Yesterday you may have seen the New York Times article, "In Shape, But Out of Focus", a hilarious profile of race day photos and what a blow to the ego they can be. You feel so fast, fierce and fearless ... then the photographic proof says otherwise. There were are, snot faced, with your shorts bunched, both feet on the ground with an expression on your face you weren't even sure you were physically capable of making.

Elizabeth Weil asked Sally if she had any advice what to avoid when the cameras aim at you on race day. AND she asked if might know anyone with any horrific race day photos...um yes. Me. This picture from the Love 'Em or Leave 'Em Dash was so SHOCKINGLY bad that I immediately deleted it called everyone in the office over to see it. What can I say, self depricating humor is my thing. (I won't lie I considered paying the photographer every penny in my bank account to destroy all existing copies of it even while I laughed until I cried. Or maybe I was just crying.)

Annnnyway when the NYTimes needed an example of the UGLY, horrific pictures that can happen on race day. I knew I had a winner. So yesterday there was my 'screaming Beaker muppet face' in print for the world to see.

FAST FRIDAY

So what does this have to do with Fast Friday? Well you might remember our PainFest album from over a year ago. We're bringing it back. It's #PainFest #FastFriday. Just share your most horrifying, gutsy, grimacing race day photo on Twitter, Instagram, or our Facebook page with the hashtag: #PainFest. It can be a link to the site (watermarks and all), a screenshot, or maybe you own it. (Just be sure to @oiselle on Twitter and Instagram.) We will giveaway a race day kit to two lucky PainFest winners (spike bag, armwarmers, tee, shorts, lip gloss), because even if you're in pain your outfit shouldn't be.

Contest Ends Sunday at Midnight. We'll announce the winners later on Monday (11/5).

And if you're shy, all I can say is look above. If I can share that beauty, you can do it. Own your pain!

We would like to introduce September's new Oiselle racing team members! This is an amazing group of talented and strong women who are excited to represent Oiselle as they train and race toward their personal goals.

Kara Millhouse

Kara is living and training in College State, Pennsylvania under coach Beth Sullivan. She is beginning her first year of professional running... Meet Kara.

Heather Cleary

Heather owns Morgantown Running Co. with her husband, Sean Cleary. She is racing Hamilton Half Marathon this weekend in Ontario, Canada...Meet Heather.

Jocelyn Bonneau

Jocelyn loves pretty much every sport there is, but after training for her first marathon in 2010, Jocelyn found that her true love is running! Her family and friends use one word to describe her best: enthusiastic...Meet Jocelyn.

Allie Bigelow

Allie has been running for more than 20 years; you can read about the milestones of her running experiences in her June 20, 2012 blog post...Meet Allie.

Caryn Heffernan

Caryn inspires young runners daily as the cross country/track coach at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington...Meet Caryn.

Kristen Olaf

Kristen and her husband share their love of running together; they believe - "you can run fast alone, but run far together." They love meeting up for group runs from their local running store in Alpine, California...Meet Kristen. 

Janell Gotfredson

Janell started running in the first grade as a way to spend time with her dad. She found a new love for running after having her son in 2011...Meet Janell.

Shannon Botten

Shannon started a running and walking group in McMinnville, Oregon called the Mac Town Striders to share her passion of fitness with others...Meet Shannon.

Sarah Boone

Sarah started as a college softball player and began sharing her love of running with her boyfriend at the time, now her husband. She is a Sister in Sport - Believe I Am blogger...Meet Sarah.

Ashley Crossman

Ashley has a passion for running and for helping others. Because of this she started her own company, She Runs Strong, where she coaches woman of all abilities...meet Ashley.

Holly Batchelder

Holly combines her love for fashion with her love for running in her creative and unique blog: fashionablemiles.com...meet Holly.

Be looking for October's group of new team members' soon:

Lindsey Finnegan - Florida, Bobbie Maker - Paris, Katie McFarland - Missouri, Lisa Janssen - Nebraska, Abby Fennessy - New York, Stephanie Jimenez - New York,Stephanie Viloria - New York, Taryn Hand - Oregon, Nicole Hart - Pennsylvania, Cynthia Fowler - Utah, and Sarah Chan - Washington.

