Fierce Flyer Cammy Singh, member of the Volée, shares the story of how her relationship with running has helped her manage the pain of an unimaginable loss. 

BY: CAMMY SINGH

People often tell you to "stay strong" through difficult times in life. When I had my share of grief and loss four and a half years ago, I had no idea how I could possibly find the strength to face each day and stay strong. I was in full flight, fight or freeze mode and ‘running’ the longest race of my life. Everything in me was on the backburner… my physical and mental self were consumed by grief and pain.

My sweet boy, Rohan, was diagnosed with a brain tumor two days after his 7th birthday. The shock and overwhelming feeling of despair and hopelessness, coupled with the fact that I was on the other side of his medical team with a medical understanding of his tumor, threw me into complete disarray. The short yet grueling 28 day battle shattered me, yet in the end, shaped and defined me, allowing me to live life intentionally with a deep sense of purpose. As I look back on his life, I see a huge sense of urgency in everything about him; from being advanced in school to running, not like a child but an athlete, with incredible stride and focus. He would laugh and smile the entire time as I would remind him to “look forward when you run”. He did not lose, he won the race... he went heavenward.

My mental fog, intense pain, grief and blurred focus following those 28 days caused me to desperately search for constructive ways to live life again while keeping Rohan’s memory alive. I was looking for survival in a real, tangible and hopeful way. Running came into my life by way of a postcard advertising a free Running Evolution Couch to 5K class. I was intrigued and decided to check it out. When I first started running, 9 months after my loss, I was still very troubled by it and life was still very much “one foot in front of the other.” Running and the conversations that happened while running, helped clear my mind for a few minutes at a time and I got to the point where I felt it was helping me find a renewed purpose and focus... a way to gain mastery over something. By the end of the training, I discovered that running had become that strength for me. Putting one foot in front of the other and realizing that same feeling in life will not last forever. I felt stronger, physically and mentally; strong enough to recognize and figure out who I really was. Running has given me time to compartmentalize my emotions, it has become the ultimate therapy.

Shortly thereafter, I ran my very first half marathon. I didn’t know what to expect, except that my training and the support from my running buddies assured me that I would run the race with endurance, courage, strength and intention. Rohan loved legos and butterflies, so in his honor and in memory of kids gone too soon from cancer, I pinned a gold ribbon on my bib and held a lego butterfly tight in my fist the entire time. I was surprised my sweaty palms didn't let go of it. As I was approaching the finish line, I heard an inner voice saying, “Run Mom, Run,” and I saw the butterfly fly out of my hand and never to see it again. I took this as a sign that he was with me the entire time, cheering me on. 

After completed a few half marathons, I decided to take the plunge and train for 26.2. I chose the Portland Marathon because it coincided with Rohan’s 11th birthday. Running Portland was truly a celebration and the exclamation point at the end of an intense training cycle that involved injuries, setbacks and a lot of self-doubt. That relentless forward motion, the feeling of hurt, fatigue and “hitting the wall’, the fight with every muscle fiber in my being is something I will always cherish because it gives meaning to the miles and to life and all its challenges. It edged me to push through just a bit more and leap with joy when I saw the finish line. 

A special bond has emerged between my daughter, Norah (name scrambled from Rohan) and I through running. Though her memories of her time with Rohan are just a short three years, she holds those memories close to heart and runs each kid's race with enthusiasm and determination - running for, and with, Rohan in her heart.

So, this is my journey that encompasses both grief and running. Through this journey, I have learned that running gives me a sense of control when I may not be able to control anything else around me. Running is a place of hope, a place of defiance and coming out strong when things look impossible. Running gives me the space to enjoy 'the now' in a mindful way. There is more determination and fight in me than I may accept and grasp in the moment. I will always know Rohan’s pain and strength to be far greater than any I endure. I will continue to run each race, big or small in honor of my sweet boy, dedicating every mile of my race to his life. I will continue to create awareness and raise funds to fight pediatric brain tumors in his honor. All this may be small in the grand scheme of things, but the feeling of pushing my limits, and honoring my son who underwent so much is perhaps a way for me to fight back. To make a stand. To remember.

For as long as I can, for as long as the pain and grief exist, I will continue to run and remind myself that life is a gift and worthy of purpose. I do not run for medals, I run for Rohan, because running for Rohan brings profound meaning to my miles.

