Earlier this week Kerri Gallagher and Heather Lieberg were on flights to Beijing for the World Championship! A large group of their teammates got together and gave them a proper Oiselle send off with a video message and group cheer...it was awesome.

After watching Heather Lieberg's fall marathon and Kerri's US Championship 1500m, we knew these ladies were ready to fly! Tonight Kerri will compete in the first round of the 1500m. She is primed and ready to go after racing a 4:03 in Europe this summer. The women's marathon with Haute Volée, Heather Lieberg, will conclude the competition on August 29th. Let's get behind these fabulous women as they compete on one of the largest venues of track and field. 

What else should you know about this weekend? All orders this weekend will ship with a signed Kerri Gallagher fan card! Yes, we take our fangirling very seriously.

HOW TO WATCH - 8/21

1. With Us
We’re hosting our first ever in-store viewing and we want you to join us! All you need is yourself. The more the merrier, just make sure you RSVP at the Facebook event page so we can be sure no one’s wine glass is left empty.

Where: Oiselle Flagship
2632 NE University Village Street
Seattle, WA 98105

When: 8/21, 7:30pm PDT
Gun goes off at 8:15pm. And remember, it’s only 3 laps around the track so come early. 

2. Online from Afar
The World Championships run from August 22-30 in Beijing, 12 hours ahead of Eastern time. View the US TV Broadcast schedule and follow along over the next week. Or, stream it online at Universal Sports Network.

GOOD LUCK KERRI AND HEATHER! 

We were absolutely blown away by this note from our own Haute Volée Shante Little after #birdcamp15. Read it and you will understand why this woman is so special. Shante, thank you for sharing your story. Your transparency will not only help others who are struggling, but will free you to achieve on your own terms. We love having you in our runfamily! 

Around this time last year, I started drafting what would become my 'coming out' letter. I had been engaged in this battle with bulimia for years—the climax of it being the aftermath of winning my first outdoor national championship. All of a sudden there was this enormous pressure to be great- to stay great. My sport wasn't my own anymore.

I think that sometimes acts of self-destruction in any form are about regaining ownership of oneself. For me personally, it was about taking back control and destroying the 'body' that was subject to external abuse. In this case, my eating disorder reared its head in response to the anxiety surrounding my loss of authority and autonomy in my sport.

When I first decided to come out about this particular struggle, I reached out to KMet. I had been in talks with Oiselle for a few months and I wanted there to be absolute transparency. Basically, I wanted Kristin to know what she was potentially getting into. And you know what? She was great. She didn't shy away from the topic and she didn't write me off as a liability. Oiselle wasn't afraid of my story.

For a while things were good. But I soon realized that I was still holding on to this idea of what success looked like. Not in my eyes. In everyone else's. I was 'recovered', I had made it through to the other side. That's a pretty story. Perfectly packaged and presented with a bow on top. Here's a gold star for me.

There is always so much focus on the success story, the triumph. It allows people to brush off the uncomfortable and sit with the happy ending. The before and the after, with this huge gaping hole where the real story goes.

The week before I flew out to Bird Camp, I was knee deep in the middle of a relapse. Injury + stress + emotional baggage + just being a 22 year old girl/woman makes for a heavy dose of 'Holy shit, how the hell do I just deal'. I was at a point where I didn't even want to make the trip up to Leavenworth because I was in such a tough place mentally. I didn't want to get out from under the warm duvet (Fleshman, thanks for that one).

I am so glad that I got on that plane. I can't even begin to describe the impact that this trip has had on me. Being embraced by this flock and hearing all of the stories shared by the incredible women of Oiselle (ALL the women) touched me. It really did. I felt layer after layer of anxiety and restlessness, doubt, guilt and shame fall away. And all that was left was love.

That's what sparked this reflection. I actually started writing it during our session where Sally talked about the new Volée.

It wasn't fair to these women- our women, ALL women to keep hiding behind the 'success story', to keep setting goals that were not my own or to try to fit myself into a box because 'this is what a professional athlete looks/thinks/acts like'. In my eyes, the hardest part of being a professional athlete is just that. The box.

