, and honestly wanted to sponsor each and every one.

The experience level? Deep. Many had captained three or more Ragnars. The runner locations? All over the US, from the heartland to the coasts to our own PNW to the sourthern climes of Florida. The lives? Diverse and interesting and ambitious: engineers, professors, mothers, doctors, Olympic Trial Qualifiers, and ultra-runners. Their commonality: a hardcore love of the sport, each other, and the memorable, life-affirming insanity of smashing yourself into a 12 person van in pursuit of a podium with all glory and no prize money.

So how to begin the selection? To help ourselves be more objective, we started by removing all names, simply reading the captain statements, and slowly narrowing it down - taking into account location, experience, excitement, preparedness, and of course… speed. After all, this is The Podium Project and we came to win.

Although there were difficult calls to make, we're thrilled with how the process went and the end result. It naturally resulted in half of the teams being made up primarliy of our Volée tammates, and the other half being made up of fast women from their own established running communities. We're happy to support all run friends, existing and new!

A big HUGE thank you to all who applied. We can’t fully express how impressive all applicants were, and regardless of our team selection, we secretly hope that all of these teams (and more) decide to storm the podium along with us. We'll be cheering for you. We'll be cheering for the women we run with, the other teams we run against, and in support of the vibrant community known as Ragnar.

Without further ado, here are your Podium Project winners!

Reebok Ragnar Cape Cod: 11-12 May, 2018:

#BirdMachineCC - Captained by Nicole Freeman
Not only is this one fast team that was beyond pumped to take on Cape Cod, they are a team made up of professors, PHD holders, mothers, engineers, professionals and artists who still dedicate time to their training. Teammate Megan Foster spends half of her time in Rhode Island teaching at RISD and the other half in NYC, even earning an OTQ this year. A true team of She-Roes!

Reebok Ragnar Chicago: 18-19 May, 2018:

#BirdMachineChi - Captained by Courtney Hansen
An experienced team of winners who took the podium as overall female winner in the 2016 Michigan Ragnar and are ready to grab another overall female title at Chicago. Already training, strategizing, and dedicated to bringing their A game come race day. 

Reebok Ragnar Wasatch Back: 1-2 June, 2018:

#BirdMachineUT- Captained by Karie Underwood
Training partners, friends, and now Ragnar teammates coming from Salt Lake City Utah. Other than their similar cruising paces, this team is made up of a variety of different woman in their 20's to 40's, from college runners, Olympic Trials qualifiers, and woman who didn't start running until their mid-30's. Different ages, different stages - all fast and competitive. 

Reebok Ragnar Northwest Passage: 13-14 July, 2018: Yes, we chose two teams to race in our own backyard... because we can. :)

Team 1: 

#BirdMachineNWP - Captained by Alyson Carlyon   
Bellingham is known for road and trail speedsters, and this team is no exception. Half of the team being members of the Bellingham Distance Project, a no joke post-collegiate training group, and the other half, committed runners from the Bellingham area. We can't wait to see how fast they end up rolling on race day.

Team 2: 

#BirdMachineGRRLS - Captained by Julia Reade    
This team has already claimed the podium in previous years - and will be tough to beat! Fasties, Volée teammates, TNFC'ers, run-community builders who understand that while they run to win, they also run to unite womxn - and show the world that there is no single standard of fast and fierce.

Ragnar Trail Snowmass, CO: 8-9 June, 2018:

#BirdMachineCO - Captained by Lisa Mansfield

12 years of racing experience together, 12 YEARS! All trail badasses over the age of 50 and looking to win. A well seasoned team that isn't backing down to the elevation at Snowmass. These women know - and are out to show - that the correlation between age and pace is more relative than you think.

Ragnar Trail Tahoe, CA: 20-21 July, 2018:

#BirdMachineTahoe - Captained by Jen Mathe
Lovers of outright competition and goal chasing. This team is made up of woman who came to running later in life, but don't lack any love for the sport, as clearly stated in their application "We are fierce AND feminine. We are powerful AND graceful. We savor the rush of accomplishing new goals and we are all striving to see just how far we can go. We are unapologetically fast and competitive. We don't just want to run... we want to win!" 

Just like Bird Machine Tahoe said, "we want to win!" and let's just say we are confident that all of these teams are fully capable of getting on that podium.

Follow along with our teams as they officially start taking on The Podium Project!

