I chose this goal thanks to a hotdog package.

It was between "race fearless" and "race to win." And, while shopping at Sprouts Market (like Whole Foods, but a million times cheaper), Fearless Franks caught my eye. A sign! I text Mac a picture. Choice, made.

But, if we are going with the theme of fearless, I have a confession. I had already decided the other option was a no go. “It sounds pompous. People will snicker. I can see the negative thoughts forming in their minds. ‘Can't,’ ‘won't,’ ‘who is she to assume that.’

But wait. What am I doing. I'm dreaming up imaginary onlookers, mean ones, at that, and reading their minds. That sounds crazy. Who are these people I am scared of. And, more important, why do I care what they think.

I chose the word fearless to hide behind that cliché. Because "racing to win" sets myself up for failure. Eff that. I hereby change my goal.

Without Fear
Lauren wrote an article in the Fall, quoting Sally on fear. "That it keeps you diligent, refines your senses, and prevents you from getting too comfortable…three things absolutely required for the highest levels of success." I agree. If fear of the competition gets you out the door on a cold day, embrace it. It's when it stops me from going forward, from trying, where the issues arise.

Last year I changed a lot. I moved, I switched up training methods, I tried different workouts (and really bombed some), I turned focus to different events. And somewhere in there, fear crept in. Not of ability, but rather, of seeming stupid, without a plan. Of failing.

And, as seems to happen a lot, a life lesson came disguised as a running realization. A fear materialized (running a poor race at the national championships...not achieving a goal...) and the world didn’t implode. I could still run, still race. I still had the support system of friends, family, runfamily. The consequences of failure were...okay.

This year, running fearlessly means embracing that outcome, knowing that I can still set goals, and not be scared of the consequences.

#winning
Two quotes for you.

"It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit." -George Sheehan

“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” -Douglas MacArthur

I believe that there is a deeper personal struggle in every race. And that is one of the coolest aspects of running, that everyone can relate to these battles. "Winning" can mean finish, PR, or first.

Right now on my journey, I do want first. I started on a path, and I intend to further it. I want to be one of the ones in contention. And yes, naming goals means accepting that they could not happen. That's where the embracing fear thing comes in. It also means not getting so excited about the result that I forget about the process. So, in the name of holding both humility and boldness equally dear, here’s my 2015 list:

• I will not get ahead of myself.
• I will go about my daily work, head down, methodically.
• I will enjoy the journey - not worry about, but rather embrace, the bumps and turns.
• But if and when I do race, let there be no question as to my purpose.

Schedule:

Jan 2 through Feb 5: Altitude Training in Albuquerque, NM (OiselleNM! LittleWing!)

Feb 13/14: Possible indoor meet, depending on how training progresses. And/or road race. (I’m so specific…)

Mid-March through Mid-April: Altitude in Flagstaff, AZ (Steph!! Caitlin!! Other Oiselle teammates?!?)

May 2nd: Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford (lots of our athlete will be there. fun one to watch. first outdoor meet of the season)

May 15th: Oxy High Performance Meet in LA (hometown track. great for fast times)

Races between this and Nationals depend on time, travel, preparedness...options...

May 30: Pre Classic

June 13: New York Diamond League

June 13/14: Portland Track Festival

June 25-28: USA Championships Eugene, OR (track town! I love this venue)

July: Europe

August 22-30: IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Beijing

More track...

Sept 12: Would love to end with the 5th Avenue Mile. I cheered for friends and Oiselle runners last year. This year I want to run alongside.

Rebecca joined the team this last fall after her first year of post-collegiate running under her belt. As a new pro for Oiselle, she's learning to balance life as a medical student and professional athlete - an inspiring woman pursuing two dreams. 

By: Rebecca Tracy

Tensegrity - Originally an architecture term (Google search Kenneth Snelson) for structures built with perfectly balanced tension between elements, in medicine tensegrity is used as another word to describe the connection between structure and function - how when one part of the body changes others must compensate to keep it stable. Every time the solid pieces (bones) move, the wires (muscles, tendons, and fascia) compensate to bring the structure back into balance. As I worked though my first semester of medical school, I learned to appreciate this word more and more. It was first introduced week one talking about osteopathic manipulation and treatment. 15 weeks later we moved into skeletal muscles and it came up again and again. In the mean time I got hurt and appreciated firsthand how when one thing goes, the whole structure goes down behind it. Now, after the semester has ended, I have a much better understanding of how a runner’s body and mind is a wonderful and intricate tensegrity structure.

Backing up, I’m Rebecca. I’m a middle distance runner, first year medical student at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis and in my first season as part of Oiselle’s Haute Volée. Fall was all about finding my point of tensegrity, mentally and physically. In August I joined the Haute Volée, migrated to Indy and began school and training. Despite my heart and soul being in the mile, my coach, Tim Connelly, likes to build my base work as if I am a 5k runner (let’s face it, one day I will have to convert, it wasn’t that bad…) and when we get to track, we start working a little more like a half mile/miler, right where I like to be. After running through undergrad and sticking around for one year as a volunteer assistant coach at Notre Dame while doing a Master’s on pretty much the same training plan, I somehow got it in my head ‘How much harder could it be to run while in medical school, I’m still getting faster so why not keep going?’ Yeah, it’s not the same.

When you are running for a university there is so much support you often take for granted that helps keep you balanced – academically, socially, physically, and balanced between all these aspects. Flying nearly solo in Indy I don’t have many of these things balancing forces, and I let some good habits fall away – like lifting at least twice a week and almost religiously getting 8 hours of sleep a night. Not that you should need someone else keeping you accountable, but it certainly makes things easier. I believe I have a lot left to accomplish. Being part of Oiselle and this team, even from afar, has definitely helped keep me going now that I’m in it. The stories of what the phenomenal ladies of the Haute Volée and Flock have overcome, are working through, and have accomplished, definitely helped me through the days when I felt like the universe was giving me the ‘I told you so’ on trying to pursue both dreams.