I'm so excited! I have a namesake Oiselle piece! The Mac Jacket, as in @oiselle_mac, Sarah Mac, Sarah MacKay...Mac! But I'm not the first to have such an honor. Since the second season on the market, Oiselle has always named a piece or two after important people and places in the Oiselle world.

Let's take a look at some of these name origins:

Lori Short

Lori was Oiselle’s first rep. She joined the team when Sally was still running Oiselle our of her house. Lori saw the first season of Oiselle (which consisted of the Marseilles Split Leg Short) laid out on Sally’s dining room table.  She says she signed on not only because she loved the shorts, but because she immediately believed in Sally’s mission.

Iris Sport Top, Isabel Shimmel, Isabel Short

Sally has two daughters, Iris and Isabel. I’ll let you do the math on that one…

Elizabeth Top

Named after the two Elizabeths: Sally’s long time running friends. Both of whom I consider friends too, after many a Sunday long run.

Bird Woman Top

We don’t know anyone named Bird Woman, however that tee featured the face of long-time Oiselle model, Morgan.

Boise Bra

A tribute to our first elite runners, many of who live in Boise. And I would imagine specifically for the fast, fabulous Andrija Barker-McCurry, Oiselle’s first sponsored runner.

Ravenna Tank

We run along Ravenna almost every day. It’s part of our 5.5 mile and 8 mile loop, and track warmup…like I said, almost every day.

Green Lake Hoodie

Oiselle HQ is a stone’s throw from the Green Lake running trail. Literally. In Seattle, Green Lake is the running loop. People will drive from all over to run around Green Lake. A real see and be seen loop in the summer. Plus every quarter mile is marked so it’s great for a workout off the track.

Burke Jacket + Gilman Vest

The Burke Gilman is another go-to running trail in Seattle. Flat and paved, this trail connects much of Seattle and packed with runners (and cyclists) year-round.

Roga Short in Stirling

No, Stirling wasn’t a typo it was named for Washington state running prodigy Brigid Stirling who went on to run for UC Irvine and was named All American in 1989.

Lesley Knicker, Lesley Tight

Named after Oiselle designer, Lesley, who worked closely with the brand in its early years.

Lesko Bra

The Lesko Bra arrives this spring, named after one-of-a-kind friend: Sarah Lesko.

Rundelicious

This top is named after our good friend Miss Rundelicious Twinkle Toes. Nope.

Hard to believe, but NYC is so close we can smell the porta-potties! Before we fly out to the big city, we were excited to circle back for a little Q&A with our charity partner, Christy Turlington Burns and Every Mother Counts (EMC).

If you haven't heard, EMC is a fantastic, women-led organization that focuses on maternal health around the world. (The 2-minute video below is a powerful visual explanation of EMC's mission and why Team EMC is running the NYC Marathon.)

As both the apparel sponsor and personal fans of EMC, we wanted to hear how Christy started marathoning, and how she feels about everything from training, to EMC, to NYC fashion week, and more...

Oiselle Q&A with Christy Turlington Burns

1. We understand your first marathon was NYC in 2011. How did that come about?
We got a random call in late July of 2011 offering Every Mother Counts ten spots in the ING NYC Marathon. I knew I could fill the spots with friends who were runners but then couldn't resist the chance to run for the first time.

2. Had you run much prior to training for New York?
I was running 3-5 miles a few times a week, and have done that periodically throughout my life. Once i got it into my head that I would run I started increasing my runs and pretty soon I was running 10 miles and feeling good so I just kept at it. My running mantra was literally, "I can do this, I can do this."

3. When you started to train, what did you find you liked most about running? And what did you like least?
I loved getting outdoors and being disconnected. No music, no phone. Just me. But, it gets pretty humid in New York in the summer and there were days when it felt like I was running in a steam shower. And, then I started losing my toe nails…during sandal season...

4. Did you shop for running clothes, or just use athletic apparel you already owned?
I wore clothing I already had around and wore shoes I had had for years. It wasn't till September when the race was within sight that I went to Paragon to get some gear and even then the options weren't great.  
 

5. What running shoes do you wear?
Last year I ran in Brooks but my feet took a beating in the actual race so this summer I tried some Nikes and have stuck with them. My feet seem much better so far with a lot more miles on them.

