It’s the beginning of September, which means cross country teams around the country are quickly approaching their first races. The beginning of the season is dedicated to laying a foundation of fitness. Building a strong base - of mileage and habits - that will support you throughout the long and grinding competitive season.

But starting a season isn’t reserved for the young’ins and pros — we can all benefit from a window where we focus on our foundation. So with that in mind, our September Wheels Up Challenge is dedicated to doing just that. We’re present to you - The Oiselle Start of Season Power Up. Pick one area to focus on, or work on them all, and share your tips, tricks, and progress! The start of a competitive season is most enjoyable when the hard work is shared with your teammates.

1. Get Your Sleep - Training works best when you put your sleep first. Everyone's life demands are different but if you shoot for at least 8 hours each night you're giving yourself a good chance for recovery. Whether it’s a 'go-to-sleep’ reminder alarm on your phone, a wind-down routine, or just the ruthless prioritization of sleep in your schedule. 
2. Drink Up - Hydration is a habit that’s critical for any athlete. Load up that water bottle and make sure you’re replenishing fluids all day. Juices and other drinks with electrolytes are encouraged for high sweat times. 
3. Talk Positive - Success starts in the mind. Listen carefully to your own self talk, and make sure to combat any negative slip ups with believing in yourself. Build a case for yourself. You’ll see it show up when training gets tough.
4. Slow Down - How easy are you running those easy miles? Maybe not easy enough. Make sure your easy miles are slow enough to really build an aerobic foundation and aid recovery. And for those rushing around their busy lives, don’t forget to slow down there too. A practice of mindfulness lives in the toolkit of many successful athletes.
5. Rest Hard - Our days off are where we get stronger, so protecting them in your training schedule is critical (hello #restdaybrags). We recommend foam-rolling, recovery yoga, and being a couch potato when your schedule permits. 

Join your teammates and start the season off strong. Post your progress with #WheelsUp17 #PowerUp5  - we can't wait to see all your hard work!

Dream big,

At 26, I had a mid-20’s crisis… It’s a thing, really. I realized I wasn't good at anything. I skirted around hobbies and projects, trying things on and then ditching them in the gutter weeks later to chase something else shiny. I was a professional quitter, except I never got paid. I had never gotten the thrill of accomplishing something to completion on my own terms.

So, I had an idea: to run a marathon. YES! That will be the answer to everything. I’ll train and run it, and then I will finish that f*cker and prove to myself and all those crappy bad brain voices who kept laughing at me that and stopped me from accomplishing anything. YES. Now, all I needed to do is start running.

The months that followed were a stop/start version of attempting to run, making mistakes, wearing the wrong bra and shoes, crying, cursing and eating everything in sight (‘cause I was almost a runner). After an entire year, I completed my very first 5k. Yes, a whole year of training for 3.1 glorious miles. I ran the whole thing and cried like a baby at the end. 3.1 miles. Yep.

So, now marathon training is in full force. I had one picked out in Southern California in 6 months, The Long Beach International Marathon. It just sounded flat and perfect for my debut as a marathoner. But in those 6 months, things happened. I went on a honeymoon, then got laid off from my job, I got a fun bout of depression and oh, right, I had to train for a marathon. I had no job, and the running was helping with the brain and depression. Every morning, I got out and ran with my yellow Walkman and backpack full of They Might Be Giants and The Breeders cassette tapes. This was before Gamins, so I ran with a calculator watch (which was so awesome) as my mile timer. And if you typed in 80085 it looked like BOOBS which was hysterical at 15 miles… I digress.

A 17 miler was on the schedule and my head just was like, 'NOPE! F*ck this, let’s quit!! It’s so much easier than running 17 miles and you are SO much better at quitting.' So, I did. I quit for a whole week, and then the following week, went out and ran 17 miles. It was an unprecedented moment in my life. I went and did something that was hard, and for me, and I did it on purpose. I had done many hard things in my life, but this time it was for me, and I wanted to quit so, so badly. But here’s the funny thing; quitting stopped serving me. It had worn out its welcome and I officially bid it adieu. 17 miles was so hard, but then I realized, it’s just running. It’s just my legs, my heart and The Breeders were all going out for a 4 hour sweat party.