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Oiselle was founded in 2007, sponsored our first Olympic Trials elite runners in 2012, and celebrated our first Olympians (four!) in 2016. So although we are kind of new kids on the block, we have experienced a full cycle of track and field.

It is our highest honor supporting elite athletes, and we will continue to do so. The pursuit of achievement in athletics is beautiful, and these athletes' stories give all of us a beacon to follow. But by 2016, we knew we could do more to reach more female athletes, to spread a love of running. In addition to supporting elites and the positive impact they have on the community, we want to give a voice to the brand new runners and everyday athletes.

In summer of 2016 we started our Muse program, an affiliation with women who are athletes as well as leaders in other dimensions. In fall of 2016, one of our Volée teammates suggested we reach out to Kelly Roberts, because of her consistent positive voice for body acceptance and inclusivity. As we got to know Kelly, it was clear she had a unique voice and pure sense of positivity. We intersected deeply in a love of running, competing, and building the sisterhood. We were happy to collaborate with her, and are proud to continue our collaboration with her today.

A few important facts to clear up any confusion.

1. Kelly’s compensation is not funded in any part by Volée memberships and it never has been. A portion of each Volée membership goes to our Woman Up Fund, which helps support the Haute Volée elite team, as well as our sports bra donation program for middle school girls.
2. Oiselle does not condone banditing races or wearing bibs registered to others. Kelly made mistakes in the past involving joining races improperly, and has issued a direct and complete apology. Kelly is human, like all of us. Kelly has agreed to refrain from these actions in the future. We deeply support the race director community, and ask that everyone in our community support them by abiding by these rules.
3. Bullying by a teammate. Unfortunately, we experienced a situation during the past 3-4 months where a Volée teammate repeatedly defamed and disrespected Kelly via team venues, such as Facebook, Twitter, and our online portal, which caused us to remove her from the Volée. We welcome questions, conversation, and critical feedback, but we have zero tolerance for bullying.

In closing, I’ll just say yesterday was a sad and difficult day for Oiselle. But likely more so for Kelly, who I consider a friend, and who inspires me to accept my body for what it is, and what it does. No person should be subject to the hateful speech, the shaming, the aggression that I have seen spew out of the Internet. Oiselle welcomes discourse, but people posting hateful statements will be blocked from Oiselle feeds.

The Oiselle community is a living, breathing organism, and we value all of the engagement and passion. We encourage respectful conversation and feedback, and we listen and are constantly growing ourselves. It is our hope we can use constructive dialogue to continue evolve as a running community. We value all of our teammates: our customers as well as Volée, Muses, Pros, Haute Volée, and Kelly Roberts, under whatever label she takes. Head up, wings out. 

We are a brand who's passionate about the sport and committed to our community. We also make clothes for runners of all paces and places. Subscribe to stay connected to who we are, what we make, and the incredible things we do with our community.

YOU get a PR and YOU get a PR! Man, I love watching friends run fast. And that’s exactly what they did Sunday night at the Portland Track Festival. Hear from the racers and look at my pretty pictures!

“One year ago I had a broken hip... yesterday I ran a 5 second PR in the 1500! This year I have taken the mantra that less is more. I have cut back my mileage, added in strength work and swimming as a major piece of my training. I have never felt so fresh and prepared for races than I have this year. Excited to bring this momentum into USA's and keep flying!” – Marisa Howard

“It was a good one. I didn’t get out as fast as I wanted to but I stayed focused on the end goal. I told myself to stay relaxed and stay close and then turn it up with 250m to go... I went with my gut feeling and it worked out! A bit short of the USA qualifier, but looking forward to one more shot at Stumptown next Friday. 2:02.00 is well within reach I can feel it.” – Alisha Brown

“I really like racing the 1500. It's not my main event, but it's fun to get in that race and feel that special 1500m burn. I felt really strong half way through and I knew the third lap was important for maintaining speed and momentum. I focused on using that strength to carry me through the next 600, came off the curve and opened up. I crossed the line and was beyond excited for a new PR!” – Mel Lawrence

“I was happy with my race. Even though I have been doing this for a while now, I still feel like a newbie! I love getting the opportunity to mix it up and try for the win. I am still working on the courage to take the lead and really have the confidence to put the pedal to the medal once I do. It was a good work piece to add in before USA’s.” – Megan Rolland

