Think about the last time you raced. Not the last race you participated in, but the last race you really raced. I’m talking salt-and-snot covered face, can’t walk the next day racing. Where you put it all out there for everyone to see. In these moments of extreme effort, we’re vulnerable – physically and mentally. But you also don’t pretend these moments were easy. No, you show the world just how hard you worked. You wore all your training on the outside, and it showed. Some people praised this effort, cheering you on, encouraging you in your pain and facial distortions. Some recoiled in your aftermath, afraid that the salt/sweat/snot/blood mix from your exertion may rub off on them. But you know you put it all out there. 

In racing, we see this as normal. We toe the line to put ourselves out there, ugliness and all. It’s expected. But what about off the track? When have you last put yourself out there – in all your ugly, hard working glory – to be vulnerable, even if only with the slightest hope of “winning”? This is much harder. As women, we feel comfortable, even confident, letting our legs do the talking on the racecourse, but still often feel reserved doing it in our daily lives. 

Hopefully this post will help inspire you to speak out a little more – to put yourself out there in life as in a race. 

Though naturally an introvert, I am not shy about speaking out and putting myself out there. Whether it is talking about my rape, combat-related PTSD, being one of the first women to break into a previously all-male occupation, politics, or religion, I am comfortable speaking my mind, taking a stand, and letting it all hang out on the racecourse that is life. 

This wasn’t always the case, however. While in the military, I remained very tight-lipped about my own experiences and opinions. Partially out of restrictions on speech placed on me due to my positions*, and partially out of trying to find my own footing and voice, I remained quiet on many things that were important to me.     

While there were very real restrictions placed on me, my real hesitation was that I didn’t believe that I was ready. Much like toeing the line for a big race and thinking that the competition is much more deserving to be there than you, I believed that I was insignificant in the race of life. Who was I to inspire people?  Who was I to have an opinion worthy of discussion, debate, and perhaps persuasion? I’m no Elizabeth Warren, or even an Elizabeth Gilbert. I haven’t written a best seller, and Julia Roberts sure hasn’t played me in the story of my life. 

But a funny thing happened when I stopped comparing myself to my competition and started to metaphorically run my own race. I realized that people did want to listen. I realized that all the pain – whether sexual trauma, moral and psychological combat trauma, the sleepless nights trying to figure out how to fit in to my squadron – had actually been building me up to be a better advocate. Just like a muscle that’s been broken down by training and come back stronger, so has my heart and passion for being vocal. Where there was once pain and bitterness, there is now passion and empathy. In addition to a robust social media following, I now regularly contribute to the media and public speaking events. 

However, this does not mean that it has been easy. Women, in particular, are susceptible to ridicule and backlash in public forums. In the last few weeks alone, I have received rape threats and praises for my rape. I have been told that my days are numbered. I have been called ugly and disgusting, and had my gender and relationships questioned. This is an unfortunate reality for women who dare to break the stereotype of the demure feminine. But it is a reality that can be changed. The more of us that step up and refuse to accept that our place is silence, the more normal our public participation will become. So step out, and, more importantly, amplify those women who do. 

If this little piece has inspired you to give speaking out a try, I present to you three simple rules to help you be successful.

1. Speak from the heart and the head. While it is true that you can only speak out about those things you care about, you also need to be informed when doing it. Passion based in fallacy will disappoint, and even cause harm. Just as you can’t fuel a marathon on a diet of Twinkies and cotton candy, your public persona can’t be based on just what makes you feel good. Dig deep into the issues that your experience drives you to be passionate about. Do your homework. Your passion is only going to be enhanced when rooted in some objective truth.
2. Build an amplification network. No one can be an advocate alone. Just like you need a coach, some pacers, and a cheering squad, you need people who you know are going to have your back, even when you start feeling down. This is especially true if you choose to engage in social media where faceless trolls will make sport out of mocking a woman they don’t know. Build a trusted network of supporters who will come to your side (making sure they’re armed with both passion and facts) so you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting on your own.
3. Be respectful, but firm. Speaking out and being passionate doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk. Especially in today’s political and social climate, emotions and tensions are high. Being kind, or at least nodding towards inclusivity, helps spark conversation. However, don’t be a pushover.  Stand your ground, especially when you know you’re right. Listen, but don’t necessarily accept, differences in opinions. Cultivate yourself as a space where respectfulness is expected, even if opinions are not always the same. 