So what is running in medical school like? Well, I’ve learned a lot about flexibility, both good and bad - like you can’t beat yourself up if you have to move runs around or change when you’re working out because you’re already mentally spent for the day. I also confirmed, however, that running is still the best mental break I could ever take, despite being afraid to ever miss when my study group was meeting, I’ve accepted it’s perfectly alright to say, ‘I will study this later, right now it’s time for a run.’

Not having teammates around every day is a little different too; I recruit classmates from time-to-time, but not everyone likes taking time away from studying to, of all things, just ‘go run’. Our professors have joked that ironically med school is about the most unhealthy thing you can do to yourself, as you volunteer for years of not sleeping enough, often eating pretty bad (I swear the only food ever brought to events is pizza, which I love, but not quite that much), and often the first healthy habit students drop to make more time for studying is regular exercise. Pretty much the only thing I make time for, other than studying and family when I get the chance, is to chase my dreams of being a professional runner. Saying so generally results in a good number of looks saying ‘you’re nuts’ that yes, I do secretly revel in.

Being coached from afar is a little different too, though the weekly ritual of scrambling sometime Sunday night or Monday morning to email Coach my training log remains. It may sound silly, but the hardest part about the transition for me has been the lack of structure. I really miss rushing from 3:15 class to 3:30 practice and waking up at 7:30 after two hits of the snooze button to rush to the locker room to dress for 8 a.m. practice on the weekends. For the first 15 weeks of medical school our schedule changed so much week-to-week, I had a really hard time setting a firm schedule for when I was going to run. Totally my fault, but the lack of schedule played a large role in how I got hurt as I constantly felt like I was just doing things willy-nilly whenever there was time.

Getting hurt was a blessing, despite the funk it put me in for most of November – my body sat me down before I could do any serious damage and has given me some time to think about what I am doing, why I am doing it, and how to start over doing it better. As frustrating as it can be, starting over is probably the best way to get rid of the lazy habits you let yourself fall into. I got hurt because I was keeping up a schedule that wasn’t good for me. Not enough sleep, not enough recovery, getting lazy about the little things, and just not being smart about listening to my body and it resulted in a hamstring strain in mid October… that I ran on until nearly the end of the month. Once I let the inflammation quiet down and saw a doctor my recovery could begin. The new training plan isn’t perfect by any means, it’s still pretty flexible, but I feel much more like Coach and I have a schedule now. I am doing the little things again, and I am not afraid to say ‘I’ve put in good study hours, this is my time to go run and let my brain relax.’ I’ve also reconfirmed that running is the best study break I can take, I just think better when I get up and move – seriously, looking back at my grades I perform my best when I’m being as diligent about my training as I am with my studying. Anyway, in November I started PT and a lot of balance exercises, adding cross training as the month went on finally December 1^st I went for my first, not exactly comfortable, 10 minute run. Alternating between short runs and cross training. My Christmas present was being given the okay to start building my mileage again.

So here I am starting from the bottom to begin 2015. I had my longest run without pain since early October  (a whopping 40 minutes) to end the year and I’m looking forward to working towards a solid outdoor season this spring. The focus for me right now is on balance; keeping running what I love and what relieves my stress, and in doing so keeping myself in love with what I am studying. The goal is to focus on balance and appreciating the amazing tensegrity structure that is the body of a forever student-athlete.

Setting goals has always come easy to me. Letting go of them and watching your dreams slip away is the difficult part. I know my goal for 2015: stay healthy, return to racing and accept getting my butt kicked, win a national title, and prepare myself to be in the best possible position come the Olympic Marathon Trials in February 2016. How am I going to get there? Not a clue. This is one of the most difficult realizations I’m facing as 2015 is in front of me. I don't have a racing schedule, can't commit to anything in 2015 and I'm learning a new way to deal. 

I had a plan at the start of 2014. Have a baby, take a break from serious competition, delve deeper into the other aspects of my life- coaching, business owner, join a new sponsor, and recalibrate my priorities. In June I had Riley, drowned the first few months by the demands of motherhood, let my body and mind heal, supported Ben as he raced a killer 2014, and slowly got the fire back. I returned to training slowly and conservatively yet was surprised at how fit I got in such a short time. I had all my prehab and strength routine set up and was on my way. After one fist pumping workout on Lake Mary road I let myself get lost in dreaming of 2015 race plans and started to write a schedule.

Big mistake! 5 weeks later I encountered a set back and sitting here now I had to wipe those races from the schedule. Crap, what now? As runners we are guilty of crumbling in the face of adversity. We are so addicted to plans that when they go awry we collapse, and go hide in that dark place where no one can get through to us.  It’s not just the training stimulus we miss it’s the ability to dream and make plans for the future. When we’re healthy we give ourselves permission to make goals, visualize ourselves crushing it, and dream big. Yet in the dark days of an injury or setback we shut off the dreaming and hoping mechanism. I’m tired of shutting that off.

In 2015 I’m gonna roll with the punches. They may come in the form of a flared up psoas muscle, Riley having a sleep regression = no sleep for mom and dad, a sub par race result because I wasn’t 100% prepared. I have to let go of an ideal plan that looks so attractive on paper but in actuality is really hard to attain. I am guilty of overanalyzing when Riley had a bad night of sleep or kept waking early from naps and pulling out my trusty friend Google. I’d ask Ben “why is he doing this?” His response: Because he’s a baby. So I’m embracing this answer to many of the questions I might face in 2015. Why didn’t that race go well? Because some races don’t. Why did my back flare up? Because some injuries happen when you’re pushing the limits of the human body to become great.

