We're thrilled to reveal our collaboration with our friends in flight, HOKA ONE ONE. The collection includes a version of their Clayton 2 shoe, and a limited edition collab tee, to celebrate a community of women who fly. And to commemorate the partnership, we asked a few women in our community to share their journey taking flight. As runners, and as women.

What follows below are a series of meditations from each of these women titled “Up”. A metaphor for the work, the spirit, the heroine’s journey, and the feeling of flight – Up is a celebration of the individuals, a recognition of the experiences, and a calling to women everywhere – Fly.

NATALIE NIBLER

I’m on my way up.

5-10 years ago, I would have been lying to say that. The goals then were to survive; survive cancer as a teen, the unexpected loss of a parent a year later, transition to college, work in residential direct care (yes I'm still missing hair from having it pulled), almost losing a leg to gangrene (yes there's a ridiculous story with that), and finding my way.                    

It was amongst the surviving that I found running. Running became the one aspect I could somewhat control amidst the chaos in my life. The downside to running was that it birthed some intense fears for personal safety (for instance-being followed on bikes while running, being verbally harassed etc) which then led me to Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ). Running and BJJ created the perfect micro environment to begin to see my life differently despite being very Yin and Yang for what they provided me.                                              

I'm a work in progress, I've already come so far and I know I will get closer to figuring out a rhythm.  One strength I've developed and relied on through it all, is to continue to forge ahead despite the detours. But most recently, I've been learning that only I can allow myself to be free. 

Onward and upward. Watch me fly.

SALLY BERGESEN

I'm on my way up.

like a bird on bat wings.

The songbirds are lauded,

but not everyone sings.

If the ground is invisible,

and the sky looks like ore,

what's "up" is irrelevant,

and the ceiling my floor.

KAMILAH SPEARS

I’m on my way up.

I stepped up to the start line of the Santa Monica Classic ready to race. Surrounded by runners chit chatting away, snapping photos, and taking final sips of water, but I suddenly felt alone. I turned to my husband on the side lines, fighting back the tears in my eyes. Why was I doing this again? Why did I want to race? He stepped into the corral and I whispered, “I want this so bad, I want to be strong, I want to run fast,” and he simply responded - “You will.”

Despite being a collegiate cross country and track and field athlete, my running career had been turbulent, full of goals not reached. So, I took three years away from running, before I decided to return. When I laced up again, I wasn’t running for a team, a coach, or my parents, it was simply for me. I became a high school assistant coach and filled my afternoons with the energy of a team, with goals and aspirations I once shared. And I realized, I missed the sport. So, I decided to go for it, on my own terms.

I swapped snoozing for speed work. Extra energy for exhaustion. Late nights for lactic acid. And I felt stronger. Not just physically, but mentally. As a woman, I am much more secure in who I am, and who I want to be. I want to compete at the level I never quite made it to. I’m learning to balance work with coaching and training. A simple sticky note reading, “To: Me. When things get hard, remember, this is for you.”

Onward and upward. Watch me fly.

STEPH BRUCE

I’m on my way up.

Past excuses and obstacles and the barriers of busy.

Beyond self-doubt and skepticism.

I built these wings.

With work.

With sweat and tears.

With two kids and track workouts and life in between.

With the love of my family.

With a belief in myself, and my dream.

Onward and upward.

Watch me fly.