I truly believe that we are in a time when women speaking out is going to make all the difference. From breaking the cycle of rape culture, to bringing mental health to the forefront, to saving our precious natural resources, women are key catalysts to change. We have experiences in all these areas that diverge from the patriarchal norms, bringing fresh perspectives to ever important topics. Now is not the time to be silent. Let us together face these contentious times with our heads up and wings out. 

- Kyleanne Hunter 

*Note: I am a firm believer in the political restrictions placed on active duty military personnel. There is an important civil-military relationship that shouldn't be compromised. 

Connect and learn more about Kyleanne here. 

 Photo Credit: Justin Britton

"Standing on the starting line your knees trembling, heart racing, palms sweating, and mouth dry as the Saharan desert. It's a feeling we as runners know all too well. The nerves that overtake us make us question our reason for putting ourselves in that moment. The training prepares you for the race, but you still have to fight on the day. You have to go through the race, show up, and be ready to embrace the pain.” - Steph

A little over a year ago, Steph had just given birth to her second son and was standing at the ultimate starting line. Far removed from training and racing, it would have been easier to let go of the big dream. To step away because the road seemed too long and daunting to tackle. But Steph said yes to goal setting, moving forward, and taking chances. She said yes to the journey back filled with kegels, core stabilization, Elliptigo rides, and long slow miles after short sleepless nights. 

Six months in, she ran 0.58 seconds under the 10k Olympic A Standard and qualified for the Olympic Trials. This Sunday at 7am, Steph will toe the line at #runCIM. She’ll stand on the starting line, she'll breathe in and out, her heart will race, her palms will sweat. And then she will start. 

Whether you're in Sacramento this Sunday or cheering from afar, consider your own starting line... Dream Big. Take a chance. Embrace the pain. Be brave. And #StartWithSteph.

We'll be there cheering! Come find us at Cowbell Corner at mile 23.6. Grab a cowbell and superfan with us!

We catch up with Erika Pierce: 10xUSATF Masters National Champ, American Record Holder in the W40 Indoor Heptathlon & W45 Outdoor Heptathlon, 1996 Olympic Trials participant in the 400m Hurdles.. and mom! Learn more about Erika, her training, and Masters Multi competition! 

LESKO: How many masters competitors are there in the multi-events?

ERIKA: In a masters multi-event competition, such as a Pentathlon or Heptathlon, there could be as few as 3-4 participants or there might be as many as 10-15. The last meet I competed in there were about 10 of us – including high school and open athletes as well as a handful of masters. All of the events are age-graded so I am competing against everyone in total points, but as a 45 year old I will score more points for the same time, height, or distance as someone who is, say, 22. This allows competitors of all ages to compete against each other; I don’t just run the 200m with people my age, but with all athletes entered in the meet. In my last meet of the season in September I broke the American Record in my age group (W45) and I also ended up coming in first place in total points out of all competitors. 

L: Do you think Masters shy away from more technical events?

E: I definitely think Masters shy away from the multis. The seven events in the Heptathlon are the 100 hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin, and 800 meters. Most of these events are highly technical and if you haven’t grown up doing them they are difficult to pick up and train for as an adult. Indoors they swap the javelin for the pole vault and that was a challenge for me – learning a new field event in my 40s.  Also, these events are extremely hard on your legs. Every time I escape a meet without a serious injury, I feel like I have succeeded! 

L: What is a go-to strength session for you? 

E: I spend a lot of time in the weight room. Jumping strength is key for what I do, so the more powerful my legs are the further and higher I will jump. I do squats, lunges, cleans/jerks and a lot of high-impact jumping. But, I also need to maintain serious flexibility so I regularly do yoga to lengthen my muscles and stay limber. And I do core work pretty much every day.

L: Give us one of your recovery secrets.

E: I am actually a total boss at recovery and not over-training. I have come to learn that less is more, at least for me. I only train on the track about 2 times a week even in the middle of my season. The other days I am stretching, doing a bike workout, lifting, hurdle drills/yoga, etc. I am a huge fan of running hills and I incorporate hill work every week. As my outdoor season progressed this year, I was pretty broken down physically – my achilles tendons were painful and tight and I would limp around after every workout I did. The second day of the heptathlon this past month I actually woke up and could not walk because of the pain. Just thinking about having to still compete in the long jump, javelin and 800 made me pretty nervous. My second day was not pretty, but all of us out there were in the same situation – sore and physically beaten up. Add to that the 100 degree heat, and I was a complete mess. I am currently taking a month off of training to fully recover before I start ramping up for indoors.