6. How has your training been different for 2012 than it was last year?
Well, for starters I kept the running up throughout the year, just in case. Not as regularly or long but I kept it up.  I think I had all of 12 weeks to train last year and this year I started much sooner. I also did a bit more cross training. I practiced yoga, went to a weekly spin class the last month or two and more ab work. 

7. Is there synergy between running a marathon and Every Mother Counts? If so, what?
I think there is synergy between marathons and all health related organizations but for EMC we found an incredible link to one of the biggest barriers pregnant women around the world face when accessing critical maternity care and that is distance. Some women have to walk a minimum of 5k just to access basic care but countless others have much further to go and 26.2, the distance of a marathon, is not an uncommon distance for a woman to have to travel to access emergency obstetric care. Every time I go out for a run, I think about this and it keeps me going. Our team motto for the race is "We are running so others don't have to walk."

8. The film you directed, “No Woman, No Cry” is a powerful story about women (and families) struggling to find balance, health, medicine. How were you able to connect with the women so closely and gain their trust?
Our approach changed a little in each country but in each we came to know our heroines through the health care providers in each so there was already a fair amount of trust earned through them by the time we met them. Each woman was told about our film and those who gave consent then allowed us into their homes or into clinics and hospitals. We met with dozens of women but ultimately much fewer that we were able to follow for longer periods of time. We had a very small team of mostly women and were very respectful of their comfort level at all times. The women in the film chose us as much as we chose them. Some of them understood what it was we were hoping to capture and that made the process so much smoother. We have since gone back to every country with the film and continue to stay in touch with most of the participants.

9. When you talk to people about maternal health, what are they most surprised to hear?
I think many people assume that maternal health is a given and that access isn't a problem for most. Once people hear the facts about maternal mortality, that hundreds of thousands of girls and women die each year from largely preventable causes, they start to question why and who. These are important questions to ask and if more of us start asking them, we will likely start to get some answers. People might not be totally outraged to learn that women in developing countries are dying in pregnancy and childbirth but when they learn that women are dying here too, it gets their attention. The US is ranked 50th in the world, behind Saudi Arabia and Bulgaria, yet we spend more per capita on health care than any other developed nation. However 99% of the global deaths do occur in developing countries, and 66% of them in just 11 countries. Almost all of these deaths are preventable.

10. What are the ages of your kids, and what do they think about your running?
My daughter just turned nine and my son will be seven in February. They were really into the race last year and came out to Brooklyn to cheer me on and then were at the finish line. They held their signs they made that read, "Run Mommy, Run!" 

11. When you’re tired, but need to get out the door for a run, what motivates you?
I have learned that no matter how tired I am, I will feel better after that run. I always do. I do procrastinate sometimes and am not an early riser but I do know once I get going I will be happy that I got out there.

12. What’s your favorite place to run in NYC?
I run up and down the westside highway. Its close to my apartment and the kid's school and its easy to mark the miles. Running up to and around Central Park and down is pretty nice.

13. Do you run with friends, solo, with or without music?
I most often run alone but on the longer ones we have been meeting up as a team and that's a welcome break. I got used to running without music early on and so never listen to anything. I like the peace and quiet.

14. What are your plans for getting enough fuel and fluid during the NYC Marathon?
I stick to what I know and what worked pretty well last year. I drink water and eat a few packets of gu. I always bring extra but haven't exceeded two to three ever. 

15. Do you have a time goal this year, or are you just running by feel?
I ran last year's race in 4:20 and I had a goal then of as close to 4 as possible. I would love to get closer to 4 than last year.

16. Do you have a mantra, or thought, that gives you strength and gets you to the finish line?
I may go back to my original mantra, "I can do this, I can do this." Last year I had a tough time going into the Bronx and my friend said, "remember those mothers," and that did the trick.

17. What is your favorite part of the NYC Marathon course?
I loved running through all the Brooklyn neighborhoods. I felt good and the adrenalin was pumping pretty much all the way through. The crowds were awesome!

18. You've practiced yoga for quite a while. Do you find them to be complementary?
I have practiced yoga for more than twenty five years. I do think that running and yoga are complementary. You kind of have to do yoga if you run a lot, don't you? I apply the focus and precision of yoga and meditation to the running.