My running inspiration has always come from the Rocky movies. Yes I’m old school and a nerd. One of the lines from Rocky V has always resonated with me. "It ain't about how hard you get hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”

I started the #journeywithsteph in 2014 coming back from pregnancy and childbirth. It was all about overcoming obstacles, adapting to a new body and life, and sharing the ups and downs along the way. Through it I met so many fans and running peeps via Instagram, Twitter, and blogs who found solace, inspiration, and a bit of a humor in it. As a new member of the flock I’m eager to continue this journey and hopefully mingle with this community of women on and off the race course. We’re all on some journey to discover what we’re made of and what we can achieve. I’ve tried to plan my journey too much and hold onto the reigns too tightly. So I’m thinking it’s time to accept that crap will happen and I should build a bridge for myself and get over it. In 2015 it’s all about Rolling with the Punches. 

Schedule: Ha this is a funny one to outline as there's no for sure race but so many great choices once I'm ready.

January 16-18: Rock N Rock AZ: Speaking at Expo alongside Ben who is racing.

February 7: US Cross Boulder, CO: cheering, racing, who knows?!

April 25-26: San Luis Obispo Marathon- Speaking, appearance.

April/May: Track races maybe.

Spring/Summer: Marathon would be awesome but not a guarantee.

June 26-28: USA Track Champs.

The rest of the year: not sure, maybe I’ll be racing next month, maybe in 3 months!

This weekend we have three Oiselle Haute Volée women competing in the USA Half Marathon Championships in Houston, Texas. This race runs in conjunction with the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Houston is a seasoned veteran as a host for national championship events and the annual marathon-half marathon races. Special to our office was the 2012 US Trials Marathon in Houston when Sally, Lesko and Sarah Mac cheered on the elite field with Stephanie Bruce among the competitors. And now this year we are preparing to watch these three talented women among an impressive field. To qualify to race in the Half Champs at 6:55am on Sunday, women must have half marathon times under 1:17, sub 2:42:18 in the marathon and sub 34:48 in the road 10k. More information on the Half Championship can be found here.

We are with you in spirit! Go Fast. Take Chances.

Oiselle Haute Volée

Kara Foster
I could not be more excited for this race! It's been my main focus since the end of track season last year. There is going to be such great competition which I'm sure will lead to fast times on a flat course! I'd love to race in the top 10 and hopefully finish in the top 5. As far as a time goal goes, I'm hoping for 1:12 to 1:13. No matter what, I'm looking forward to a fun weekend focused on competition!

Allison Maxson
I can think of no better way to kick off my 2015 season than racing the USA Half Championship for Oiselle, alongside a great group of speedy Oiselle teammates. After being sidelined for much of 2013 and the start of 2014, the past year has been all about making a strong and steady comeback. In 2013 I moved with my husband, started a new job, and was forced to take 6 months off of running due to injury. During this time, I never lost sight of my goals, and my desire to run fast only grew. When I was able to run again, I had a healthy body, a fresh perspective, and new coaches Stephanie and Ben Bruce. I found the right training program that suited me, and I qualified for the Olympic Trials at the Chicago Marathon, something I had dreamt about for many years. I am excited for the upcoming opportunity to race on the national stage in Houston. With the support of Oiselle and so many awesome women around the country, I want to push my limits. Healthy. Fast. Fun. 2015, I can’t wait to get you started.

Andrea Duke
Racing the USATF Half Marathon Championships is going to be an incredible experience.  My coach, Ben Bruce, suggested this race as a benchmark race for the Boston Marathon in April, testing out some new speed training since Chicago. Confidence is good leading up to next weekend, as workouts have pushed me physically and mentally, testing my comfort zones. With an impressive line-up of elite women, the race in Houston will be a great opportunity to race for a PR (shooting for sub 1:17) and gain experience at a high level competition. 

My birthday suit: No not that kinda birthday suit. :) First off it's all about style. I don't feel ready to go for a run until my outfit is matching from head to toe. It all starts with the sports bra. This piece sets the tone for your outfit. My go to is the New Scantron Bra because of how well it fits around the rib cage and I love the 2 prong straps and extra stretchy material. On top on this I throw on the Wazelle Short Sleeve, the ultimate versatile piece. It can serve as a base layer on very chilly days while also riding solo on a warm spring day. I love pairing it with my Lux Arm Warmers for workouts during the winter. Arm warmers give me the freedom of feeling like my arms are loose and not committed to a long sleeve. Plus you just feel faster wearing these babies.

Now for some pants. For me it's the ridiculously comfy Moto Lesley Knickers. These half tights are stylish and feel like butter wrapped around your legs. They stay in place and move with you on the run. No ensemble is complete without the ultimate game changing piece. For me this is the Katron Vest. I mean hello style and comfort. The vest is so light weight while running yet keeps your core so warm on those 15 degree days. You can also layer like crazy and always have room to throw the Katron Vest over your outfit. This birthday suit makes me feel fast, fly, and ready to conquer the run. 

Shop all looks in Steph's Birthday Suit at 31% off today only (ends 1/14/15 at midnight PST). Use code BIRTHDAYSUIT on her favorite threads!  

By Julia Hanlon, Volée Ambassador 

I don’t cry often. In fact, I can count the amount of times I have cried on one hand during the past year. In the past two months though, I cried twice within the span of one week. I had just returned from one of the most challenging runs of my life. It was not a hard track session, long tempo run, or even a race, but instead a one hour run that turned into a two hour odyssey, after getting lost in an Ethiopian valley.