I still struggle with this expectation that because I chose to continue my career, I must be training for the Olympics, to be a world record holder, to do this or to do that. In college, I thrived off of the notion that 'if you don't want to be the best at what you're doing, why do it?' I still believe that but my perspective has changed. I want to be the best at what I. Am. Doing.

Truth be told, my goal has never been to be an Olympian or a World Champion, a gold medalist or anything like that. I want to be a change maker and a beacon. I want to go as fast as I can and as far as I fucking can because that's what I want to do. For me. Because I want to see what I am truly capable of, in any venue, in any career. If I make it to the Olympics next year, will I be bowled over and so grateful and proud and happy and overwhelmed? Of course. But, if all the shit hits the fan, if I never make it, if if if if, will I still be bowled over and so grateful and proud and happy and overwhelmed to have been able to take advantage of these experiences? Absolutely yes. Because to me, grace is not conditional. And my success is not dependent on one factor. Because I believe that nothing is the end-all-be-all.

I chose to be a professional athlete because I can. Period. No explanation needed.

Bird Camp has reminded that whatever I choose, whatever my goals may be, is okay. It reminded me what I love about running and that my self-worth is not defined by what I do on the track or by my 'failure' to live up to anyone else's expectation of me.

It's not about ticking off boxes on someone else's checklist.

It's about what I want, nothing more and nothing less.

I'm ready for 2016.

Thank you all so much for this gift.

Love,

Daily I am reminded why I love my job. Meeting women like Dominique: a woman with passion, with a strong voice, with a dream of racing at her best, and a woman who connects with every runner around her because of what they have in common. This weekend Dominique is at Bird Camp with us to meet many of her new teammates and how exciting that we get to announce her to the Haute Volée during this special occasion. Welcome Dominique!

As I step to the starting line, all you see is a woman who doesn't fit in. You see someone who looks more like a 5000 meter runner, rather than an 800 meter runner. When the gun goes off that perception changes. "You're a gazelle." Is what I've heard for all of my running career, and I've tried to adopt the spirit of one every time I touch the track. What you don't see is what makes me get up, lace up my shoes, and head out the door everyday.

In elementary I loved to compete, I loved to beat the boys, but running wasn't a sport to me. "Who runs for fun? I'm a basketball player, that's my punishment." As I got older nothing changed, until I was made to go out for the track team as a freshman in high school. In fact I had other plans. I really wanted to play softball, but my basketball coach said it was mandatory if I wanted to play summer basketball with the team. It was March 2004 when I walked out on the track for the first time. My coach sent me over to the jumping pit to learn triple jump, and after 5 minutes I asked, "Can I just run?" As the season took hold I learned that I might just love more than competing.

The love for running truly didn't hit me until the end of my first season. My freshman year was an eye opener. I was lucky enough to have found success in the 800 and 4x400m relay. All season I ran personal best after personal best. Going into the section championship meet I was pumped to make it to state. Top 3 went to state, and I had a shot! I strongly believed that I was going to make it. With 150 meters to go I was sitting in 4th, and ready to pounce. I crossed the line 6th that day and I cried for 20 minutes after. The first thing I remember my coach saying was “I thought you didn’t like running. Why are you crying?” At that moment I didn’t like running, I loved it. Everyday after that I was determined to give it my all so that I never have to feel that way again. Above everything else to always believe in myself.

Running has given me some of the greatest moments of my life. It has also given me the good, the bad, and everything in between. Running is more than just competing against the next person, or running against the clock. Running gives me a sense of belonging, an identity that I can call my own, and a feeling I can’t really describe. I guess you can say I get a high from lacing up my shoes, strapping on my watch and heading out the door. How far can I push today? How much will I learn this training cycle? What’s next? I’m questioning myself all the time, and I’ve learned that with each question - I get an answer. Running teaches me that much more about myself. I’m truly grateful to also have a support staff, coach, and family that have been there for me from day one. Helping drive me learn and grow as a runner, as well as a person.