L: If you had to pick a favorite event of the seven, what would it be? 

E: My bread and butter in the multi-events are the hurdles. It is the event that I score the most points for based upon my times. But, my favorite is probably the javelin. There is something so primal about taking a freaking spear and throwing as far as you can. It’s the only event where I grunt – I can’t help it! I also love that I surprise people with how far little old me can chuck that thing. I have won the open javelin in many masters meets and I think it always shocks the other throwers.

L: Favorite flystyle?

E: Over the course of a two-day meet with seven events, I go through a lot of flystyle! I wear my competition briefs and my ¾ top for most of the events, but in the down time, I go through a lot of clothes – it’s like 2 full loads of meet laundry when I return from a 2 day meet! I have to warm up and cool down for each event, so there are layers upon layers that are put on and stripped off. Right now, though, my favorite item that I can’t take off is the Nelle long sleeve. I also have my eye on the Quill Vest - it will be an upcoming acquisition for sure!

L: Pump up mantra on the 2nd day of competition?

E: I like to cuss - I will say to myself “right the fuck now” – because it is easy to think ahead to future events and not give the proper physical and mental effort into the event you are doing at that moment. It’s kind of like I have heard that distance runners will say “run the mile you are in.” You have to fight to be present.

Huge congrats to our prize winners! And thank you to everyone for joining in the giving spirit.

If you see your name/handle listed below, please email hello(@)oiselle(dot)com with your sizes, full name and address. #Flystyle coming your way!

11/18: Amy - Instagram: @amyschlott
11/19: Beckie - Twitter: @beckietuttle
11/20: Sheena - Twitter: @sheenabean13
11/21: Sheridan - Twitter: @prettyfancy6
11/22: Caroline - Twitter: @cupkeats
11/23: Stephanie - Twitter: @sadvilora
11/24: Maureen - Twitter: @slowmoby

Happy 4th annual #rungiving! The week where we go beyond the black and cyber madness and find ways to reflect and connect. If you're new to the challenge, don't worry, the rules are simple. Just follow Oiselle on Twitter, and every morning at 6am PST look for the challenge of the day. RT, complete it, and share a photo with us on Twitter or Instagram!

We'll announce all of the winners on Monday, November 28th: post-Thanksgiving bonus! Most of all, thank you for being a part of our run family!

You may have noticed in the last few months a lot of changes within the LittleWing group. Jess took the social media job with Oiselle, our assistant Daniel moved back to Tennessee, and Lauren retired from professional running. Which leaves Collier and Mel (who, for the most part, have been on the same team their whole lives) and Collier will be moving from the track to the roads. One could argue that that hardly makes a group or a team. So the question we've been asked - "Is LittleWing still a thing?" 

The short answer is yes, but life is more dynamic than yes or no. Life happens. Injuries happen. Jobs opportunities too good to pass up happen. Our dreams change and no longer serve us or the day to day life we live. People leave and paths change. There have been a lot of changes externally in our group even in the last year, but the heart of LittleWing has not changed.

LittleWing started as a training group. A group of athletes already in the Oiselle family who had shown potential, gone through some hard years, and had stuck it out in the sport; knowing if you hang on and work hard the potential you saw will resurface. Very quickly this group evolved into more than a group of individuals training to be really fast. The Oiselle Team Manifesto lists the seven "Principles of Flight":

Build the sisterhood. Eat like a human. Tell your story. Race with fire. Compete clean. Be a superfan. Spread the love.

We've joked that "LittleWing isn't a team, it's a lifestyle." The thing about jokes is they are built on a palpable foundation of truth. Those seven tenets are what we, as a group and individually, have strived to embody. A womanhood who hold each other’s biggest aspirations as high as our own and a girl gang who root harder for each other than we do for ourselves. A flock which recognizes you won't enjoy the endgame if haven't enjoyed the run-through. 