After finding my way back to the Yaya Village, I headed straight into the kitchen where I knew I would find some drinking water. Upon seeing the six Yaya Girls eating breakfast, I burst into tears. They motioned for me to sit down and were alarmed by the dirt, scratches, and blood on my legs. Without asking, the girls started cleaning the dirt and blood off my legs, prepared me breakfast, and held my hands.

Although we didn’t speak the same language, they could feel my exhaustion and fear. I repeated “dog” a few times and having recently taught them animal names in English class, they understood that a dog had attacked me as I pointed to the scratch marks on my legs. I reenacted a falling-forward motion as I signaled to my bloody knee. After being scrubbed and nourished, the girls tucked me into bed so that I could rest. I couldn’t fall asleep though. I was still shaken from being lost, attacked by a large dog, and suffering a hard fall. At the same time, I felt a sense of calm descending from the warmth of the girls as they took care of me in my fragile state. 

The Yaya Girls Program is a trimester school for six young female runners who spend 3 and a half months studying English, gender empowerment, and receive vocational training in Sululta, Ethiopia. The six girls ranged from ages 17-21 and were from Addis Ababa and its surrounding region. The Yaya Girls Program provides them with a unique opportunity to pursue their running at 8,858 feet, while also developing life and job skills.

Having only a brother, being the girls’ teacher, and unable to speak the same language as them, I did not expect to feel a sense of sisterhood. However, if I encapsulate the lessons I learned in Ethiopia into one statement, it would be, “have no expectations.” When you share three meals a day, run together, hear each other’s sheets rustle during the night, and see one another through daily highs and lows, sisterhood is formed. 

When I said goodbye to the six girls on my return home, I didn’t cry. I felt strange since they were all crying, yet my tears were not coming. After second and third rounds of hugging, I finally got into the waiting car and headed to the airport. As we drove away, tears started to stream down my face. I was leaving my six Ethiopian sisters, uncertain as to when I would see them again. Hardly an hour goes by when I don’t wonder what the Yaya Girls are doing— what are they eating for breakfast? How was their afternoon run? What new words are they learning in English class? Sisterhood transcends continents, language, and age. I can only imagine the happy tears that will come when I someday reunite with them. 

Visit the Yaya Girls Program to learn more, and watch the Yaya Girls in running action:

Additional information on Julia's blog: www.runningonom.com

Ahh nothing like that bitter, err beautiful, northeast winter to remind me of the value of the noble base layer. Get it wrong and your winter wonderland becomes a winter nightmare. Too hot, too cold, too sweaty, too…distracted to enjoy those crisp miles.

Ten days split between Massachusetts and Vermont means running in all kinds of weather - sub 10º windchill, slushy 35º with rain, calm 20º and everything in between. Here are the layers I wore from the base up.

10º with strong north wind / easy 5 (above)
Wazzie Wool Base Layer
Katron Vest
Moto Tights
(hat + mittens)*

20º calm and cloudy / easy 5
Lucky Long Sleeve
New Flyer Jacket
Go Joggings
(hat + mittens)*

35º slushy snow on road, rain / long run (above)
Pro Kit Leggings
Flyte 2000 Short Sleeve
New Flyer Jacket
(headband + gloves)*

45º and light rain / hilly 4
Wazelle Short Sleeve
Arm Warmers
Roga Short

* Oiselle hasn't introduced a hat or gloves yet. Someday soon! In the meantime, my favorite hat/headbands are Sauce, created by a cross country skier. And for gloves I love the $1 throw away ones from the drugstore. You can blow your nose in 'em or even throw them out midrun and not care!

WINTER RUNNING: WHAT TO WEAR 

If you’re new to winter running here are some tips to help you get out the door in the right threads. Overdressing is easier to do than underdressing and can be uncomfortable and distracting.

Temperature
Take the temperature (make sure to account for windchill) and add 20º. Now pull an outfit together you’d wear if you were to be standing around in that temperature.

Example: It’s 25º out. What would you wear to stroll around in 45º? For me that would be tights, long sleeve base layer, light jacket (gloves and hat).

Everyone has their ‘shorts-ready temperature’. You’ll learn yours. Personally, I don’t wear shorts if it’s 37º or below unless I’m racing. In my younger days it was 34º.

Precipitation
It’s easy to over dress when in precipitation, especially if you go out the door into rain or snow. Just remember if you’re warm before the mile mark you’re overdressed. The Flyer Jacket is a great layer solution - amazingly warm and so lightweight – it’s easy to wear until you’re revved up and then tie it around your waist.

Workout Dependent
Dress for the work. For instance if you’re going long at a decent clip dress lighter than if you were going for an easy four miles. If you’re hitting a workout, dress a layer above for the warmup and cool down and strip them off for the meat of the workout. It’s is the perfect time to run in a snuggy French Fleece number like the Oiselle Trials Hoodie and double pants like Hayward over the Pro Kit leggings. You should be toasty on that warm up and cool down.

Happy new year! You’ve raced your way through 2014, overcome training obstacles and are already hitting the ground running in 2015. It's goal making time.

Inspired by Oiselle pro runners, we invite you to fill in the blank, “This is the year I _______" on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest throughout the month. Make sure to add @oiselle and tag #theyeari, every post will be entered to win the grand prize on January 30th! And be on the lookout for random acts of prizing throughout the month.

HOW TO PLAY
Twitter/Instagram: Follow then tell us your goal with, “This is the year I _______." Use hashtag #theyeari and @oiselle.

OR

Pinterest: Follow then pin a photo that represents your goal telling us, “This is the year I _______.” Use hashtag #theyeari and @oiselle. Throughout January we will be collecting and pinning your goals to our Pinterest board.

GRAND PRIZE
You will be entered to win a spikebag full of Oiselle threads + the new Believe Training Journal author inscribed by Lauren Fleshman herself to support your goal crushing year ahead. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on January 30th.