"Races provide an opportunity to learn things you can't study in practice. This weekend was the lesson in running the race you plan and running the race you're in, but being mindful that the pieces of a second add up very quickly." – Collier Lawrence

“Sometimes great races happen. Sometimes your period happens. Life, right? Taking the good, leaving the bad. Trusting the process, trusting my training. And ready to fly free again real soon.” – Sasha Gollish

“I've been working on my weaknesses as I ramp into a marathon training cycle. I am only beginning to figure out how to trust myself in the 5k; at the PTF I learned that I need to race on the edge of anaerobic and not stay in my aerobic safety zone. I have to suppress the cautious marathoner in me when I step on the 5k start line. I'm coming back for the 5k pain - I'll have a different approach next time: less conserving, more risk from the gun!” – Lyndy Davis

“There came a moment my race where I literally said "f&^% it, just run with your heart." That was at the 300m mark. I knew I was out fast and I knew that I my body wasn't prepared for that, but all I could do was compete as hard as possible for as long as possible. My race wasn't indicative of what I'm ready to run, or even of my toughness. But, regardless of what happened, I had fun, the energy of the meet was electric, and Portland Track will always be one of my favorite places to compete and watch so many athletes lay it on the line.” – Dom Jackson

I have spent the past 17 years of my life in a classroom and at practice. From soccer games, to basketball tournaments, eventually to the track, I had a clear routine: school then competition. Now, just a month since my last collegiate race and just graduating, I have no practices that I have to attend, no races to wake up early for, and no upcoming exams.

What always seemed like a very distant life transition, is now happening. I am becoming an adult. Sadly, this is talked about as an end of times scenario, like all the fun in your life is about to disappear with one fatal blow. Which so far does not seem to be the case.

But I do keep asking myself, well who am I now? Will I identify myself solely off of my work like I did with my running? Looking back on the heartache I felt after finishing my last collegiate race, I realized that I have tied myself too closely to my identity as a student-athlete. In reality, my value is not limited to the narrow scope of athletics and academic achievements. My value should never be determined by only one aspect of who I am.

Now coming into the Nest and joining a new team, I hope that I learn to embrace all of the different nuances, that make me, me. During any life transition that leads people to question their identity - I think it’s important to take a step back, let go of narrowing in on one central attribute, and remind yourself of all the attributes that have led you to that single culminating moment.

I am a runner, but I am also…

A loyal friend

A professional

A self-starter

An avid story-teller

A lover of documentaries and punk rock shows

An incredibly loud laugher

An outdoor enthusiast

A strong-willed individual

And so much more.

So come at me adulthood, because I am a well-rounded woman, excited to take on a new challenge.

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Traditions. They not only remind us who we are, but where we've come from. In the sport world, male traditions and historical moments abound. Whether it's breaking the 4 minute mile, celebrating the old silver hares of the Boston Marathon (pun intended), or the legacy of Steve Prefontaine, men frequently own the narrative as far as athletic tradition. And even today, new traditions are being set, like the #Breaking2 event, that had no female counterpart.

Celebrating female firsts, women's leadership and sports, and women led traditions is something we want to see more of in the world. So last year, we started giving out The Linda Prefontaine High Flyer Award. Linda, sister to Steve and a friend of mine who I met when we were both starting our businesses, came to our first event in Eugene, and we had the honor of handing out her necklaces as the awards to four recipients, each leading in the sport of running in different ways:

1. BETH SULLIVAN: Head coach at U of Tennessee for Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country. A true pioneer.
2. LAURYN WILLIAMS: A two-time Olympian who now advocates for Clean Sport and helps athletes manage their financial futures.
3. TAYLOR DUTCH: A woman among bros at FloTrack reporting on our sport with finesse.
4. ALLIE BIGELOW: Volée member who inspires and pours her heart into the sport she loves.