Then 9-11-01 fell upon the nation. As with the rest of the world, I was broken by it. It was just the May before I was spinning under those twin towers when we were on our honeymoon. My brain kicked in and was yelling. “Perfect!! You can quit now! It’s such a perfect OUT. You are too sad to run, it’s all too much.” I thanked my brain for sharing, put my headphones on and completed my training. I had to stop and sit on the sidewalk and bawl my eyes out when a sad song came on. All those people, that city, the fear, the new world, cry, keep running, rinse, repeat… for 20 miles.

When I showed up at the starting line of the marathon, there was a firefighter from New York there in full uniform, holding a huge flag. Yup, I am going to run a marathon, and that guy is going to run it with me with 2000 other people. And we did, together.

I didn’t cry at the end, but it was the first time I had the feeling of, “If I can do this, I can do anything.” Hard work and passion can move mountains and heal.

I have run 12 marathons since then and one ultra, for you see, it is just running. You just have to want to do it, and be open to the lessons down the road.

BY: DEVON YANKO

If there is one thing in life that is constant, it is that everything will change. Sometimes things just gently refine, sometimes things do a complete 180 turnabout and go the other direction. Sometimes change is gentle, sometimes it is sudden and shocking.

Photo: Glen Delman Photography

I feel like I have a lived my life a little bit like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The path long and winding with ample highest of highs, lowest of lows. Filled with change, growth, adaptation, curiosity and challenge. Along the way, I have tried to always stay open to change, challenge certainty and be willing to be humbled or even go back to the drawing board. This year has been on particularly zippy and unpredictable, it has again forced me to examine, forced me to wipe the sand from my face while face down in the arena, forced me to learn, grow and change. The layers of force upon me at times have felt immense, like everything I held to be true was at once threatened. But I have found, that under such immense pressure often comes the greatest clarity. When you are reduced down to your lowest, you stop hiding from yourself and you start examining the parts about yourself that you want to take with you when you rumble and rise again.

The Wild Ride of this year has taken me all over the globe and to the deepest reaches of myself at the same time. I fought back from injury to race again, I found out how to give myself grace in the process of coming back, I learned the meaning of true real friendship, I examined the assumptions I made about myself and I made about others. I felt every color in the emotional rainbow. I did it (it being life and any manner of things) the wrong, clumsy way. I found myself in many deadends. But I kept the faith in change. That things could get better, things could be different, that I could find a new stasis.

And slowly, over the summer things calmed down for me. I calmed down too, I let go some of the fire inside that had just been burning me up anyways. I tried a new and novel approach to the way I interacted with the world, or at least, I tried to.

Amidst this transition over the summer, I made the decision to run Leadville 100 mile. Leadville has been on my bucket list since even before I started running ultras. I have been in love with Leadville and the Colorado mountains since I first set foot there in 2009 and did a double hoop pass crossing with friend Bryon Powell after driving 20+ hours straight from California. I have been signed up for the race two times before, first unable to do it because I was still working on the bakery night shift. Last year I was super excited to race Leadville after a good race at Western States. But after traveling to Colorado to try and get altitude adapted, I found myself in a very physically depleted state and unable to race. I have never thought Leadville would be easy despite the fact that some people think it is. In fact, if you do your homework you’d find that few people (besides Ian Sharmain) have really nailed it every single time. Running at 10,200 feet is no joke and so I have always respected the challenge. This summer as my perspective, attitude and outlook changed, I found myself excited to take on the journey. It didn’t hurt that I had some training under my belt and that altitude didn’t totally suck when I trained in Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes and Colorado.

I knew that Leadville would be an extreme test of me physically, but I also knew it would be even more of a mental quest for me. I wondered if under the extreme stress of racing a competitive ultra at high altitude with so many different factors would have me default to old behavior, beliefs and thought patterns or if I would be able to keep perspective.

Many people must assume since I am fast/have been competitive in the past, that my goal must always include winning. However, for Leadville that goal, while on the list, was pretty far down the list of priorities. My goal was to finish and more important even was to run happy, run calm, be incredibly gracious to everyone out of course from my crew, to pacers, to volunteers, to spectators. Frankly, I just wanted to be the happiest damn person out there. Because really when you consider it, ultras should be fun, challenging as hell, but fun. We are not changing the world, but I wondered if I could be the type of person in the race that positively affects the world. Can I always be gracious? Can I smile and be encouraging? Can I lift other people up along the way? Can I inspire people to see themselves and treat themselves differently?