I’m so excited to start my newest chapter with Oiselle. Back in 2013, my first post collegiate season, I started to notice a new brand, Oiselle. As my season winded down and I missed making USA Outdoor Championships, I wanted to check to see what else was out there for me. Confused and really new to it all, I decided not to purse any other sponsorships. Oiselle has always been in the back of my mind, as I watched them grow and expand over the last couple years. I finally decided to reach out at this past USA Outdoor Championships, and I wasn’t let down. The Oiselle ladies are truly an inspiration across all boards and I couldn’t be happier to now officially be apart of The Nest. The future holds so much promise, and my dreams have become a little bigger. I still plan to enjoy the process, always dream big, and stay the same little, yet feisty DJ; it’s just time to really fly now.

Hitting reset on cranky post-run hips just became a whole lot more manageable. It’s optimal to stretch when you’re still nice and warm immediately following your workout, and luckily it’s way easier to do this when it’s not frigid outside. Plus, when you stretch in a functional way, it only takes 5 minutes to help ease stiff hips and prevent booty lock. All you need a bench, ledge or railing…

#hitreset post-run with this trio of poses — hold each for 5–10 deep breaths before switching sides. Focus on where you feel the stretch happening while enjoying the vitamin D.

BENCH FIGURE 4 (above)

1. Stand a few feet behind a bench.
2. Holding onto the edge with your hands, cross your right ankle over your left knee as you bend your left knee to lower your hips.
3. Make sure the knee of your standing leg is tracking forward over the ankle, rather than flopping in/out.
4. Keep your spine long and hips level (try not to side bend) as you lean back.

BENCH PIGEON (above)

1. Stand close to a ledge of some kind that’s just below hip height.
2. Lift your right leg and rotate your thigh from the hip so that you can rest your right shin horizontally across the surface, keeping the foot flexed — if that feels tough or hurts your knee, you’ll need to find a lower surface.
3. Stand tall, keeping your hips level.

BENCH LUNGE (above)

1. Still facing your ledge, step back a couple feet.
2. Step your right foot onto the ledge and bend your right knee deeply.
3. Keep your spine long — your alignment should create a diagonal line from your heel that’s on the ground to your shoulders.
4. Keep your hips level — think about dropping your right hip (of foot that’s on the ledge) down away from your right shoulder, this always helps.

Contest! Share your pics until August 30 with @jasyogaUSA, @jasyogaUK, and #outdoorstudio to help inspire others with your outdoor post-workout Reset ideas and be entered to win Jasyoga sunglasses.

Photos by Claire Pepper. 

As people reading these blogs know, I sustained a foot injury in February, and was variously immobilized for two months (healing tendons sucks).

What people may not know, I had not given up the idea of running a track season. I hate the amorphous nature of injury, the timelines that stretch or shrink depending on who you're talking to, what image they see. I am stubborn, and I wasn't taking "you can't" for an answer. Plus, I work best with immediate, defined goals. The idea that it could be a year before a track race was too much. I knew that if I was to do all the PT work to rehab my foot, I had an opportunity to get the rest of my body stronger and more prepared for training than ever before. But, that was only going to happen if there was actually a race on the calendar. Because let's be real, PT without reward sucks.

Love this shot from NorCal Distance. 

I posed the hypothetical to Jay Dicharry... do you think I could get strong enough to run an 800 at nationals (at that point, it was 9 or 10 weeks away)? I had the standard from the previous year, I could have a place on the start line in a prelim, but I wanted to actually be able to  walk up there feeling competitive.

Background on Jay - he is a physical therapist and biomechanical expert in Bend. I met Jay in 2013, as he was preparing Ironman champion, Linsey Corbin, for the World Championships. She was coming off a foot injury. Off of almost no mileage, and following his strength and plyo program, she ran a sub 3 hour marathon at the end of an Ironman.

His formula is simple:

• Strengthen the core 
• Heavy lifting 
• Hop

This is auxiliary work any runner should be doing anyway (and you've probably read Runner's World articles about it). The strong core holds everything in alignment, reduces unnecessary movement. Lifting builds the major muscles needed for running, especially important when you can't get that development in workouts. And hops. That's his term for plyo work. Basically, strengthening the small structural and neuromuscular systems that go into that series of one legged hops we call running.