LittleWing will always be a thing. It actually has always been a thing. Before Oiselle, before long runs on the Deschutes River, before group treadmill workouts, before grocery store dance parties, and post workout lattes... in its essence - we all have a LittleWing. You have a LittleWing. We have a LittleWing (and not just because we possess the passwords to the social media accounts). Cultivate your flock. Assemble your girl gang regardless of where they fall on the life, running, work, injury spectrum. Those positions will always be changing but the players can be constant. 

xo

LittleWing

For fun: How LittleWing Started

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving... but hold the mashed potatoes & gravy! We’ve got birds to chase first. We have Volée and Haute Volée teammates toeing the line in Turkey Trots across the country. Three of our elites: Kate Grace, Mel Lawrence, and Megan Rolland are kicking off turkey day at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. We caught up with them to find out about their goals and plans for tomorrow.

WHAT ARE YOUR RACE GOALS?

KATE: Turkey trots are a fun way to get something on the calendar that is relatively low pressure. Fall training feels more manageable when there is a race to look forward too. Goals: Compete well, believe in myself to stay with the main pack, run faster than I did last year.

MEL: I want to try and have fun and soak up the experience of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. It will be my first time racing there, but I've known about this race for a long time. I know I won't feel sharp, but I'm hoping to feel really strong in the race from the fall training I've already put in. If I can walk away feeling strong and feeling like I raced well, it will be a good day.

MEGAN: The first race of the season is always a little scary because I don't really know what to expect come race time. My goal for this race is not to be timid about being up near the front.  Try and relax while being uncomfortable for the first half and then start attacking with courage for the second half. This is the only competitive road race I will do this year. Sp I want to enjoy it and feel those race morning butterflies again!

DO YOU HAVE ANY THANKSGIVING PEARLS OF WISDOM?

KATE: I've been thinking a lot recently about the redeeming power of unconditional love. How the people who have made the biggest impact on my life have done so because of their unrelenting forgiveness/acceptance of all aspects of me. It's not just that I feel good in their presence, it's that knowing them has given me the courage to be better. Not sure how that turns into a wisdom pearl, except to say that family can be both giver and receiver of that type of care. Everyone jokes about all the issues that come up over t-giving meal. It's not like you're going to show up and suddenly be this beacon of love silencing everything else. But seek out someone for that type of connection. It matters.

MEL: Don't worry about saving room for dessert. When the time comes, you'll find a way.

MEGAN: There are so many turkey trots out there Thanksgiving morning. Find one in your area and sign up! This will help those endorphins kick in and help you approach the rest of the day with more compassion for family members who's views might differ from yours and also make room for the extra indulgences we all know we will partake in.

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING THE REST OF YOUR THANKSGIVING DAY?

KATE: I'm going to Thanksgiving gathering with my boyfriend's extended family. Really hoping pumpkin pie is on the menu!

MEL: After the race I'll fly up to Seattle where some of my family will be. I imagine the afternoon will be filled with playing soccer with my cousins and drinking some great wine with my Aunt and Uncle (they always have the best!).

MEGAN: I am flying back to Boise with my teammate and we will head over to our coach's house for a Thanksgiving feast with our family and friends.

Good luck to everyone chasing the bird tomorrow. Follow @oiselle_team on Twitter for Turkey Trot results and other Thanksgiving shenanigans!

The onset of the holiday season is a natural time to reflect and express gratitude for the people and things we love. While many of us are heading indoors and running fewer miles, it's still a busy time of year. But gratitude shouldn't be addition to your to-do list. It's a daily practice that begins with yourself.

No mater how many miles you've run or whether or not you set a PR this year, when was the last time you paused and really acknowledged all of your hard work? When was the last time you thanked yourself, thanked your body for all that it is, all that it does, and for gifting you the ability to run?

Use this simple meditation to give thanks to your one and only, truly unique running body and experience, helping to set the tone to share that love and gratitude with others:

• Sit comfortably. Prop yourself on the edge of a pillow or folded blanket, or sit in a chair if needed to sit tall so that your architecture is optimized.
• Close your eyes, signaling a shift in your focus from the external to the internal.
• Take a deep breath in... a slow breath out... Continue to deepen your breathing.
• Visualize yourself running — see your surroundings, feel your body moving through space. Really feel it — the effort, the joy, the feeling of flight.
• Hold those feelings as you continue to breath deeply.
• Now, inhale: “Thank”… exhale: “You”…
• Continue to repeat those words to yourself, in your head, as your breathe.
• Notice if there are any aspects of your running, or any specific areas of your body that feel difficult to thank — and spend extra time thanking those even if it feels hard.
• Stay with it.
• Finally, take that feeling of gratitude out of your head and put it into your heart.
• Join your palms in front of your chest, and choose for thankfulness to set the tone.