Now it's time to identify and award our 2017 recipients! To select those four women, we want your help. Here is a nomination page. On it, we'd love to hear who you think deserves recognition, and a place in our High Flyer tradition. The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 23rd. Once that phase is complete, we will select the four recipients based on the following loose criteria:

1. Engaged in the running community - either as coach, leader, teacher, organizer, etc.
2. Media reach - including writing, communicating, covering the sport of running and the women within it.
3. Local leader, galvanizing activity or support in their community.
4. Industry leadership, doing something meaningful to build the sport, help athletes, fight doping, empower women, etc.
5. Note at least one award will be given to a Oiselle Volée member. We have so many strong women who lead our community. 

We are a brand who's passionate about the sport and committed to our community. We also make clothes for runners of all paces and places. Subscribe to stay connected to who we are, what we make, and the incredible things we do with our community.

An overlooked, yet critical job of the design team is carefully curating colors that will be in upcoming lines. What may seem like a whimsical decision of “oh that looks nice”, is a time-sensitive and strategic process. With a variety of colors to choose from, the process includes everything from initial attraction to emotional portrayals. So, here is the design team ready to dive into their process for selecting and pairing colors.

HANNAH: FOR STARTERS, THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING COLOR OPTIONS IN THIS WORLD, HOW DO YOU EVEN BEGIN TO CHOOSE COLORS FOR A LINE?

SALLY: Abundance of choice is both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes people just want help with choice - and we see ourselves as helpful color choosers. We start with a visceral attraction. This might get kinda woo woo, but color is emotional. We feel them.

NELLE: The theme for Spring 17 is Destroy//Create, so we have colors that are dark and dangerous (black, charcoal, curfew or dark blue) paired with colors that show life, growth, vitality, optimism (Snap, Plum, Coast, Tide, White). 

KAMI: Yes! And after the breaking down of the destruction - we have a yearning to create, to make, to show how life and love can rise.

H: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE COLOR CHOICES FOR THE SPRING 17 LINE?

S: Darkness precedes light. Light precedes growth. Universal truths like this have a meaning, and can also be represented by color.

N: Color is also a metaphor for diversity. We want to fully embrace a diverse and lively world.

K: Color can also be messy. It's okay to be messy.

H: IT'S NO SECRET - WE LOVE TELLING STORIES THROUGH DESIGN. HOW DO COLORS PLAY A PART IN HELPING THE DESIGN TEAM BUILD A STORY?

S: Color is one of the lead actors in a seasonal play. A production that involves the set (the silhouettes), the props (the trims), and the lighting (color). Each has its purpose. And they're all intertwined.

N: The story that a color like Snap tells is much different than a color like Plum. Snap is both happy and brazen. She fears nothing, but isn't afraid to laugh or be playful. Plum is sophisticated but still runs to the beat of her own drummer.

K: Then there's Slate - that can play nice, like a grey neutral, but flirts with warmth and a lavender undertone.

S: Then, start combining the above, and it's like an energetic party, where the just-right mix of people transcend the single story.

H: IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING PAIRING TWO BOLD COLORS... HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHAT COLORS TO PAIR?

S: The first rule of thumb is there is no rule of thumb. Dress how you like. The way that makes you happy! The second rule is balance. Lights and darks are the easiest example.

N: Balance can also be achieved through contrasts (opposite ends of the color wheel) or complements (same side of the wheel). And then there's prints. A floral pattern plus a fierce background of black is what makes Floral Spandos so awesome.

K: In addition to color, pairing texture and pattern is also amazing and fun. Snap with White Paintbrush Print, or Slate with Snap Flyout Tops. And even patterns together can be brilliant. A tip for reducing the chaos is to pair a refined pattern (like Paintbrush) with something big and bold (like Space Grid or the Sticks print).

H: OUT OF ALL THE SPRING 17 COLORS, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE UNEXPECTED COLOR COMBO?

S: I'm obsessed with the Two Timing Tank in the Paintbrush prints. Both black and white. 

N: Slate with literally anything!

K: My favorite color of the line was Snap and pairing it with darker colors such as Midnight or Slate when needing to balance out some of the "bright".

You women are crushing it! The #OiselleWorldRelay baton has been to the Philippines, China, Australia, New Zealand, London, cities all across the U.S and more! Here are some of our favorites...