19. Sorry, shameless fashion question: who are your favorite designers today?
I really don't follow fashion very closely but I have a couple of favorites that I know I can go to and look stylish without much fuss. I like Isabel Morant and Rag & Bone. I also like Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs for special occasions

20. Did you go to any shows during fashion week, and if so, which were your favorites?
I only went to one, but honestly I regretted going as soon as I got there. There is just no reason for me to be there. It’s not fun for me and I don't enjoy looking at clothes in front of thousands of other people. 

21. Is there anything in the fashion world that you’d like to see cross over to running apparel?
I guess I would want to see a wider palette range in sports apparel. I like neutrals and earthy colors and don't see as much of that out there, particularly in footwear.

22. If you could do any other marathon in the world, which one would it be?
I don't know. Ask me again after November 4th.

Happy Fast Friday!

We've been dreaming of a Oiselle bumper sticker and Sally has created six rad designs (IMO). BUT we need to pick one. That's where you all come in!

Vote for your favorite bumper sticker by telling @oiselle by hashtag on Twitter. 5 lucky birds will win a Oiselle bumper sticker hot off the presses when we make them.*

Votes will tallied on Monday at 7:30am PST. So you have all weekend to campaign for your favorite!

*Can't guarentee that we'll print your #1 fave, but we'll send you the one we end up printing.

New Fall 2012 Collection: Clearly Running Jacket & Vest new, product review meta: One of the new Fall 2012 pieces we’re most excited about here at Oiselle are the Clearly Jacket and Clearly Vest. It’s no secret that Seattle is known for being gray and rainy.

One of the new Fall 2012 pieces we’re most excited about here at Oiselle are the Clearly Jacket and Clearly Vest. It’s no secret that Seattle is known for being gray and rainy. And while there are cities in the USA picking up more inches of rain per year, we deal with a steady day in day out misty rain for the majority of the year. To keep up mileage without becoming as drippy as the winter days you need to have the right gear. 

When we set out to design and create the perfect rain jacket we knew what we wanted. It needed to be rain resistant while maintaining high breathability. We wanted rain to stay out but also want the sweat to be pulled away from you body and out. No one likes a jacket sauna. 

What we ended up with is a fabric that provides the best of both worlds. The clearly jacket and vest have a 10,000mm waterproof rating, and moisture permeability of 20,000mm.

Understanding waterproof ratings

• 0mm: not waterproof in any way.
• 0mm-1000mm: rain resistant, but not waterproof.
• 1000mm-5000mm: rainproof but not waterproof under pressure (sitting on or leaning against wet surfaces).
• 5000mm-15,000mm: totally rainproof and generally waterproof unless under serious pressure.
• 15,000mm-30,000mm: totally waterproof. Can withstand shallow-depth submersion without leaking (fishing waders, drysuits for sailing).
• 35,000mm and up: Solid vessels and non-porous materials. Nalgene bottles, rubber galoshes, aircraft carriers.

(above table references Backcountry Beacon post)

At 10,000mm the Clearly Jacket and Vest fabric falls into the 5,000mm – 15,000. Rainproof, but not 100% waterproof. What sets this fabric apart is that it is a knit.

It stretches, moves easily, and never restricts your arm swing or movement. You’ll feel as comfortable as though you were wearing a regular knit top, but with all the benefits of a jacket: warm, rain and wind resistant. Plus all the bells and whistles a running jacket should have: four zip pockets, added vent at back top for extra ventilation, elastic at wrists (extra Garmin protection) and slight scoop at neck so you don't get any chin rubbing.

Mac Wear Test
We had our first truly rainy day here in Seattle in many months and I was excited to take the Clearly Jacket out for The Monday Night Run with Super Jock n Jill. I layered my Heathered Tech Top under the jacket threw on my stride shorts and headed out into the rain.

The temperature was is the low 50s. The jacket was a little too warm for those conditions so I ran with the sleeves pushed up. The fabric is so stretchy and light, it was incredibly comfortable to roll the sleeves right up. None of that that crunchy, awkward jacket feel with the weird Velcro wrist adjustments.

You know a garment is passing the test, when you forget to think about it. After rolling up the sleeves I didn’t think another thing of the jacket. Just chatted with the Monday Night Run group faithful as we splashed through rain and puddles.

After the run the buyer at Super Jock n Jill, Daniel, asked how the jacket was. Oh! Yes, the jacket. It was great! I unzipped the jacket to find my shirt underneath slightly damp, whether from sweat or rain I’m not sure. All I know is I felt dry and warm, but never stifled or hot, the entire 8 mile run through rainy dark Seattle.