Leaving Twin Lakes out bound at mile 40, with HOKA teammate Mike Wardian. Photo: Amy Leedham

Approaching this race this way is a big change for me. While I have often approached races with calm, in the past few years my emotional wild horses have run amok at times and taken me to some very dark places, mostly of my own creation. Everyone by now has seen me crying in Billy Yang’s film “Life in a Day” sitting in the chair, trying to convince myself to keep going. Yes, I was having some minor physical problems, but the deep dark self-worth questioning places my mind went go far beyond that. The narrative of my biggest races last year was “Devon runs great, Devon gets mentally annihilated temporarily by mental demons and nearly quits race, Devon comes out of it and hard charges to the finish triumphant”. Dramatic and honestly, not super fun for me to spend so much time thinking super unkind things about myself. Also, in hindsight, I am not proud of who I was at all times during those races. I spent very many miles angry at one of the kindest best people I know who has been a great mentor to me in the sport because he wasn’t at an aid station (through no fault of his own I came to find out). I didn’t want my crew to experience the stress of me being emotionally on edge (hearing stories of me crying and sitting in an aid station), I didn’t want to show anger to people who were there to support me. Heck, I didn’t want to even be so wrapped up in my own self that I forgot to look up and see the volunteers and supporters out there along the way and give them my gratitude.

I wanted Leadville to have a different storyline. I hoped that having a different storyline would also allow me to run my physical best as well. And so, at 4am on August 19th, I set out into the dark to find out. I had prepped my crew with the perspective I wanted to have: it was all about dance parties (I even bought glow sticks) and earning a big ass belt buckle. We set out into the dark and I settled in with fellow sea-level bay area friends for “SFRC saturday group run, Leadville edition”. We chatted, I ran according to my plans of staying comfortable and easy and let the race go ahead of me. At every aid station, I smiled and thanked the volunteers. I kept my heart and mind light, I let myself be buoyed by all the awesome spectators who were out supporting their runners (with over 600 runners you get great crowds at aid stations!). I dance partied my way over Powerline to the most amazingly ridiculous pop music. I ran my race, the way I wanted.

When I had my first low spot as I began the first crazy big climb up Hope Pass, my head dizzy, my energy low. I just threw my hands in the air and yelled out loud “PLOT TWIST” and immediately fell into stitches laughing. This low spot was not where the story ended and it was certainly not where I was going to let it derail my happy mind. It was just my body reacting to running 40 plus miles at altitude! I kept my eyes on the goal of just getting to the top with a smile. And I did. And I felt better. And I felt proud that I had weathered the storm.

Photo: Sufferfest Beer

I picked up my pacer husband Nathan at mile 50 and we were zooming back towards the second and much harder climb up Hope Pass. I was having fun telling everyone person that was heading out towards the turn around of the out and back race “great job”, “you are rocking it” “good work”. And then I caught a toe and landed hard, hitting my head on a rock so loud Nathan could hear the thud. I wrecked my forearm and nearly cramped. I jumped up quickly and momentarily angry at myself declared “I just want to keep going”. Nathan grabbed me and bear hugged me and wouldn’t let me. “Just take a minute. You can cry.” I had said I wouldn’t cry this race but in the moment, it was the right release. I took a moment, reset and let it go. And pretty soon we were back to hauling ourselves towards the summit.

100 miles is a long time to keep your mind occupied and I have come to realize through my experiences that sometimes your mind will just come up with problems to chew on as the miles drag on and on. When I took the lead just before mile 60, my mind had a new thing to wrap itself around: Holy CRAP I am winning (yeah!!), Holy CRAP I am winning this thing (anxious!). But, with the help of my pacers, I just kept focused, I remembered to smile, I sang silly songs, I leaned in to a calm and contented mind. I focused on being physically strong and let my mind reflect that. When I came into the final aid station, my crew told me that I didn’t have an exceedingly comfortable lead (only 18 minutes) and that I would have to run hard for those final 13.5 miles. Maybe a look of concern flashed across my face at that moment because Nathan said, “but this is what you do. No one closes like you do.” And the fire was lit, the joy was there, the fun challenge of the push ahead. My pacer Rebecca and I took off into the dark and ran our hearts out.