It takes guts to put your goals out there for the world to see, so we took the plunge first! Read on to see what we're aiming at this year.

This is the year I enjoy the now.
Ambition is a gratitude killer. It strives and covets and grasps. It doesn't see the loveliness of small things. Or the joy of an unscripted moment. It's a no-grass-is-green-enough kind of person; an ugly social climber. And the end game, if not disrupted, is arriving at a destination with regret. Or longing for a chance now gone. With so much wonderful change in the Oiselle world, and with my family, I want the courage to see what's in front of me. This is the year I enjoy the crazy, twirling, people filled "now."
- Sally Bergesen, Founder & CEO 

This is the year I focus on the little things.
We all have goals and dreams. I have several goals that I have been wanting to achieve in the last year or two but they have been sidelined because I haven't given enough commitment to the little things that make a huge difference; from strength training, to drinking more water, to stretching after every run, to getting massages..etc..Focusing on the little things will also translate to other aspects of my life and in turn add positive energy to those as well.
- Kristin Metcalf, Oiselle Team Manager

This is the year I stay strong.
When I start feeling good with running, I start to neglect the things that got me there (gym work, strength training, religious attention to fueling). Discipline: 2x/week strength training minumum, or I don't let myself run.
- Sarah Lesko, Corp. Dev.
 
This is the year I simplify.
"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius. The urgency of paring down - to find the time and space to think - is nothing new, yet as time moves on and technology takes over, simplifying both my mind and physical surroundings will allow more space for growth, happiness and just enjoying the moment. Striving to eliminate both physical & mental clutter will make room for the things that are truly important.
- Bari Epstein, Controller 

This is the year I do me.
Selfish much? Haha! Maybe, but this year I wanted to try something different - I’m not setting weight loss goals, financial obligations, desperately seeking a new church or checking out every book in the library (all of which are normally somehow paraphrased in my resolution each year). Instead, I’m devoting this year to just finding myself, setting new goals along the way, pushing the boundaries and following my heart. This is the year I want not for a title, a situation or circumstance to define me, but for me to define myself. This is the year I do me.
- Kami Beckendorf, Technical Designer

This is the year I begin a new chapter.
The past few months have been a whirlwind of changes by leaving the only state I've ever lived in and moving across the country for an amazing opportunity. It's been a smooth transition so far and I hope to keep it that way. I know that 2015 will bring even more change, but I want to remain calm and do my best to see the positives in every situation. Adjusting to my new life here in Seattle will be challenging at times, but I cannot wait to see what's in store for the future. This will be the year I learn more about myself than ever before by facing new challenges on my own. I want to continue to improve my times in running, but also find other hobbies I enjoy and excel at.
- Sydney Marshall, Sales Coordinator

This is the year I embrace the journey.
After the conclusion of my collegiate running career, I have struggled to establish the role that running should play in my life. Some days I envision an OTQ, other days I grow frustrated with my lack of progress when training takes a backseat to other priorities. In an effort to subdue my all or nothing mentality, this is the year I focus less on outcome and more on process. The beautiful process of running with friends, discovering new trails, building strength, improving health, climbing a mountain, practicing yoga, cycling, skiing and exploring the unknown. Of course a PR would be incredible, but it’s only one moment among many that make up the journey of life. I can’t wait to embrace all that 2015 has in store.
- Heather Stephens, Customer Service

This is the year I push limits.
I’m always working on self-improvement, but I shield myself from disappointment by breaking goals down into such small steps that I never really exert effort. I’ve been even more cautious physically and mentally since I fractured my spine two years ago. While that was good time to reflect and rediscover what’s important, I’m ready to raise the bar and get my heart rate up. At the end of every day, I don’t just want to be tired, but fulfilled. This is the year of a PR in every area of my life. Let’s do this, Twenty Pushteen!
- David Colburn, Senior Accountant

This is the year I get outside.
I know, it sounds so simple. But instead, I consider myself lucky - something so simple makes me happier than most things. This is the year that the edges between "working out" and "getting out" are blurred: riding my bike to work, hiking in the mountains on weekends, and running on my lunch breaks to clear my head. The joy I get from being outside translates to every other aspect of my life - my relationships, the creative process, and my personal health. When being outside becomes a priority, everything else is simply better.
- Nelle Horsley, Junior Designer

This is the year I do the little somethings.
I struggle with an all or nothing attitude. I beat myself up if I can't do everything and more often than I'd like to admit I do nothing instead of a little something. After having my first baby I'm bobbing in the big sea of all the joy and challenges that it brings and I need to refocus my attitude to keep myself moving. If I can't do the big everythings rather than lose motivation and focus, my goal is to use whatever time (and energy) I have to do the little somethings. And believe that every little something adds up to the big everything.
- Sarah Robinson, Creative Director

This is the year I accept.
I've worked on "balance" and wasn't very successful. Maybe what I learned in that exercise is that I am an all or nothing person. I'm going to give "accept" a go and see if I can learn to meet myself half-way - at least sometimes.
- Christy Slye, VP of Sales

This is the year I hold myself accountable.
I am great at dreaming up amazing goals, and planning the steps necessary to execute the goal. However, when it comes to following through on my goals or plans, I am full of excuses! This is the year I hold myself accountable for the goals I set, whether big or small.
- Katie Gardner, E-commerce Operations

This is the year I create calm.
The new year has a lot coming my way. I want to make more time for family, learn how to dance (yes, dance!), get on a strength training schedule, keep my apartment uncluttered, travel as much as possible, work hard, all while planning a big wedding come next September. Creating calm will be my glue for all pieces to come together and help me stay focused on what is most important. Through running, yoga, family time, and check points along the way I will make it happen.
- Jacquelyn Komen, Marketing + Media

This year I am giving myself a reason to believe in myself again. To believe in my abilities as a professional athlete. To believe in my abilities to be atop the podium again.