Verdict: Need to buy the vest for  45°-55° days and will layer long sleeves under jacket for 37° - 45° and rain.

Another #FastFriday is upon us! This week it's all about the 26.2 in honor of the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

#FastFriday Twitter Contest October 5

How to enter: 

1. Follow @oiselle on Twitter
2. Find the #FastFriday tweet (today: "What was your 1st marathon? RT + answer to win 26.2 tee of your choice! #fastfriday")
3. RT the #FastFriday message with your answer. *This week if you haven't run a marathon yet you can also submit your goal marathon or dream marathon.

And you can win one of our saweet 26.2 tees...seen below.

Shop Big Marathon Long Sleeve Tee

Shop Classic 26.2 Tee

Shop Big Marathon Short Sleeve (Some Runners Go All The Way)

Big Apple Win
I'm standing in the middle of the street, looking down Manhattan's stick straight avenue as far as I can, and all I see is... open. No cars, no congestion. It's a runner’s fantasy. Mine, at least, since first fighting with clogged sidewalks and busy streets in search of Central Park. Except, this is no dream. This is Saturday, me, standing at the start of New York Road Runner's annual 5th Avenue Mile. And, in a slightly nightmarish twist, all the lights are red.

"Will the signals change when we start the race?" I ask Sam Grotewold, NYRR Manager.

"For you, of course." *

Reassuring. I don't have to worry about breaking the law in my first road race.

Path to the start
Yep, this was competitive road race numero uno. It only took me nine years of track to get here. I won't recount that whole story, just some summer recap to catch you up.

I took a break from training early this summer, to allow a needed mental break from the frantic build up to the trials. Then I started back for a long base-building phase (another first). In that time, I was able to review and distill a lot of the advice I'm been getting over the past months.

The biggest thing to remember, as Gags reminds us every time he emails, texts, or calls: NO INTENSITY. Upping intensity and volume at the same time just increases chances of illness and injury. If the only thing I do this fall is stay healthy, I will have put myself in a better position than any season since high school. Easier said than done.  Especially coming off a short season, feeling like I have more to prove. It really is necessary for Gags to include that reminder in every bit of correspondence. Patience seems to be the difference, the key that transforms the science of training into the art of self-awareness.

How to run a road mile
Clearly, I am still mastering the art of patience, as I find myself racing not two months into training. Being in the NYRR Road Mile Championship heat was great. Competitive, yet not the ball-busting times of the pros who followed us. More than a race, this was a reunion. A way to reconnect with the east and the running community. When I heard about the event, it seemed too cool to pass up. And too cool it was. Over 5,000 people competed, in heats that went all morning. There were DJs spinning every quarter mile, a troop of dancers with about 200 to go, and people lining the street to watch.

Despite the activity, I also felt a tinge of loneliness at showing up solo. Which is why the NYC Oiselle meet-up came at the perfect time. We sat and chatted in Le Pain Quotidien for about thirty minutes. Relaxed and comforting, it was a great way to forget about nerves.

Talking with distance-oriented runners, I was asked a few times how to prep for a road mile. (My first reaction: eek! I don't know!). But upon reflection, it mimicked my familiar track training. Gags gave me a few faster workouts in the weeks leading up. In addition to normal summer tempos and fartleks, I had some 800s and 400s at race speed.

As for the race itself, the biggest difference between the road and the track, is the lack of game playing. On the road, there are fewer changes of pace, and really one chance to make your move. Be patient! (Again, from Gags). We could see the finish as soon as cresting the hill at 800 meters, with half the race remaining. Not the time for a kick.

Things to work on
Peter Walsh, of Coogan's, famed track bar, approached me after the race - eyes gleaming. He had been riding in the lead car. They made a game of choosing the winner right at the start. And I had been his lucky pick for my heat. "It was in your eyes, I could tell you wanted it most." Then, lest he boost my ego too much, "the other girls had smoother, prettier strides, but I just knew." Mmm... okay? Net compliment? I'll take it for now. And get back to my drills, core, and runner curls to buff up that stride.