For more ways to find balance this holiday season, Hit up The Yoga for Runners Collection — a video series to optimize your running.

A couple of months ago, I learned something about myself. I do this thing where I keep waiting for life to start. When I go to college, then my life will start… When I meet someone and get into a relationship, then my life will start... When I graduate from college, and when I get a job, then my life will start… When I move to a new place and meet new people, then my life will start….. When I find the job of my dreams, then my life will start… The list of then my life will starts goes on and on. 

When I was coaching at Georgetown, I lived with two guys and a gal in a little town house off McArthur. One of the guys I lived with taught me something that I will never forget. I had come home from an overwhelming day at work and was crying in my bedroom. Insert the following thoughts: 

What am I doing with my life? 

What is my greater purpose in this world? 

What on earth is my next move?

& other classic 20-something ponderings...

Despite our exorbitantly high rent cost, our walls were paper thin. My roommate heard me through the wall and came and knocked on my door. He started out by saying, “dude, you need to breathe”. I was breathing. That was the one thing I was doing. "No, no, no, you’re not breathing the right way.”  I can’t remember the exact technique he taught me, but it was some sort of loud throaty breathing exercise that was supposed to help you find your center and stay present in the moment. So I listened to him and tried it. It helped. Then he told me the thing that I will never forget: we live in constant flux between the past and future; if we’re not careful we’ll skip right over the present. Don't skip the present. His words held such truth. I wasn’t sure the throaty breathing meditation exercise was for me, but I liked the idea behind his message.

A few weeks later, I jumped in a tempo with the Georgetown women. For six miles, we were locked in. Nothing in the world mattered other than maintaining 6:10 pace for six miles. It dawned on me, that running was my loud throaty meditation stay in the moment thing. It was the piece in my life that kept me grounded. Present in the here and now.

This past September, I felt the weight of transitions folding in. The same old poking, pestering voice in my head was back: “when I do this ________, then my life will start.” So I shut down that voice and went back to my constant; running. I signed up for the Vegas Half Marathon. For 8 weeks, I stopped angsting over the poking voice in my head and I locked into putting one foot in front of the other and breathing in and out. 

As the race got closer, I set an A, B & C goal for myself:

A - Break 1:19:00

B - PR (Under 1:19:52)

C - Fight like hell when shit gets tough. Dig deep. Get Ugly.

As I rolled up on mile 8, averaging ~5:55 pace, my body transitioned from race mode to survival mode. Head back, wings flailing, I suffered through an ugly last 5.1 miles. When I crossed the finish line the clock read 1:23:12. I quit the sport in my head. I never wanted to run another half marathon again. I dragged my tired body through the mile-long finishing chute, and tried rationalizing with the dramatic thoughts. Could I have raced faster? Will I race faster again in the future? Definitely. Maybe. I’m not sure. 

As I got closer to the end of the finishing chute, the thoughts quieted and I started feeling thankful. Thankful for all the miles, the workouts, the long runs, the meeting up with old friends and new, and the reminder of the joy of living in the moment. This whole thing wasn’t about looking back and comparing to my previous self, or jumping ahead and making assumptions about what might happen in the future. It was about everything that was right in front of me: my mom and my best friend right at the end of the finishing chute. All of the tweets and texts from my Oiselle family. All people I met through running. My heart felt full and I felt proud. 

My advice to someone who feels stuck, waiting for life to start?

It already started. It’s happening right now. Figure out what you’re loud throaty breathing thing is. Go dance your dance. Sing your song. Put one foot in front of the other. Breathe in and out. Take it in. Every moment that you can. And then watch all of the other pieces fall into place. 

Xo, 

Take me to...
Introducing The Flyway - A Series On Change By Meg Murray
The Flyway - Routine Changes Everything By Sally Bergesen
The Flyway - A Time For Change By Kristin Metcalf

1. Is that actually made from cat fur?
2. Were any cats harmed in the making of this product?
3. Can I get it in dog?
4. Is that made from real cat leather?
5. What’s a Oiselle?
6. Does that meet the dress code at your preppy-ass prep school?
7. Is the goal to make you look like a cat, or to attract cats?
8. What’s its name?
9. Can you get matching Rundies?
10. Is that legal in the U.S.?
11. You do know you’re never going to have sex again, right?