Photo: Mario Fraioli

We ran uphill on the darkest longest stretch of fire road and the whole time, I wouldn’t let myself believe quite yet that I was going to win the race. A race that has meant so much to me for so long and I was going to win. I didn’t want to give in to the truth because I knew if I disturbed my calm mind with that ecstatic truth that I might just start crying tears of joy and crying makes it very hard to breathe at altitude while running uphill. With one mile to go, my amazing crew, Amy and Braden, and Nathan joined Rebecca and I as we ran quietly through the sleepy streets of Leadville. When I crossed the finish line to take the win, I felt the sweet sweet relief of being done running after 20:46. And I was thrilled. But only as thrilled as I had been all day. I was thrilled that the work I’d done to be the person I was on that day was able to remain true even under the stresses and pressures. My life did not change because of my run at Leadville, I changed and therefore was able to have the run I did at Leadville.

And life will keep on changing. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride will continue to have its twists and turns. But one thing I am certain that I want to carry with me is the joy, gratitude and calm that I so throughly tested at Leadville. 

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Oh how you make it so easy to disregard our strict training plans to opt for rogue days off or an easier route. It happens to the best of us. Trying to distinguish excuses from legitimate reasons, to not go for a run, hit the workout pace, sign up for a race (enter anyother activity that sounds less than desirable right now) is confusing. Even worse, if you realize you do have an excuse standing in your way, then you actually have to face it. 

So, to combat the excuse trap, here are blogs filled with motivation - Motivation that may be just a tad bit more effective than your motivational quote board on Pinterest...

EXCUSE PROOF
We can't deny an easy out is extremely tempting at times. The bed feels too cozy, or the work day seemed too long. We hear that smooth-talking voice in our head telling us not go on the we run we planned, and it's game over. In this blog, (fun GIF's and graphics included) Kelly Roberts gives us her five best tips for silencing that pesky voice, and finding the motivation to embrace the run you had planned. 

ENDURE
Who better to teach you how to endure than the Queen of Endurance herself!? Steph Bruce doesn't just know how to hop on the pain train, she gets on, and then makes herself the conductor. Steph talks us through one of her hardest workouts of her career. Despite every excuse to quit and try again another day, she finishes strong - Choosing to practice the act of enduring, over the practice of surrendering.

FLYWAY - COLLIER ON THE IMPOSSIBLE SEASON
In this piece, Collier gives snapshots of events and dialogue from a season where making excuses could have been easy, valid even (like running an ultra mid-season). But in classic Collier fashion, her admirable relentlessness and character, leads her to look past the excuses and toward the memorable experiences gained. 

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
Lauren tells the story of the 2007 USATF Championship 5,000m when she stopped on the track with 1,000m to go. Standing there, in the midst of a race consumed by self-doubt, she asked herself one question "Can you physically run?" - The answer that follows is an exemplary act of pure grit and determination.

Enjoy these reads and start building your excuse proof shield!

Excuses, we all have them! Sometimes they’re unavoidable like staying up all night with a sick kid or working to meet a deadline at work. And other times, well…they feel legitimate.

Look, this is a no judgment zone and I’m going to go on the record and say that I know for a fact that I am not the only woman who skipped a run to get an extra day out of a blowout.  

But there’s a difference between feeling run down and benefiting from an extra rest day and feeling 50 shades of unmotivated. Motivation is one tough nut to crack and even with Pinterest, where you can find a motivational meme or for every occasion, you’re still doomed to fight the urge to hit that snooze button or lay on the couch after a long day at work.

So how do you know when to give into the urge to lay in a horizontal position and when you need to woman up and bang out a run? Let’s start with this handy flowchart --

OK, so that flowchart isn’t very helpful. Here’s what it boils down to, if you’re feeling run down, tired, and fatigued, take an extra recovery day to catch up on some dynamic stretches and some sleep. Maybe go spend a romantic night with your foam roller. Maybe toss in a plank if you’re feeling really guilty. Keep it an active recovery but sleep should be at the top of your list.