Looking ahead: Patience!
I got a small dose of celebrity post-race: camera and stage interviews. But Gags was sure to put me in my place, remind me not to get too excited over this, it's only September, and what I need is focus and training. Really, watching Brenda Martinez kill it in the pro heat, with a time of 4:24, was enough to sober me up. There is hard work ahead.

And still, hope. At a catered dinner at Coogan's later that night, the same Peter recounted Brenda's first appearance at 5th Ave, two years ago. She had come in last in the pro section, discouraged at a time that was slower than the B heat. After a great first experience, with support from friends lining the street, and across the country, I am so excited to return next year. I can't wait to find how my story will have developed between now and then. Stay tuned!

*Note: In fact, the stoplights did not turn green at the gun. My thought that NYC DOT would change coordinated timing to accommodate a group of runners for 20 blocks may have been a bit presumptuous. We started to the sight of only red. Then, a few hundred meters in, all changed to green. Then, I stopped noticing. Could that be an analogy to the mind over matter, make your own destiny, mentality of racing? I’ll take it.

It reminds me of a personal favorite track quote, from Danny Harris:
"No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day. When I look into their eyes, I know I'm going to beat them."

One day I asked Christy Turlington on a run...the unlikely story of what happened next

As a company with a weird French name, I like to think Bastille Day had something to do with it. But in fact, it was just a typical Saturday…a bit of sleeping in, followed by relax time with the family, the newspaper, and my coffee cup. Scanning my Twitter feed, one from Christy Turlington (@CTurlington) caught my eye:

Awesome message. I promptly re-tweeted it. And then I looked at her feed. Wait, what? She was in Seattle for the weekend. She was attending an event at the Gates Foundation, representing Every Mother Counts (EMC), an advocacy group she founded to reduce maternal mortality in childbirth, worldwide. I knew she had run the NYC Marathon to raise funds for EMC last year, so being all kinds of forward, I invited her and Erin Thornton (@ETThornton), EMC’s Director, to join us on our long run the next day. She kindly replied that they were flying out that evening, and wouldn’t be able to, but “thanks.” After an OMG-I-just-tweeted-with-a-celebrity moment, I asked her about training, and whether EMC had an apparel sponsor. Several DMs later, I was – unbelievably – driving to her hotel to discuss NYC and a potential partnership.

(For the 2% of you who haven’t heard of Christy Turlington, be good peeps and Google her. Hello? Iconic beauty, super model, actress, philanthropist, marathoner…she is a legit hero, having dedicated herself to a cause that is way bigger than any of us, and in which she has been able to effect real change.)

Fast forward two short months, and we are extremely happy (superlatives fall short) to announce that Oiselle is the official athletic apparel sponsor of Every Mother Counts, and the EMC Team of 50 men and women who are all running the NYC Marathon to raise funds for EMC.

As a women’s apparel company, we’re thrilled to be getting on board. What we’ve learned is that 90% of maternal deaths during childbirth can be prevented, and there is so much progress to be made. In fact, it was her own experience that led Christy to create the documentary, “No Woman, No Cry,” which includes stories from Tanzania, Bangladesh, Guatemala and the U.S. “No Woman, No Cry” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010 and since then, has been screened around the world at global health conferences, film festivals, universities and televised on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network and several other international networks. It is a powerful film…I highly recommend it!

Oiselle + EMC. As EMC’s official apparel sponsor, we will be supporting the cause in two ways:

1) Donating 40% of the net proceeds of our EMC Collection to Christy’s charity. The EMC collection, available exclusively on oiselle.com and available at the end of September, includes men’s and women’s tees, sweatshirt, draw cord backpack, and arm warmers. Quantities are limited, so be sure to subscribe to our email list to be the first to find out about availability!

2) By running in select events and fundraising. Despite having written off marathons this Spring, I will be running the NYC Marathon this November, and our Seattle crew at HQ will be running the Seattle Half Marathon during Thanksgiving weekend. I have started a Crowdrise page (Yo, “Five Boroughs or Bust”) to raise funds – and if you are interested in donating, I would be honored for any support that helps me get to my goal of $2,500.

The Oiselle office (Kate, JJ, Mac, me and KMet) model the new Oiselle/EMC Singlet…watch for it in NYC!

Christy and the EMC crew open their first box of Oiselle-made goodies. Yes peeps, that’s a “Run EMC” shirt. You know you want it!