SaveSave

The California International Marathon is coming up this Sunday, December 3^rd. That means that over 9,000 runners are going to be looking for the best places to eat, drink and recover come Sunday afternoon. Lucky for you, Volée member Tiffany James (aka Running for Carbs) has done the heavy lifting and shares her top local recommendations! Get ready to #FlyCIM!

It’s that special time of the year again; and yes, I’m referring to the California International Marathon! As the holidays fast approach, it’s also the time of the season where Sacramento gets ready for the largest marathon in our area.

After spending the morning racing, cheering and cowbelling at the fastest course on the west coast, Sacramento (known as the farm-to-fork capital) is one of the best cities to wine, dine and EAT all the foods!

It’s too hard to list only a few of my favorite places to eat and drink in Sacramento, so here’s an easy list based on you might be craving!

Coffee: Temple Coffee and Identity Coffee

Pizza: Hot Italian, Pizza Rock, Federalist

Burgers: Burgers & Brew, Broderick’s Midtown

Mexican: Tres Hermanas, Zocalo, Centro Cocina Mexicana

Pasta: Paesanos

Drinks: LowBrau, Fieldwork Brewing Company, Der Biergarten, New Helvetia Brewing Company

Restaurants: Tower Café, Cafeteria 15L, Café Bernardo

I’ve eaten and had drinks at every single one of these places and love everything they offer. Enjoy!

When you’re done stuffing your face, walk over to the Sacramento State Capitol building. This iconic building is beautiful and offers tours on both the weekday and weekends. This is a great opportunity to learn about California’s rich history, snap some great pictures.

Afterwards, head over to the Tower Bridge and walk along the Sacramento River.  A California icon and most photographed bridge in the area, it’s one view you won’t want to miss!

If you’re looking for a nice recovery run coupled with seeing the sights, why not try a running tour? Join Sac Running Tours to explore Sacramento's newest street art. More than 50 local, national and international artists have transformed the streets of Sacramento for the Wide Open Walls Mural Festival.

Be sure to check out local Oiselle retailer Fleet Feet Sacramento. Fleet Feet Sacramento, the original store of the franchise company, opened its doors in 1976. The culture of Fleet Feet Sports family is centered around helping others and improving lives and our community daily. 

Hope you enjoy and experience the best of Sacramento, it’s truly a beautiful city. See you soon!

- Tiffany

With CIM quickly approaching it's not hard to believe that if you are racing you have spent at least 2/3rds of the past week thinking of race day. The endless scenarios play through your head, the questions of "Am I prepared? Was it enough?" still looming. Just remember, you can only control the controllable. So, to help ease all those pre-marathon hypotheticals going through your mind, take a deep breath, and read about the course straight from a CIM expert - Steph Bruce.

You may not be able to know exactly how you will feel come race day, but you will be able to know the course, because I am 99.9% sure they won't be changing that last minute... Correction, 99.999999% sure.

KEY POINTS ON THE COURSE 

I heard there was a literal wall around mile 20, so I had in my mind, get to that mark and laugh because you should be feeling good. I did laugh when I ran through it and just thought I'm breaking through this wall. Other than that the course rolls quite a bit the first 20 miles and there are no big markers that I remember looking for. I tried to focus on my fluid stations to help pass the miles and time. I of course always look for my husband Ben and my coach Ben.

LEAVING THE START

The start rests on top of a hill on Auburn Folsom Road and you can just see this wide open space in front on you, with the sun rising off to the east. It was a very peaceful start in my memory. The first mile is fairly downhill so it's very easy to get sucked out at a fast pace, but it's important to remember you have 25 miles still to run, so be patient. 

MID RACE CHALLENGES

There aren't many specific challenging miles but I would say the course is deceptively hard with all the rolling hills.

MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY

If you can be somewhat in control through 20 miles, the course flattens out. The last 3 miles specifically, presents a chance to rip as the crowds really grow through downtown and you can smell the finish line. 

HEADING INTO THE FINAL STRETCH

With about 1200m to go you're still on a flat wide road L Street, and you're anticipating a left hand turn with about 400m to go. Your legs are so heavy, but you're so close. Once you turn, the Capitol comes into view, and the crowds are yelling, the announcers are blaring on the microphone and you're almost home. 

The main pointers I would give are have fun, enjoy yourself, go through a little more pain than you're comfortable with late in the race and you'll be satisfied with your effort.

Good luck CIMers!