And if you’re struggling to get motivated and get out the door, know that you’re not alone. If I had a dollar for every time I cried on a street corner or threw a tantrum like a two year old because I couldn’t get myself to go run, I’d be able to buy myself something real nice.

I’m the Queen of a good excuse, from “I think my hip is acting up again! I probably shouldn’t run...” to “I’m going to call my most talkative friend so that it’ll be bed time by the time I hang up”, I don’t think there’s an excuse I haven’t tried. HELL, I thought long and hard about tripping over a curb during the London Marathon so that I could have a good reason to quit!

Here are the five tips I have to make you excuse proof.

1. CHECK IN ON YOUR GOAL.

Don’t have one? Go set a new one! From running your strongest 5K to running your first marathon, if you’re struggling to get out the door, the best thing you can do is find a finish line to work towards. Once you have your finish line and your training plan, try to focus on what you can control and that’s the effort you put in today. Every single day is another opportunity to kickass and take names. Celebrate everything from the wins, the stalls, and the setbacks because the fact that you have the courage to go for it is all that matters. Throw your expectations out the window and see what you’re capable of when you just do your best.

2. FIND THE FUN!

From running with a badass lady gang, running unplugged, to running with a podcasts or playlist that makes you want to dance, you have to be persistent about cultivating fun on the run. Fun is a lot like strength, it won’t happen unless you work for it. So, step outside of your comfort zone and show up to a local flight club or enlist a neighbor, friend, coworker, or family member to train for a race together. Stick a speaker in your sports bra and try to sing Let It Go at the top of your lungs. Do whatever it takes to laugh through the pain.

3. ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE.

As frustrating as it is to have someone tell you that your attitude matters when you’re struggling, it’s true so don’t shoot the messenger! I just spent four months fighting my way back to fun running so I hear you when you say that running is absolute worst. Here’s the thing, you don’t have to run. If you’re truly miserable, take a break and do something else. Try cycling, swimming, interpretive dancing, diving, golfing, tennis, or yoga. Then, should you come to the conclusion that you’re more level headed, confident, and happier when you’re running (regardless of how much of a struggle running is), you can pick up where you left off. The sooner you can figure out how to feel grateful before you take off for a run, the less suffering you’ll do.

4. BE PATIENT.

Your relationship to running is going to ebb and flow. Sometimes, everything clicks and even your hardest runs are fun and rewarding. Other times, you feel like you’re moving through mud for weeks on end. There will always be days when you just have to lace up and get through it. Not every run is going to be a great one but it’s during those mundane and truly soul crushing runs that make you appreciate the amazing ones. Mental and physical strength doesn’t manifest itself overnight. It requires persistence and perseverance while you fight through the rough patches. They really do make you stronger. (Pro-Tip: Pinatas and F words are great ways to expel unwanted run rage.)

5. BE PURPOSEFUL WITH YOUR CHOICES.

The next time you’re struggling to get out the door, remind yourself what you’re running for. From feeling strong or seeing strength when you look in the mirror, to running down self doubt, take a second to remind yourself why you run. Then, the next time you’re struggling to get out the door, you can close your eyes and smile because you know that you’re running for something that means a hell of a lot to you.

Running is anything but easy and there will always be what feels like one hundred million good excuses not to run when you’re struggling to get motivated. So if you’re a brand new runner or a seasoned marathoner, remember this; there’s no quick fix to getting motivated. Life happens! Sometimes you have to listen to your body and take that extra rest day. But if you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of excuses, know that you aren’t alone. Reach out to your badass lady gang and remind yourself that finding your groove takes time. The sooner you can find a way to shake off those excuses, the sooner you’ll be out there kicking ass and taking names.

Last year when I was around 8-month post partum I was starting to see the light.

I had recently run a personal best in the 10,000m and snuck under the Olympic Standard. But one warm and muggy morning down the mountain from Flagstaff, on a loop where our team often trains, I had one of the worst workouts I’ve experienced in the last 4 years of my career. Worst on every front - how I felt, how I failed the paces, and how I was so far off of what I expected to be able to accomplish on the day. Coach Ben had written the workout as 3 x 3 mile with 1 mile jog rest at 5:35 pace. At the time, that would have been my half marathon effort. 