Thank you Christy, Erin, Clancy, Kathy and all the fabulous women of EMC…for doing what you do, and joining forces with us.

Thank you also to the Oiselle friends and family community…who continue to believe not only in us, but what women do together – in support of many causes, and bonded by our love of the sport.

Thanks for reading, and hope to see you out on the roads!

>> SHOP EMC COLLECTION HERE

This morning I arrived at Oiselle HQ to find Jacquelyn bouncing around with news that Jamie Lee Curtis was on the Today Show wearing a Oiselle tee! We pulled the interview up on the computer and watched. Sure enough the Big Run tee appears on the one and only Jamie Lee Curtis as she recounts the experience of her first 5k. Squealing ensued. Jamie Lee Curtis is wearing Oiselle! And just … what?! Jamie Lee Curtis and I totally own the same shirt.

I synced it up to where she talks about her 5k goal/accomplishment below:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The entire interview is interesting and inspiring. You can view it here. Jamie Lee Curtis was being interviewed to talk about the release of her latest children's book "My Brave Year of Firsts". She wrote it because it struck here while parents ask their children to take risks, try new things and explore we as adults are often, hypocritically, static in our ways. The foods we eat, the route we drive, the things we can and can't do.

One thing Jamie Lee Curtis realized she’d never done was run a mile. So she signed up for a 5k and trained. She showed up alone in a crowd of thousands and accomplished her goal (decked out in the Oiselle Big Run Tee). Sounds like the start of so many runners’ stories. Which is perhaps why we see more and more people joining the running movement. It’s something challenging and new, something exciting and empowering and really when it boils down to it, it’s easy to start. Get shoes, map a route and go. You just have to say yes to the challenge and that’s the hard part.

I really identified with her message of ‘never stop exploring’. Recently I’ve been struggling with complacency in my life. I find that all too often my days look just like each other. I sleep, eat, run, work, watch tv. I’ve dropped my reading, I’ve been lazy about making plans with friends, I don’t seek out the new around me. Some of that can be blamed on being tired from training, sure, but “new” is exhilarating. I know I can find energy in the doing. I can find life in curiosity.

As a new season draws closer, it’s the perfect time to set new goals, to challenge ourselves and explore. How about you? What goals do you have this fall? What new experieces will you seek?

Sally and I aren't at Oiselle HQ today. We're en route to Sandy Oregon. Not the adjective, the noun. We are running Hood to Coast! But not together. Sniff. I am running with Team Nuun. You may rememeber my video application for the team. If not I've shamelessly included it at the very bottom of this post. And Sally is running for the legendary Baba Yaga. Seriously legendary. Google them! In fact, let me Google them for you.

This is my first time at the circus, but not Sally's. In fact, one of the first things I saw when I walked in to Sally's house was her 1994 Hood to Coast team photo. She ran HTC in 92, 93, 94, and 09. Three early years with a team called "Chicks that Crank" who placed 2nd in the Open Women's Div all 3 years. And in 2009 Sally ran on a mixed masters team. The woman just can't get enough.

Over the last few years HTC has come up quite a few times. I've tried to wrap my head around the experience, I even bought and watched the movie. But I don't think it'll click until I'm running with my team cheering on our last runner as she crossing the finish line. But here's all the advice I've gathered from Sally in no particular order:

1. All woman teams are best. Men tend to become 14 years old when riding in vans over long periods of time. I read this as: women tell better fart jokes.
2. Eat some real food. Don't subsist on bars and gels. Expo tummy on the run = no fun.
3. No pooping in yards! That's a penalty.
4. You think you'll have time to sleep. You won't.
5. You will become best friends with those 6 women in your van by the finish line. There's something about the relay journey that ties you for life. No, you won't like braid each other's hair and have weekly slumber parties but they will always hold a special spot in your runner heart.
6. Double points for swoosh road kills.
7. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy there is nothing like it!

You can follow us both on the interwebs as we make our way to Seaside.

Sally
Twitter: @oiselle_sally
Instagram: @oiselle

Mac
Twitter: @oiselle_mac #nuunhtc
Instagram: @smariemack
Blog: www.runningstarfish.com

And to follow all the Hood to Coast fun, follow #htcrelay on Twitter and Instagram.

Oh, and please Tweet us if you're running HTC, we'll be sure to try and say hi!!

(nunn htc application)