@HEATHERRUNS13_1 #OiselleWorldRelay #CDT

@LMHALCORN #OiselleWorldRelay #MST

@RUNWUNEOPINE  #OiselleWorldRelay #EST

@ENDZDIJAMCO #OiselleWorldRelay #PHT

@FORMINFOCUS #OiselleWorldRelay #CETZ

@HALFMARATHONMAMA3 #OiselleWorldRelay #PST

@BONEALL #OiselleWorldRelay #MZT

@GRAMMARISSA #OiselleWorldRelay #CST 

@ZENPEACEKEEPER #OiselleWorldRelay #NZST

Our goal is to get participation in every time zone. Birds flying near and far. Women running around the world in the name of ferocity, freedom, and fun. The day isn't over! So grab your #badassladygang and get in on the action. Here’s how to grab the baton.

• Take a picture of yourself running in your favorite #flystyle
• Post in Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram
• Tag @Oiselle (so we can find you!)
• Use #OiselleWorldRelay + #[Your Time Zone Abbreviation] ex. #OiselleWorldRelay #EST
• Follow Oiselle to follow the fun!

Don’t forget to like us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram - we’ll be sharing your posts and watching the baton move across the world!

Wings Out! It’s A World Takeover!

- The Nest

We are a brand who's passionate about the sport and committed to our community. We also make clothes for runners of all paces and places. Subscribe to stay connected to who we are, what we make, and the incredible things we do with our community.

The last few weeks have been enlightening in a sad way, with a deluge of #TheySaid stories flooding in. It is clear that the urge to comment on female bodies, regardless of their age, is irresistible for many. We received this letter below from a current DI collegiate runner, who wanted to share her experience with the hope that it would help other athletes (and their parents). We are so grateful for our community's expertise and willingness to share.  

BY: ANONYMOUS 

I met my high school coach the day I turned 14. Like most teenage girls in athletics, I was young, naïve, and trusting; just starting to figure out who I was as a runner and a person. I looked to my coach as someone who could improve me as an athlete and inherently trusted his thoughts and opinions, good and bad.

Though I didn’t feel it at the time, I was so young my freshman year of high school. While I was trying to figure out how to progress as a runner, I was also figuring out what having a woman’s body, instead of a girl’s, meant for me as a runner. Instead of letting me progress through my body’s changes, my coach took advantage of my muscle gain, my newfound confidence, my yearning to find my sexuality as a woman, and used it against me.

By my junior year, I was getting fast enough to run in college and quickly became his favorite; he was my friend, my ally, the one who I called when I had a bad day. Looking back, it seems like the relationship we had “naturally” progressed to a higher level of intimacy that no high school coach should have with his or her athlete. However, there was nothing natural about our relationship — not in hindsight. Every step in our relationship — each inside joke, private look, text message, phone call — was calculated by him, and became increasingly inappropriate as the years went on.

He used me. He manipulated me and took his knowledge about my insecurities — knowledge that I gave him willingly — and used them against me. He taught me what it means to be the object of a man’s desire. He was involved in my life at a time when I could have been figuring out my sexuality on my own, but he instead inserted himself as a loud opinion that guided me along. He was so intricately woven into my life that I cannot look back on any high school memories without thinking of him. He abused his power over me, and used it to fulfill his own needs. As an adult with knowledge that I couldn’t possibly have as a young teenager, he used his own life experiences to exploit my vulnerability and innocence.

Our relationship was a “what-if”; he never physically touched me. However, like so many other women and girls have experienced with #TheySaid, his sexually-fueled comments and questions will stay with me forever.

I am not alone in experiencing an abusive coach-athlete relationship. Special attention that is wanted or unwanted from a coach to an athlete can be the early signs of an abuse of power waiting to happen. Inappropriate jokes, sexual references, private texts and calls, and one-on-one meet ups are never okay, under any circumstance. In the sport of running, a girl’s changing body can be seen as a gift, as a curse, and anywhere in between. Coaches who take advantage of this important point in girls’ lives  are crossing boundaries that are fundamental to having a healthy relationship with oneself and others in the future.

Girls in high school who decide to run deserve to deepen their love for the sport and appreciate their changing bodies. If my story sounds familiar to something you have experienced, don’t be afraid to speak up or confide in someone you trust; special treatment that involves your body, your coach’s body, or someone else’s body is never okay.

We are a brand who's passionate about the sport and committed to our community. We also make clothes for runners of all paces and places. Subscribe to stay connected to who we are, what we make, and the incredible things we do with our community.