How is this different from the past? I mean, I’ve always believed I could do great things. Well, the past few years, even though I’ve believed in myself, I haven’t lived like I believe in myself. I have suffered many setbacks and injuries since I ran the 2012 Olympic Marathon. In addition to the difficulty I was having in staying healthy, I was also a professional struggling as well. I was no longer comfortable in the place where I was, and I made the decision to move my family to another state so that I could train with a new coach and search for new sponsorship opportunities.  

Last year I believed in myself enough to change coaches and to partner with companies who also believe in me. It was an incredible experience to be a mother in her mid 30s and finally ask myself, “Who do I want to be? What do I want to represent?” Last year was one of the most meaningful of my life, meeting with companies, forming relationships, taking control of my professional life. But this travel and personal exploration took away from my racing career. I traveled a lot, spent too much time away from my training partners and coaches, and had too many days out of my training routine.

As I stare 2015 in the face, I have made the goal to believe in my running. In doing so I have to give myself a reason to believe, and therein lies the goal for the year. With my professional relationships solid and squared away, I now will focus back on what it takes to be back at the highest elite level. When I made my first Olympic team in 2008, the distractions in my life were so minimal. In 2012 I had a child, pretty big distraction (!) but I managed it well. As I head toward 2016 I find myself with too many distractions to manage. So this is the year I minimize the distractions and focus on all the right stuff. I am going to relieve myself from trying to be super mom and super wife. While I’m still going to cook dinner every night, I am going to have someone else get the groceries, someone else clean the house. I am going to put my spare time back to my family, my nutrition, and my rest. This year you’ll find me napping more, and cooking more real food. I am going to prioritize my time and I’m going to let go of many of the responsibilities of my life. I have had an awakening and it is this - I am still good enough to make another Olympic team, but I am not good enough to make it without making sacrifices and going back to live the professional athlete lifestyle.

So there it is, this is the year I am giving myself a reason to believe. You may not see me at as many expos or walking down the aisles at Whole Foods, but I BELIEVE that you will see me standing on top of the podium again. Hope you are all making time for yourselves in 2015, and that you are believing in you. 

I’m only penciling things in this year, I will only race when I am truly ready, but these are all races I am interested in:

May 2: Payton Jordan 5k or 10k.

May 15: Oxy High Peformance 5k.

May 30: Pre Classic 3k or 5k.

June 13: New York Diamond League 5k.

June 13/14: Portland Track Festival 5k.

June 25-28: USATF Championships 5k or 10k.

July: Possible racing in Europe.

August 22-30: IAAF World Track and Field Championships or fast half-marathon somewhere.

September/October: Fall marathon.

November: Build up for Olympic Trials Marathon Feb 13, 2016.

This summer at Bird Camp our team came together to talk about lots of running topics but one of the highlights was getting to sit with our fellow team members and talk about the changes over the last three years with our team. The growth has been significant and wonderful. To be able to welcome so many wonderful women runners into our fold is inspiring. We asked several of our veteran team members to take on more responsibility and be leaders for the entire Flock. From August to now they have been meeting up with their area team members for group runs, races, coffee, brunches etc. How amazing that 500 some women are brought together because of their love of running, their desire for a sisterhood and because of great running clothes!

Thank you to our fabulous leaders who organized such great meetups. Here are a sprinkling of some of the great things that happened this fall!

AUGUST 2014

Bird Camp
Sarah Hartnett: “Night-owls closing out the first night of the inaugural Bird Camp in Bend, Oregon! An unforgettable weekend of running, yoga, hiking, and more.”

(Atha Vermillion, Sarah Hartnett, Kimberlie Pearlman, Laurel Mathiesen, Sophia Duluk, Becky Leung, Andrea Gibson Hallberg, Lorraine Deichert, Farron McIntee, Kristin Metcalf)

Beth Gillespie: “It was an amazing experience to meet my Oiselle teammates and spend a few days running, laughing, getting to know each other and falling head over heels in love with Bend! Being able to connect with so many amazing women was one of the best parts of my year! This picture was before we all ran the Deschutes 5k!”

SEPTEMBER 2014

Beat the Blerch Half Marathon
Sarah Hartnett: “Oiselle runners showed up at Beat the Blerch! Blerches chased us down the wooded trails of Carnation, WA before handing us birthday cake and grape drinks.”

(Sarah Hartnett, Michelle Benton, Marilyn Keys, Erin Ledden, Shannon McCarthy)

Minnesota Team Meet-up
Tracy Hirigoyen: “When you're looking to get to know each other, what sounds better than breaking the ice with some fun yoga (and lots of groaning about our collective tight muscles) followed by sushi and drinks? The Minnesota birds did just that for their first official meet-up. Not shown here: Our fierce tree poses.”

(Hyedi Nelson, Ali Jones, Jana Harvieux Effertz, Lisa Overman, Jenny Scherer, Caitlyn Elizabeth Stenerson, Tracy Sciacca)

OCTOBER 2014

Washington Team Dinner
Sarah Hartnett & Emily Brain: “A dozen Oiselle runners from Washington state met up in Seattle for a night of burgers and brew at Uneeda Burger. It was a fun time getting to know new faces and catching up with old friends. Seattle runners know how to run and eat a good burger!”