5:34 through the first mile and I knew it was going to be a bad day. I can’t exactly describe how I felt, but I was just off, sluggish and tired. I came through mile 2 in 5:42 and tried to keep squeezing down the pace. 5:37 for my last mile which had an incredible tailwind for the last 800 (I was lucky). Ben handed me water, I choked it down breathing laboriously and wiping dryness from my mouth. I told him the effort felt like I was reaching, not comfortable or relaxed.

He said, “today’s a day to grind”.

I set off for the 2nd set and tried to compose myself. 5:40 for the 1st mile, and then the doors fell off, 5:55 with Ben barely reading my split, clearly discouraged.

“Try to rally!” he shouted.

My mind screamed at my legs, "this is where we go", and I made the last left on the route. Just 1200m of open road ahead. On days where you are hurting, this long stretch of road feels so daunting. I had to keep my eyes and head focused on the ground, just to carry my feet from one step to another. 

5:43, all was not lost. 

I grabbed my water bottle from Ben, chugged as much as I could without filling up my belly, and wiped the sweat from my eyes. He was close to cutting the workout, but could tell I was fighting. He jogged with me for a minute and then said one of the best lines I’ve heard from a coach.

“Well you’ll find something out about yourself on this last one.”

I would try to run 5:45s. Clearly my target pace of 5:35s was out. I was nowhere near this. I thought if I could go into it relaxed and with a slower pace I could hit it. It was hotter and windier as the minutes went on and there were excuses all over the place to throw in the towel. I came through the mile at 5:55, and turned into the wind. The place, the moment where the workout was defined had arrived. My legs and arms were swinging in tandem but my body wouldn’t give me anymore. 

6:15 through mile 2.

I felt embarrassed, frustrated, all within a span of a mile stretch of road. My brain never gave up. I had 1 mile to go and my pain and suffering would be over. In that moment it would have been easy to run another 6 something mile and call the workout a wash. Then I pictured myself out on the race course, in the middle of a bad patch in the marathon and remembered one bad mile can’t define your race, but fighting through to find one good mile can make it. As I made the last right turn I knew I’d had that friendly tailwind behind me so if I could reach within myself I could run a respectable last mile. Everything hurt. I was tired and thirsty. I closed the workout with a 5:45 mile and a revelation about bad days. 

Bad days will happen. They are inevitable. I didn’t know at the time but this workout fell on the end of my first 90 mile week in 3 years. That’s huge. That's a win. Some mornings with the kids, just getting out the door with my watch on is a win. Days in which weather conditions are tough make for good excuses to throw in the towel on a bad workout. Although I came nowhere near hitting 5:35s, I didn’t question Ben prescribing that pace. He was testing my fitness, and had the big picture of The Olympic Trials in July front of mind. But the lesson of that workout wasn't fitness - it was the fight. Enduring is often a far greater practice than quitting.

Dream Big,

Kelly Bjork is a local Seattle artist. She launched a stationery goods studio, Pilgrim Paper Co. this past December with her partner and founder, Teresa Grasseschi and are currently in 9 Seattle locations, and 1 in Olympia! She has recently had illustrations published in the Washington Post, illustrated a cover for The Stranger, and 2 covers for Seattle Weekly. She just wrote and illustrated her first comic, One Week, that was released this past June; co-published by Mount Analogue and Cold Cube Press in their annual publication Spicy Metal. Winner of the Winter Art Walk Awards + 2nd place in the Summer Art Walk Awards for a collaboration she did with her partner, Joe Rudko, for drawings they did of one another.  She has been working on her own personal paintings since last fall and has been showing regularly again (a thing she wasn't sure she'd find her way back to!) She currently has a piece up at Zinc Contemporary (the show is up through September 2nd)! Go check it out! 

JB: WHAT'S IN YOUR BACKPACK, PURSE, POCKET, FANNY PACK RIGHT NOW? 

KB: Currently in my backpack-purse: my wallet, my tiny red calendar, a moleskin sketchbook. hand-lotion, sunglasses, my allergy pills, glasses cleaning-cloth, menstrual cup, a lighter, bobby-pins, chapstick, a wet-nap, keys and a pencil! 

KB: I often dream of having a tiny home or a cabin near a river or the ocean. I would be able to work remotely from this spot away from bustling city life, but close enough where I can visit. 