I followed his program religiously for the next 8 weeks. Lift Hop Core. Lift Hop Core. This was supposed to be my comeback story. While I kept the run at nationals goal until literally the day before entries were due, I also knew that running on a track was a risk not worth taking. The trick to get myself back running had caused its own demise, I had worked too hard to warrant re-injury. So, the big reveal didn't happen. But, two things I learned along the way:

• PT may suck, but it works. I have never felt so quick on strides, and so smooth in my form.
• The value of passionate dedication to short term goals.

What next? I prepped my body to run, and have started running. Now, it's time to put in the work. Don't worry, I have another secret 8 week goal to motivate me on that one. ;)

ADDENDUM
For those interested, the layout of the Lift Hop Core program. I did this and with some variations for 6 weeks. I started it when just walking, 40-50 minutes on the lift days. When I began runs, those were on the hop days, after the plyo work. It's generally a good program for getting strong when running minimally. If you aren't running because of an injury, get professional advice.

SCHEDULE
Monday: Lift + Core 1
Tuesday: Hop + Core 2
Wednesday: Lift + Core 1
Thursday: Hop + Core 2
Friday: Lift + Core 1
Satruday: Hop + Core 2
Sunday: Rest

Excercise above: single leg raise

LIFT
Single Leg DL 2x8
Deadlift (DL) 3x6
Front squat 3x6
Hip Thrust 3x12
Pull-ups 3x10
Push-ups 3x12

Excercise above: clam shell

HOP
Quick feet up/down on step - 3x60 seconds (s)
Jump Rope - 3x45s
Single leg lateral hops (stick landing) - 10 each foot
Med ball squat to granny throw - 20
Jumping Jacks - 40
Skips - 10 each leg

Excercise above: hip thrust

CORE 1
50 clam shell
15 roll outs (with ab roller tool)
50 clam other side
15 roll outs
3x10 single leg hip raise (starting from bridge position)
2x30s single leg balance on bosu (stand on flat)
3x6 single leg pistol squat bosu (with TRX help)

CORE 2
3x45s plank with feet on swiss ball
3x30s kneeling on swiss ball (balance)
3x10 hamstring curls, feet on swiss ball
3x10 hip ab and add on swiss ball
2x15 swiss ball pikes
2x15 swiss ball jackknifes

Tweet me at @fastk8 with questions. Good luck!

Hard to believe it’s already been a year since we gathered in Bend, OR for the inaugural #birdcamp! We are in last minute preparations for this year’s #birdcamp15…in Leavenworth, WA, August 14th-18th. It was a tough decision to move camp away from Bend, because Bend was perfect! But we decided to mix things up a bit to keep the experience fresh. It has always been my dream to participate in an adult running camp with friends, so planning these camps has been a true labor of love. Most important ingredient? Food!! (We are runners after all.) 

In November (it was such a cold day!), JJ, KMet, Feather and I did some reconnaissance over in Leavenworth (google the town in summer...it's a gem) and at the Sleeping Lady Resort. We fell in love. These pictures will give you an idea of the beauty we will experience, just remove the ice and fuzzy hats...

Follow along as we improve biomechanics with Jay Dicharry, set goals with Lauren Fleshman and Adrienne Langelier, learn from our Haute Volée, run a timed 5K, hear about Oiselle brand and new designs from Sally and the design team, float the Wenatchee River, and of course, eat some amazing vittles!

Check out #birdcamp15 on Instagram and Twitter, and follow our Facebook page for more photos. Maybe this will inspire you to plan your own running camp! (For all you new Volée: next year we will have getaway #birdcamp16 from Eugene, OR during the middle off days of the Olympic Trials…mark your calendars!)