(Jen Major, Tiffany Olson, Sarah Hartnett, Jennifer Favre, Emily Brain, Ashley Penney, Robyn Hefner, Jess Graham, Marilyn Keys, Lynn Carlson, Dawn Dolobowsky, Stephanie Carlson)

MEC Marathon
Leana Keto: “Calgary's Flock runners met up on a chilly morning before the start of the MEC half and full marathon in October. This was the first time we've been able to get together and it was great to chat about running and Oiselle and to cheer each other on at the race!”

(Leana Keto, Victoria Harold, Angela Williams)

NOVEMBER 2014

New York Marathon
Paulette Ference: “We enjoyed the Strava shakeout run in Central Park and a coffee meet up before the NYC Marathon."

(Chloe Lasseron, Beth Gillespie, Aysha Mirza, Paulette Ference)

Abby McGill: “Pre-NYC Marathon team meet-up! It was so fun to have birds from all over the country flock to NYC for the weekend, including Mama Bird Sally and Best-Team-Manager Kristin! There was a rainy shake out run, then we all met for coffee and carb-loading (aka pastry eating) for those running...or just cheering!"

Portland Marathon
Liz Anjos: “From the pre-race shakeout run and brunch on Portland Marathon weekend. We had Flock members from Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver BC! It was awesome because it was our first big Flock meet-up in Portland.”

(Diane Peterson, Leslie Block, Laura Michaelson, Molly Crowley, Liz Anjos, Tammie Dubberly, Becky Leung, Darnelle Moore, Nikki Baca-Smith)

City of Oaks Marathon Relay
Allie Bigelow: “For our November meet-up Oiselle Team North Carolina fielded two fabulous relay teams at the City Of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh. We ran to cheers of "Go Kara Goucher's teammates!" and despite freezing our southern tears off, we had a wonderful time together, as usual!

(Ellen Moss, Allie Bigelow, Andie Cozzarelli, Nikki Gainey, Rachel Beck, Laura Collins, Kelly Pollock, Alyson West, Rose Asrican)

Mustache Dache
Emily Brain: “Oiselle runners donned mustaches to take on the annual Mustache Dache 5K! Stached up and ready to race.”

Andrea Hallberg, Jennifer Favre, Stephanie Carlson, Kaleigh Gerlich, Sarah Hartnett, Emily Brain, Portia O'Callaghan, Liz Anjos

Richmond Marathon
Stephanie Granlund: “Oiselle runners from 3 states and Washington, D.C. celebrated after the Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon in November. The Richmond Marathon is known as "America's Friendliest Marathon" and these ladies indeed made fast friends, chatting about their races, their favorite Oiselle looks, and more, while enjoying locally-brewed beer at Ardent Craft Ales.

(Ashlie Tseng, Jessica Graham, Stephanie Granlund, Jackie Gruendel, Emily Ward. Also in attendance, but not pictured were Kaia Hampton and Courtney Carter)

DECEMBER 2014

Holiday Lights Run
Courtney Carter and Prianka Nandy: “The #dcbirds know how to holiday and have tons of fun combining running with a tour of some of DC’s finest holiday lights and decorations. We visited all the major trees in DC on this really fun run!”

(Courtney Dredden Carter, Prianka Nandy, Colleen Lerro, Julie Anderson, Ivey Wohfield, Jennifer Hendrickson)

Club XC Nationals
Jennie Kormanik: “Team Ohio runs their first team competition in OIselle jerseys!”

(Alex Bowers, Lauren Buser, Amanda Fire, Jennie Kormanik, Marissa Baranauskas)

Icebreaker Marathon Relay Practice
Sheila Wordell: “Our meet-ups are great because it's not just about running but the bonds that are made and the experiences that are had.”

(Sheila Wordell, Sun Torke, Kristine Burgess, Kim Leal Tortomasi, Megan Buschkopf, Nicole Garms Pudwell, Allison Gallipeau)

I’ve had a lot of time to think lately. Rather than running side by side with my Little Wing Teammates, for the final month of 2014 I’ve been sidelined with bursitis on my heel, making a slow, jiggity jaggety comeback/fallback/comeback. This sounds negative, but I’ve gotta keep it real. It has been a pretty poopy end to a challenging year in the running sector of my life.

January 2014, I started out the year as the mom of a 6 month old, barely stringing 4-5 days of running a week together, sleep deprived, and recalibrating how relationships work with a kid. On a personal level, life was pretty awesomely confusing a lot of the time, chasing a moving target with the landscape itself shifting around, making it impossible to get a firm stance to attack the world from. I was taking swings at my goals blindfolded on a wobble board on a lazy susan.

But I kept moving forward in the ways I could. I put energy into things that filled me up like friendships, the athletes I coach, my writing, my training…I withdrew from things that were confusing like my big scary goals, the long list of things I had to do to achieve them, and even Jesse sometimes.

I remember several times thinking, “This just needs time. I just need time to pass so this can get better.” Whether it was a phase Jude was going through like teething, or difficulty sorting out childcare, or a recurring injury problem, or trying to sort out new household roles, or whatever…at some point on all of these things I was basically throwing up my hands and saying “I’ll wait for time to fix this.” But as the year passed, I realized that was crap.

Time fixes nothing. Time is a facilitator but you still have to do the fixing; Dig into the difficult conversations; Look hard at yourself in the mirror and ask if you’re doing everything you can do to get healthy. If you aren’t currently living the life you want, there is no other way to get there. Time won’t make it happen. So you can either adjust the goal, or give yourself a swift kick in the ass. Those are your only two options unless you enjoy the feeling of eternal tug of war.

A new year is coming and I’m glad. There were a lot of incredible things that happened in my life in 2014, and I want to build on those. Teammates, friendships, pouring my heart into the people and things I’m passionate about. But I’m also looking forward to some positive changes in how I approach myself.

In 2015 I’m going to take chances. When challenges happen, I’m going to dig in faster. I’m not going to wait for time. I’m going to work with time. Even when there is no promise of return on investment, I’m going to invest.