-JC

It’s NCAA week! As teams and individuals are getting ready to toe the line in Terre Haute, we asked Kara to reflect back on her 2000 race when she won the NCAA Cross Country title. What advice would she give herself 16 years later? What would calm her nerves? What would get her ready for the starting line? Take a read through Kara’s letter to her past self...

Dear Kara,

I know how much excitement you have to race the NCAA Championships this weekend. I also know that you are extremely nervous. You don’t want to let your coach, teammates, or school down like you feel like you did last year (in 1999) when you were the favorite and you faded to 9th. You know that you are ready but you are letting doubt creep into your mind.

As the future you, I want to tell you to slow down. Try to really take it all in. You have so much pride running for the Colorado Buffaloes.  Feel that pride. Mark is only asking you to run a race you have proven many times this season that you can run. Your preparation has been flawless. You and your teammates have been extremely disciplined and focused since your disappointing result last year. You are all ready to run hard.  

You will look back at this experience and even though you’ll be pumped to learn both you individually and your team win the title, you will mostly remember this being the last bit of true innocence in your running. You aren’t running for money, you are running for pride, for your tribe. You will look back and see how during this time you believed anything was possible, you are not yet jaded by the scandals and doping culture you will later know to be true.

So take a deep breath, look around you, and take it all in. The team dinners, the pre-race shakeout. You are so lucky to have this experience in your life. Trust your training, trust your teammates, and most importantly trust yourself. You are ready for a great race. You are ready to run hard but more importantly, to have fun executing that race. Enjoy every last second.

Enjoy the experience, NCAA competitors. And go race your heart out on Saturday!

As the top collegiate runners from across the country prepare for the NCAA Championships, our elites weigh in with advice on how to approach the biggest race of the season.

Vicki Huber Rudawsky, Villanova University, 1989

"Think about where you have been and all the work you have done along the way. I used to relax in the hotel room and meditate on all the miles and workouts that got me to the starting line, and thinking of all that gave me the confidence that no matter what happened, I was prepared to do my best. That is all anyone can ever ask of you - to do you best. And don’t forget to have fun!" - Vicki Huber Rudawsky 

NCAA XC All American Highlights
1986 - 29th
1987 - 9th
1989 - 1st

Christine Babcock, University of Washington, 2013

NCAA XC All American Highlights
2008 – 7^th place
2009 – 34^th place

“Protect your mind. Be unwavering in your belief in what you can do. It is easy to let little things throw you off and open the floodgates of doubt. Take things as they come, but know that everything doesn't have to line up perfectly. You can feel terrible in the warm-up, have a cold, get no sleep, take a week off for a little injury, etc. and still have one of the best races of your life. The mind holds more power than we often realize....stay mentally engaged, grounded, and unmoved by what is going on around you. The preparation is done, believe that you are ready to go! - Christine Babcock

Lauren Fleshman, Stanford University, 2002

NCAA XC All American Highlights
1999 – 5^th place
2000 – 11^th place
2001 – 3^rd place
2002 – 4^th place

“My advice would be to have a plan and execute it, with full knowledge that the first 2 miles can be a bit of a shit show. The key is remaining positive about your position and remembering how quickly you can change it. When the group is packed up tight the way NCAAs tends to be, you can pick up your pace 10 seconds on mile 3 and pass 30-40 people. One trick I used to stay calm in the storm was to blur my vision when running, so people were just silhouettes of bodies. Always worked to keep the emotions and stress low as I picked my way through the crowd.” - Lauren Fleshman 

Shalaya Kipp, Colorado University, 2013

NCAA XC All American Highlights
2010 – 40^th place
2011 – 19^th place
2012 – 18^th place
2013 – 9^th place

“The night before a big race, everyone has those roller-costing, knotted stomachs. That numb feeling that consumes your body as you think about your race drawing near. For these moments, my calming remedy is spending some good, quality time with my running log. I sit down and thumb through my weeks of training. This helps remind me of all the preparation I have done. My next step is to actually write. I write what I feel from the moment the gun goes off, to the painful discomfort during the race, and across finish line. This helps calm the nerves, and prepare me for what is about to come.” - Shalaya Kipp