Natty Plunkett, a Seattle native, is a beloved member of Oiselle team. She is one of those gals who literally at that soul-crushing 2 mile point of a 5K, while she is racing all out herself, offers words of encouragement to her teammates: "Go get them, Lesko!"... She's crazy like that. Natty has the gentlest spirit and a kind, loyal heart. In HS she was coached by Mindy Leffler, one of our local inspirations, whose first son Aidan was diagnosed with DMD. Natty has for many years been organizing the Run for Aidan to raise funds for Aidan's muscular dystrophy care. We've enjoyed watching her thrive in Albuquerque: hear how she made her transition! We love you, Natty! 

For my first two years on Oiselle Team, I got to know the Nest and our large contingent of Pac NW birds up close and personal. It felt natural to become a Oiselle devotee because I saw Oiselle’s leadership doing work that I could get behind in athletic apparel, business,  women’s distance running, and my local community.

My third year on #OiselleTeam has been very different and my gratitude for this group has intensified. Fresh out of grad school, I wanted to spread my wings (please excuse the bird pun ;) so I moved from my beloved hometown of Seattle to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Connections...

Once I decided to transplant from the NW to the SW, I sent a greeting message on Twitter to the only New Mexican bird at that time, Ayesha Sundram. She responded with the friendliness that I have seen so consistently in our team and proceeded to connect me with Gwen, the leader of her ABQ running club of 100 women (www.abqsolesisters.com). No job? No housing? No problem! I’ve got me a running club.

The gracious hospitality continued during my 48 hour whirlwind trip for job interviews in Albuquerque. Ayesha & Gwen let me crash at their homes and invited me to a Sole Sisters group run. Ayesha arranged dinner with a soon-to-be bird (Arlene Espinoza-Armijo) who in turn invited me to the workout of her running club (Duke Track Club) the very next morning. The kindness of my new runner sisters assured me that my leap in to the big unknown would be a rewarding adventure with new friends.

And it’s been just that! My running sisters let me couch surf for a month, connected me with the intentional living community in which I now live, and gave me furniture. First New Year’s, Thanksgiving, and birthday without my Seattle loved ones? Spent those special days laughing, running, and eating with the Dukes and Sole Sisters. The sense of belonging and mutual support that I experience in Albuquerque developed moare quickly and deeply than I could have hoped. I have #sisterhood to thank for that! The #oiselleteam connection with Ayesha and Arlene has blossomed in to vibrant friendships and many workouts shared.

Do like #ProjectLittleWing and pay us a visit in the Land of Enchantment! 

- Natty Plunkett

This past week, I took some time off running and Internet-life, and went back to a place that, for 20+ years, has only lived in my memories. Yosemite National Park.

In high school, my mom would round up us kids and use Yosemite as a giant time out - from school, from social stuff, from teenage shenanigans. And it worked. We trekked like mules, working unused teenage girl muscles, carrying 50 lb. packs over 8-10 miles every other day and spent rest days swimming in frigid water and sunning ourselves on giant slabs of granite. Overhead were the iconic rocks of lore... Half Dome, El Cap, Cathedral, Clouds Rest. At 8,000-10,000 feet we always finished the week feeling fitter, free-er, happier.

This week, I finally got a chance to go back, this time with my two kids, the hubs and my 70 year old Mom. Day one, I got worried she couldn't make the trip. As we climbed 1,000 feet of elevation in less than a mile, with heavy packs, she fell once - and every step felt perilous.

Fortunately, we pulled through. We started in Tenaya and went to Sunrise Lakes, Clouds Rest, and ended at Cathedral Lakes and Peak. And unlike 20 years ago, it was fun to put my own apparel to the test. I'm happy to report O did great in the wild! And I can confidently recommend many of our pieces for rigorous trekking.

Hiking, swimming, bouldering, camp-siting -- we flystyled all the way.

Some of the best pieces...

1. Roga, Roga, Roga! All three of us wore Rogas daily
- Flat waistband fits smoothly under backpack belt
- Back pocket perfect for keeping sunscreen chapstick handy (or Jolly Ranchers)
- Wear with underwear one day, and one without for 2 x underwear efficiency!
- Can double as a swimming bottom, super-quick drying
- All way stretch = easy leg movement
- Durable! Granite is rough stuff... Rogas got dirty yes, but tough as nails.
- Roga Shorts, Mac Roga Shorts, Long Roga Shorts... we wore them all.