You know we’re all about team. So our #WheelsUp17 challenge for June is a good one…

On Global Running Day, Wednesday June 7th, 2017 we’re starting a relay. A really big relay. A global relay of women around the world!

Our goal is to get participation in every time zone. Birds flying near and far. Women running around the world in the name of ferocity, freedom, and fun. So grab your #badassladygang and get in on the action. Here’s how to grab the baton.

• Take a picture of yourself running on Wednesday, June 7th 2017 in your favorite #flystyle
• Post in Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram
• Tag @Oiselle (so we can find you!)
• Use #OiselleWorldRelay + #[Your Time Zone Abbreviation] ex. #OiselleWorldRelay #EST
• Follow Oiselle to follow the fun!

Don’t forget to like us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram - we’ll be sharing your posts and watching the baton move across the world!

Wings Out! It’s A World Takeover!

- The Nest

We are a brand who's passionate about the sport and committed to our community. We also make clothes for runners of all paces and places. Subscribe to stay connected to who we are, what we make, and the incredible things we do with our community.

BY: SHAYLA DVORAK

Near the end of college, and the end of my collegiate rowing career, two things were becoming quite clear in my mind. One was that organized sport as I’d known it for most of my life was about to change drastically. The second was that my idea of who I was in terms of my sexuality was shifting.

I took up running around the same time. In high school I had been a sprinter and I had played sports like basketball and volleyball but through college, I began realizing that maybe I was more of an endurance athlete. As my attitudes and ideas about myself started to shift, I found that running was a place to organize my thoughts. Sport, for me, has always been a way to define myself, but I was quickly learning that it would also be a way for me to recognize myself in the world.

I had always thought of myself as a bit of a feminist, even before I had the word for it. I decided at a young age that I could do anything boys could do. I competed against the boys in phys-ed class and held my head high in the classroom. But when the idea that I might love another woman popped into my head, at first there was confusion, and then shame.

I tried to understand it all by consuming as much “queer” material as possible. From academic books for my major to every single available episode of The L Word, I was unstoppable. And I ran. I ran with the learning and I ran to work through my confusion and excitement and shame and pride.

The end of college is supposed to be the time when a person discovers herself. It is all about change and that was true for me, too. Not only was I about to say goodbye to being a full-time student and athlete, but I was also beginning to say hello to the idea that I didn’t fit into some sort of pre-prescribed box. It was difficult and I struggled, but the running was and has always been the thing that helped. At first, I struggled to name what I was feeling and later, and since, I’ve struggled with defining myself. I remember telling my first friends and the opening up was swollen with emotion. I was afraid to be rejected and afraid to be misunderstood, but those first friends who I came out to did and remain to be the ones who couldn’t care less about who I love - they are the ones who care, first and foremost, that I’m loved. They were my teammates and they are my sisters - even now.

First, I ran to stay in shape, but I quickly realized that running offered more for me. On the road, I was able to talk about myself and the person I was becoming even more than ever before. On the trails and roads, rarely does a person ask whether you’re gay or straight. You get to prove yourself by what you accomplish and you get to define yourself. 

What I’ve realized over the years is that it’s not so much about what other people think - it’s about owning who I am. It’s about owning up to what is true in my heart. It’s about constantly being brave enough to take the next step and about continually, no matter how small the progress, being brave and continuing to push myself to own my truth.

When I began running, it was hard and I kept reminding myself that I was a work in progress. When I found the Oiselle community the phrase that stuck with me was, “There is no secret. Keep going.” When it comes to coming out, to living out, I’m constantly reminded of the same - to take things one day at a time and to keep living out, one interaction at a time. I’m so grateful for the people in my life who remind me of that each day. To be me and to keep going.

- Shayla

Dear Birds,

My name is Jules, and I prefer she/her or they/them pronouns. I identify as pansexual, meaning I am attracted to cismen, ciswomen, trans, genderqueer, and nonbinary folk. In other words, I am attracted to a person irrespective of their gender identity. Monogamy feels foreign and deceptive to me, whereas polyamory feels quite natural and honest. These are odd boxes I check, I know, but will you still let me run with you? Will you still value my input, treat me with integrity, acknowledge my role as mother, teacher, intersectional ally, and teammate?