Mel Lawrence, University of Washington, 2012 

NCAA XC All American Highlights
2008 – 25th place 

2009 – 31st place 

"It will feel like a ton of pressure going into this weekend, but remind yourself that you've run so many 6k's over the course of this year. This 6k isn't any different. But I think the biggest thing is to try and remember to have fun. Your college career is going to go by way faster than you could have possibly imagined. Enjoy the ride of this weekend." - Mel Lawrence 

Maria Elena Calle, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2000

NCAA XC All American Highlights
1998 - 8th
1999 - 8th

"When you toe the starting line look at your teammates and be proud of what you have already accomplished. Qualifying to nationals is a huge deal, but guess what, you did it!! You probably don't want to go out too fast, but a strong start is key since there will be 100+ girls in the race and you want to make sure you put yourself in a good position. Stay in the moment, be positive, and take each kilometer as it comes. Be willing to hurt the last 1k and fight for every place you can possibly get as it will help your overall team score.  Whether you are a freshman or senior make sure you embrace your teammates at the finish line and treasure this magical moment. And of course don't forget to have fun and celebrate after your race with your team!" - Maria Elena Calle 

Marisa Howard, Boise State, 2015

NCAA XC All American Highlights
2014 - 28th

"Believe in yourself, believe in your training, believe in your coaches and believe in your teammates. Our mind is our most powerful weapon that we can use. Training our mind to be strong when our heart and legs are weak. Your mind was strong enough to get you to NCAA's, so it is definitely strong enough to propel you through the race. Have an unwavering belief that you will get through the race and be successful! Go out and have fun! Training is the hard part, racing is the fun part!" - Marisa Howard

Kara Goucher, Colorado University, 2001

"Take a deep breath, look around you, and take it all in. The team dinners, the pre-race shakeout. You are so lucky to have this experience in your life. Trust your training, trust your teammates, and most importantly trust yourself. You are ready for a great race. You are ready to run hard but more importantly, to have fun executing that race. Enjoy every last second." - Kara Goucher

NCAA XC All American Highlights
1999 – 9th place
2000 – 1st place

Whether your heading to Terre Haute for NCAAs this weekend or approaching your biggest race of the season, keep these tips in a mind and remember: the preparation is done, believe that you are ready to go!

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.” ― Robert Fulghum, True Love

I know, I know. You just endured the first blog post from me in years, and now, within what seems like a few short hours, you’re getting another one thrown at you. And this one also begins with a quote, and it also very well may include some fancy punctuation that most people don’t know how to use properly but I do (so I include it to show off and to appear erudite, which is also why I like to throw in at least two or three big words). This post, however, is provided to you as a public service announcement by the fine folks at Oiselle, because we know that, if you’re anything like me, the appearance of holiday merchandise in the aisles the day after Halloween sent you into a full-blown panic attack over what to buy your loved ones, friends, and acquaintances. Actually, if you’re even considering what to buy already, you’re nothing like me, because I’m a chronic procrastinator. For example, the deadline “suggested” for this post passed by long ago. Apparently some people don’t see deadlines as “suggestions,” which is maybe why the word deadline starts with the word dead…. Anyway. I digress (shocker!) What’s wrong with me? Did I accidentally eat a green Skittle? 

Oiselle is a company that has never been afraid to take risks. That kind of bold, badass, what-are-ya-gonna-do-about-it mentality has propelled the company into a kind of success, both in terms of the financial bottom-line and in terms of sociopolitical change, nearly unheard of in today’s economic climate. But you can read the articles on Sally and her wicked vision elsewhere—this is about you, dear reader. The reason I mention the risk factor, however, is that Oiselle offers some clothing items that are classic and standard, the LBD of the cocktail party, and some items that are… well… how shall we put this: 

WEIRD.

And all the awesomer for it. 

As you make your way through the gift-giving season this year, then, consider this advice, and then read on if you’re looking for specifics rather than some cosmic generality. Lean in, because this is the sound bite you’re going to want to come back to again and again if you want to have fun this season:

Rather than getting all weird about finding the perfect gift, get all perfect about finding the weird gift.

Seriously, I should copyright that statement, because it’s genius. It just came down to me, like a bolt of lightning… which reminds me that Oiselle offers many clothing items with a lightning bolt pattern! 

Let’s start with some great ideas for stocking stuffers, shall we? 