In 2015 I’m going to let go of the idea of perfect preparation. When I started training for the 2015 season a few months ago, I wanted to have the perfect season. No injuries, no blocks of time lost. For once, just one, I wanted to have everything go “my way.” Well I’ve essentially missed the entire month of December so poof! Perfection gone! But the thing is, perfect preparation is a myth I created in my head. I defined it based on past experience, incomplete knowledge of other careers I admire, and sports movies. Perfect preparation doesn’t exist. Excellent adaptation does.

I’m so grateful for this community I continue to learn and gain inspiration from. In 2015 I look forward to many cowbell corners, meet ups, and shared “yeah buddy!” (and the occasional “come on really?!”) moments. Here’s my racing calendar as of now in case you want to follow along, or even come race! These things naturally fluctuate but the big races/plans that are least likely to change are in BOLD. The rest of the races are designed to support those. Here’s to a 2015 full of taking chances, working with time, and adapting to our reality in style.

Xo

Jan 2 – Feb 5^th Altitude Training in the foothills of Albuquerque, NM

Feb 7^th: USA XC Nationals (this is 99% not happening for me anymore due to the bursitis setback, but I’m keeping it on my calendar because it’s possible some Little Wing will race, and if so I’ll be there as coach!)

Feb 13/14 Husky Classic, indoor meet, Seattle WA

Feb 27-March 1 USA Indoor National Champs in Boston MA (this is not super likely, but I’m keeping it on the calendar just in case)

Mid/late March: A road race TBD.

April 16/17^th: Mt Sac Relays. Walnut, CA or Oregon Relays in Eugene

April 19^th-May 3: Sea Level training in Palo Alto, CA.

May 2^nd: Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford. This is my first key track race I care a lot about. I’d like to run a 5k here faster than the World Standard of 15:20. Hoping to have a big crew out there for that one, and to cheer on lots of teammates in their races. This is a great one to come to as a fan!

May 15^th ish: Oxy High Performance Meet in LA area.

May 30: Pre Classic (would like to do Pre or NY, but lots of factors determine this: which events they have, if I get in, etc)

June 10 Jude turns two!

June 13 New York Diamond League (see above)

June 13/14 Portland Track Festival: This is a local race with good conditions that is well organized that could be a great tune up for USA’s.

June 25-28 USA Championships Eugene, OR. 5k most likely.

July in Europe with Little Wing.

Late August World Champs in Beijing, or road racing circuit, depending.

September, more road racing.

Late September: Go on vacation!

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already…but about this time last year, our small crew came together to brainstorm ideas about how to expand our team. We had multiple goals: 1) Grow the sisterhood, welcoming new women into the fold; 2) Help spread the word about Oiselle (yes, we are a business); and 3) Find new ways to support our emerging elite runners. (While the resources and funding was already in place for our top pro women, we were looking for a way to support runners who were either at or approaching the national A or B Standards.)

2016 US Olympic Trials - Marathon Qualifying Standard

Thanks to you, the initial rounds of The Flock memberships sold quickly and we were pumped to see that this model could work! $25 of each $100 membership was put directly in our Emerging Athlete Fund. (The other $75 became a break even proposition, as the remainder was used to deliver a singlet, spike bag, free shipping on all orders, plus the staffing costs internally to help manage the new group.) 

Big picture, we wanted to widen the circle. To create an expanding sister-family built on run love. A year later, it’s amazing and rewarding to see that come true, as we’re meeting a whole new group of rad women runners – who also inspire us to keep doing what we do at The Nest. I love going on the regional Facebook pages and seeing the conversations around training, race goals, injury prevention, and yes, my personal love - clothes! And even better, in person meet ups with new Flock members as we did at our group run this past Saturday in Seattle...or anywhere we might travel in the US.

Beginning this fall, we started using the Emerging Athlete Fund to help pay for the travel, lodging, coaching and gear costs of our Haute Volée up-and-comers.

• Beginning balance of Emerging Athlete Fund (2014): $11,750
• Used during the Fall 2014 Racing Season: $3,182
• Remaining funds to be used no later than June 2015: $8,568

Below are just a few of the women we’ve either used funds for this Fall – or have commitments to support in 2015.

Left to right, top to bottom: Melissa Gacek, Allison Maxson, Jordan Hamric, Heidi Greenwood, Asher Henry, Kara Foster, Andie Cozzarelli, Andrea Duke, Kerri Gallagher.

A few of the races that these gals traveled to:

• Barber to Boise 10K
• Big Sur Half Marathon
• Inland Empire Championships
• Mt. Sac Relays
• Philly Half Marathon
• Portland Track Fest
• Raleigh Race
• SU Cross Country Emerald City Invite

In 2015, the remaining funds will be used for race entries, gear (shoes), travel, and coaching stipends. A key race focus will be funding a team to the Gate River Champs on March 15th.

Running is often seen as a solo sport. But the reality is, it takes a family to make it possible…to support the hours of training, the costs associated with gear and travel, and the emotional needs. Each of our elite runners has an amazing support system, and we’re just happy that we can be a small part of it – helping them stride to the finish and reach for the stars.

In terms of more Flock memberships in the future, we think yes. We’re having internal discussions about timing, but the 2014 experiment showed it can work, and that we can continue to welcome more women and still remain a community. We have not yet decided on timing, but if you’re interested, please look for an announcement from us early in 2015.

In the meantime, thank you to the believers. Whether you’re a Flock member or not, a customer, a friend, or just a positive voice in the community, we are grateful for your goodness, and belief that a small company could do something different to support women athletes of all types and paces. I hope to see you out at the races! I’ll be the one in the Flock singlet.