Seems silly, right? That I even feel compelled to ask when I’ve already sprouted my wings, flown fiercely with all of you, have been enveloped in the warm, accepting embrace of unconditional sisterhood. But, news flash (or nah?), I have found running groups to be complex, complicated microcosms of society rather than subversive outlets for runners to access judgement-free spaces in solidarity with other runners. As a queer, poly, female-identified runner, I have been sexually objectified by heterosexual cismen in the co-ed spaces, called crazy for negating transphobic jokes, and brushed aside when advocating for gender-neutral language. Look, if I wanted to subject myself to this sort of environment, I could simply engage with the bigoted keyboard crusaders on Facebook. “For a good time, call…”

My Birds, I heard your unspoken answer even before, together, we took flight. Your virtual doors opened to a space that centered womxn as the focus. You take a stand against injustices instead of remaining neutral and feeding the oppression of marginalized groups. You encourage us to #speakout and #womanup! You have never positioned me as the manic poly dream girl - the token “Polypanna” who owes the community explanations for my identity or Brobirds a threesome. You have valued not only my input, but my queerness and intersectional feminism. You have not only treated me with integrity, but offered a platform for expressions of my identity. And you have not only acknowledged my various roles, but celebrated them as contributing factors to Volée’s growing diversity.

As we approach June, a month dedicated to our LGBTQ odd-box checkers, I am reminded how fortunate I am to live in a city and run with a community of womxn and allies who unabashedly celebrate Pride. Fortunate and grateful. I also recognize that my fortune constitutes one aspect of my privilege, an aspect not enjoyed elsewhere in our country and our world by our queer Birds and runner folk. So this June, I will, as always, participate in Seattle’s local Pride festivities, from marching in the Seattle Pride Parade to running (ok, likely jogging) with my Volée teammates in Seattle Frontrunners’ annual Run/Walk with Pride. But there’s nothing inclusive about operating within a bubble; on the contrary, true inclusivity means ensuring even those on the fringes - those without the privilege of the PNW’s gusto for Pride - experience the same level of acceptance, the same unconditional sisterhood, I enjoy firsthand roosting so close to the Nest. Whether it’s including gender-neutral language in a survey or thoughtfully expanding our definitions of “woman,” I would encourage all of us to straddle the intersections of feminism not just in the month of June but everyday as we strive to even more intentionally include our current and prospective LGBTQ-identified teammates in our celebrations of empowerment, body positivity, diversity, and athleticism. Eternal gratitude, my #badassladygang.

When the sun of compassion arises, darkness evaporates

and the singing birds come from nowhere.

― Amit Ray

Head Up, Rainbow Wings Out!

XO Jules

Save the date! We’re ditching our shirts and inhibitions on Saturday June 24th for a new national holiday - National Sports Bra Squad Day!

WHAT IS THE SPORTS BRA SQUAD?

The #SportsBraSquad started as a way for women to ditch their shirts along with their insecurities, and show the world what strength looks like. In 2015, the National Eating Disorders Association found that 70% of women don’t like their bodies. 70%! That’s a disappointing and frustrating statistic and the only way we can combat the self loathing and hatred women feel towards their bodies is to change the way we see strength.

But ditching your shirt for the first time can be terrifying! There's strength in numbers which is why on June 24th, Sports Bra Squads around the world will be coming together to show the world that our bodies are strong as hell!

Join one of our official group runs, organize your own, or fly solo! As long as you’re out there - owning the streets and feeling the freedom, you’re celebrating right. Tag @oiselle and use #NationalSportsBraSquadDay and #SportsBraSquad in social to share the fun.

NATIONAL SPORTS BRA SQUAD DAY GROUP RUNS:

SEATTLE - Saturday June 24th at 10am at Oiselle University Village

SACRAMENTO - Saturday June 24th at 9am, Sacramento State side of the Guy West Bridge

NEW YORK - Saturday June 24th at 3pm, Finish Line Physical Therapy

LOS ANGELES - Saturday June 24th at 9am at Griffith Observatory Trails

LONG BEACH - Saturday June 24th at 7:30am at Belmont Brewing

*Check back as we update with more meet-ups + details!

Want to host a run? Use #NationalSportsBraSquadDay + #[Your City] to let your friends in on the fun.

Sports Bras On. Shirts Off. LET’S DO THIS!

- Kelly & The Nest