2. Wazzie Wool
- Being that high is all about layering - this is the base!
- Also wore it one night to bed. The merino is soft enough.
- Good 2nd layer for an overcast morning, hiking out

3. Lux Sweatshirt
- Perfect 2nd layer at 9,000 feet - where hot can become cold in a flash
- Softness makes it perfect as a PJ top on cold nights
- Lightweight and packable
- Also very durable... it took dust, sweat, tears and snot no problem
- Small pocket at hip great for small tube of sunscreen

4. Bras
- I wore the Verrazano which is was perfect
- Also wore the new Suspension Shimmel under a tee
- Fits smoothly and comfortably under a backpack
- Bella wore the New Lesko, looked great!

5. Bird Swim
- Durable
- Quick drying
- Tough enough for granite
- It's the middle-end of the summer, and my girls' suits still look good

Yosemite! If you get a chance to go, do it! I recommend steering clear of the main Yosemite Valley where all the tourists go. We drove through briefly and it reminded me of Disneyland, complete with 50-person tourist trollies, noise and crowds. The higher, more remote back country spots are incredible - and many can be day hiked, with 5-6 miles in. Cathedral Lakes and Peak is a single destination in and of itself. I need to get back there again - much sooner than 20 years.

“It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man.” - President Teddy Roosevelt

Two of the first three Runners Try were far flung from the typical runner's day. Rock climbing and SUP aren't exactly expected forms of cross training. This week we ventured closer to expected cross training to see what all the fuss is behind barre3. If you're like me and you run past your local barre3 studio and just see a bunch of perfectly coiffed ladies working on their plié, this Runners Try is for you. Because damn. 

First I have to give a huge thank you to Kimberly at barre3 Roosevelt for taking on this group of newbies and helping us embrace the shake. Oh and if you're wondering what the 3 in barre3 is? Me too! Here's your barre3 cheat sheet. Now let's get to it.

LOGISTICS

• Barre3 studio pass (or subscribe to videos online)
• Liability waiver
• An hour

WHAT TO WEAR

• Long seamless shorts, compressive knickers, or tights (Vela Seamless Shorts and Joggings) 
• Form fitted top (The Suspension Shimmel is born for this)
• Sports bra (OP Bra under the O Snap Tank was a gem)
• Socks - only if you have sticky ones 

CHALLENGES

• Getting to a studio 
• Embracing the shake
• Letting go of competitive spirit
• Using tiny weights (see above)
• Dealing with the mirror, like live race day photos

BENEFITS

• Strengthens those teeny stabilizer muscles we ignore
• Moves your rigid runner body into the lateral plane
• Low impact - high benefit
• Improves flexibility - long and strong
• Body awareness 

NUMBER OF TIMES WE FELL

• None! But number of times we shook so hard we could have been a jackhammer? Lost track.

We'll be back for more soon! Do you do barre3? How has it impacted your running? Tell us with #runnerstrybarre3.

Last December, Sydney Marshall hopped the Georgia coop and flocked to Seattle to join the Oiselle Nest. When she arrived, she really upped the running ante in the office. While most of us find the time to squeeze in a run each day, Syd schedules time for a run AND all the little things that help us runner folk stay healthy and train strong. Plagued with injuries and setbacks in college, running had transitioned from her passion to her everything; success in a race meant the world to her. 

After joining the Oiselle Nest and Volée Team, she found a more balanced perspective and consequently has been racing faster than ever. After crossing the finish line of a road 5k with a 30 second PR, Syd smiled on top of the podium, not because of her fast time but because she was part of a strong and supportive team and because running was just one positive piece in the big picture of her life. Read as Sydney retells the journey. 

The past 8 months have been some of the best of my life. People always say college is the best 4 years you’ll ever have, but I disagree. Being a young adult out of college with excitement for a new career is an amazing feeling. Working at The Nest and having the opportunity to be a Voleé team member is everything I could’ve hoped for in this stage of life.