STOCKING STUFFERS

There is a famous quote by Samuel Johnson that reads: “Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,” and I could have said the exact same thing, but about temporary tattoos (a grandiose statement, but none the less true because of it). I have never met a person who likes temporary tattoos whom I do not like; conversely, neither have I ever met a person who does NOT like temporary tattoos whom I DO like.” It’s like my litmus test for a human soul. Buy some Oiselle temporary tattoos, put them in people’s stockings or in your colleagues’ mailboxes, pass them out at parties… and let the people sort themselves into potential friends and certain enemies. It’s like the election this year…. Uh oh. Did I say that?

Another great item for the stocking and for the work mailbox (if you work at a cool place) is the Rundie (singular of Rundies, if you’re doing a search). The Rundies, if you’re uninformed, are a set of underwear for the days of the week, but rather than “Monday,” you get to choose what you’re doing that day, like “Easy 6.” Frankly, as you can see for yourself from the picture, my trashy basement photo shoot in my Rundies is the reason why Sally and I became friends and why I’m still drinking for free at her parties. Maybe your gift of Rundies will also spark the beginning of a beautiful friendship! Either that or you’ll be investigated by the FBI as a “person of interest”… for something.

SPANDOS

If ever there was a Oiselle item that sparked more debate and confusion among my lay-friends (friends with whom I lay down, or lie down… dang! An irregular verb conjugation I can never remember!...  Anyway, not the point, which is that it’s weird to lay down with friends in general, regardless of how you conjugate, which is not the same as a conjugal visit… oh, never mind) than the Spandos line… well, there hasn’t been. Love ‘em or shake yer head at ‘em, they’re here, they’re [weird], get used to ‘em!! It took me a moment to decide what I would do with them, and then it came to me: they’re runner-girl lingerie! I don’t know about you, but I feel a little fake and uncomfortable sometimes in actual lingerie—it’s just not me. I’m comfortable in a chicken suit, and in a squirrel suit, and in a stunning LBD, but not so much in lingerie. But the Spandos remind me of the super-flirty 1920’s flapper girls, and that’s both classy AND sexy… and that is all that I’ll say about the Spandos, for risk of giving even more away about my life behind closed doors that I already did by posting that “Easy 6” Rundie photo. So give these to your runner girl friends who are looking to spice up their lives! Ooh la la!

CAT LADY COLLECTION

I saved this one for last, because I’m treading on very thin ice here…. I live alone and I have cats. Several. A few? A couple is two, and a few is three. I have three. Yes—three. But I have a decent-sized home and I used to live with someone, and I promise I did try to stick with just two but then I saw this Petfinder link to a cat named Skittle, and if you read my last blog post then you know how I feel about Skittles (with the exception of the green ones) … I had to. I had to. I had formerly shared my home with a paraplegic/incontinent Husky, and I loved a cat for whom I had to administer subcutaneous fluids twice daily for his kidney failure, and now I have three cats and live alone. OKAY? Somebody quick, send me a Cat Lady jacket or scarf or bra or… GASP! Underwear? Sally and Oiselle dream/design team, can you please make me, and you don’t even have to market it or mass produce it, just for me… CAT LADY RUNDIES? Dare I even dream of the marriage of two such amazing ideas, both unique to Oiselle? CAT LADY SPANDOS for my romantic encounters? Is “cat lady” and “romantic encounters” an oxymoron? NO! If you dream it, you can do it. If you believe it, you can achieve it. 

Sorry, I got lost for a moment. Give the Cat Lady items to those gorgeous, sexy women in your life who have three (or more) cats. They’re not crazy. They just have a deeper connection to the universe than you can possibly imagine. And they just might be super freaky-deaky and…

WEIRD. 

Please, my fellow Oiselle badass women, refer back to the opening quote. I’m a little weird, and my life is most definitely, currently, a little weird. And I found someone with whom my weirdness, and by weirdness I mean BRILLIANCE, is compatible, and that “someone” is Oiselle. And ever since that day it’s been true love.

Give the gift of your brilliance and your weirdness this holiday season. And if you’re more normal, then also give Oiselle. Because Oiselle has many items in the grayscale color spectrum, which is actually what I typically wear; I like to hide my weirdness like the Superman suit underneath the Clark Kent black-rimmed eyeglasses and business suit. But we all know what’s really under there… and we love it.

Stay weird. Stay brilliant. Fly high.

JC