I ran on the University of Georgia’s cross country and track team in college, but had a rough career there. Injury issues had me in a boot and on crutches several times a year leaving little room for fast times. My goals for college ended quickly and I made the decision to quit the team after two years and train on my own. I was able to stay healthy while running on my own and started to enjoy it more. I could run when I wanted and at the pace I wanted, but missed that team atmosphere I was used to. I raced several half marathons and some cross country races unattached during this time and was starting to get back to my normal fitness level. Being off the team also allowed me to enjoy what else there is to life. I was able to concentrate on school more, join clubs, work part-time, and enjoy my college town.

I graduated last May and started a job in Georgia immediately. The job didn’t fit me and I wasn’t happy. I wanted something more meaningful that aligned with my passions so I started to pursue my options.

I knew of Oiselle in high school and owned a couple t-shirts, but nothing more. I started becoming a “fan girl” post college and loved everything Oiselle. Through some connections I had in the Atlanta area, I got in contact with Oiselle and my current manager. I interviewed, made a huge move across the country, and started a new chapter in Seattle.

Having the opportunity to work for Oiselle and be a Voleé member has had a huge impact on my attitude and running. I’m constantly reminded of all the amazing women out there that have the same passion as me. When I am on the road for work I can meet up with a teammate in almost any city and go for runs or have meals together.  I love hearing about all the races Oiselle is represented in each week around the nation and how many of our women continue to improve each year. Being part of the Volée has motivated me, helped my confidence, and allowed me to enjoy racing again.

I’ve been training harder than ever and ran a PR in the 5K recently (an event I have not PR’d in since freshman year of college). The best part about this race was the warm up. Six Birds from The Nest warmed up together in our singlets and Pop Rogas. I had not warmed up as a team in so long and the feeling was amazing. I had feelings of unity, positivity, and confidence. I had to remind myself that I was about to race and race really hard!

Crossing the finish line and seeing the 30 second PR I had just run was a great feeling. I worked hard for that time and knew I could do it, but the feeling was different than I had years ago. It was not as fulfilling as it used to be. Don’t get me wrong, I was extremely happy to see that all the early mornings and weekend long runs were making a difference, but I had this feeling of being happy about so much more. I was happy that I was with my co-workers and that they all finished strong. I was happy about the beautiful Seattle weather that night. I was happy about my decision to move here and start something new. Most of all I was happy to be running healthy and have the opportunity to enjoy it with some amazing women as a Volée member.

We're overjoyed to present this new style to you as it's been more than a year in the works. When we set out to create a running bra optimal for high impact up to a C cup we wanted to do right by you. We heard constantly that the bras made for a C+ cup were hard to pull on, chafed and were even harder to pull off after a sweaty workout. Even if the sweaty workout was just pulling the bra on in the fitting room.

First, we knew we wanted to make the bra super compressive without the boa constrictor tight feeling. But how? Seamless! Meet the Bra-Zen Bra. Its seamless composition gives the bra a breathe easy high compression with structure woven right in. It's also incredibly wicking and anti-stink. 

Secondly, when you're creating a bra you realize just how different everybody's bodies actually are. You are designing for D cup with a 32 band, an A with a 38 and everything in-between. To get a truly perfect fit you need to adjust! The Bra-Zen has an adjustable band with three bra hooks. But let's be serious we need even more customization than that! So the Bra-Zen also has convertible, adjustable straps. You can wear the straps crossed or straight at the perfect length for you. Hello, just right fit.

Finally, besides being incredibly compressive and customizable, the Bra-Zen Bra is made for comfort. Every detail is working hard so you can just run and not think about your bra. Wide and padded shoulders alleviate stress points. The seamless fabric is made to resist chafing and wick sweat.

At the end of the day we wanted this to be a bra you'd not only feel good in but also look great in too. So every feature was added with thought to how it would look. Features on point, stye on point. Even added a little constrast color punch with our feather graphic. 

We are so excited to share this bra with you and are happy to help you find your perfect fit. Tweet at us at @oiselle or email us at hello@oiselle.com - we're ready to be your personal Bra-Zen shopper!