JB: WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 

KB: 9am!

JB: WHO DO YOU ADMIRE?

KB: I admire so many strong women in my community, whose voices stand up for those that cannot speak for themselves. I am not a wordsmith in any way and appreciate those who are able to find the words that I feel, but cannot articulate. I'm looking at you, Emily Pothast, Kim Selling, Sara Long, Adria Garcia, Kimberly Trowbridge, Elissa Ball, Rachel Ravitch, Chelsea Werner-Jatzke, Margie Livingston, Phoebe Wahl and Teresa Grasseschi!  

JB: WHAT IS YOUR SECRET SUPERPOWER?

KB: Cleaning the entire house in lightning speed, and I believe I am a kitty-whisperer! 

JB: WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING RIGHT NOW?

KB: I'm attempting to learn how to balance my studio life with breaks and time off, so that I don't crash and burnout -- I want to be able to make this unconventional lifestyle work in the healthiest way possible!

JB: WHAT'S THE LAST PLACE YOU TRAVELLED TO? WHY? 

KB: Humboldt County, California last spring to meet my best gal, Sara Long's family and see where she grew up! This place is so magical and it was such a treat to visit all the secret beaches with my personal local, and favorite painter!  

JB: WHO'S YOUR PIC (PARTNER IN CRUSHING IT)?

KB: My life partner, Joe Rudko. We're both working artists and trying to navigate this weird world together. Our studios are in the same building, and his work ethic motivates me like no other. I'm lucky to have a feminist partner to share a home and life with -- and our kitty, Heschke too!

JB: WHAT'S THE NEXT THING ON YOUR CALENDAR?

KB: Currently finishing up final designs of the lady superhero print for Oiselle's sports bra! I am beyond excited about this project and how it will help young women stay active. 

Also, this fall, Pilgrim Paper Co. will be releasing new batches of birthday, love + encouragement, and holiday cards! Keep your eyes peeled for those, and all our winter pop-ups!

Big thanks to Kelly for crushing it. Check out her site here!

One of the epic stories of the world is the hero returning home. Steph Rothstein Bruce started her journey in NYC as a newborn in a cabinet drawer at the Plaza Hotel (read on!), and has decided for her 2017 marathon to test her mettle through the 5 boroughs. Steph gives all of us motivation with her coaching tips and #realrunning mojo. And now we get a chance to superfan her! Countdown to NYC!! 

Steph as a baby

SL: Steph! So exciting you'll be running your first NYC marathon! Tell us about your decision to race there.

SR: I have wanted to race the NYC City Marathon ever since I became a marathoner. I know it's a tough course so part of me wanted to wait later in my career when I knew I could handle a heavy training load. I have raced on the streets of NY many times in the last 8 years and the crowds and fans are just electric. It was an easy decision when I was planning out my fall.

Steph, her brother Jamie, and their three dogs, after moving back to Long Island

SL: We know you have deep NYC roots, tell us your story! Are you the original Eloise?

SR: So on Friday the 13th of January, 1984 my very pregnant mom got on a plane from Greensboro, NC and flew to NYC. She gave birth to me the next day at Lenox Hill Hospital. That first week, since she didn't want to travel back right away we stayed at the Plaza Hotel. Rumor has it, my parents took out a drawer and put blankets in it and that was my "crib" that week. I left NY as a newborn but returned back 9 years later while my family lived on Long Island. We lived on the very east end of the island in a town called East Moriches. We only lived there for a year but my dad stayed there and I would go back during summers and holidays to visit him. My childhood NY memories were filled with Knishes, delis, Jones Beach, the Empire State Building, and Carvel Ice Cream. 

SL: NY isn't known to be a fast course, and the weather can be unpredictable. What is your strategy for mentally preparing for this race?

SR: Prepare to get really fit and see how that translates on race day. Since NYC has had fickle weather and tough conditions over the years, I'm preparing to just be in the best shape possible and make game day decisions on how to race.

Steph after finishing the California International Marathon in 2016

SL: Do you have a favorite spot on the course already picked out? One you are most looking forward to?

SR: Favorite spot? The 26 mile mark hahahaha! Honestly I don't as I've only really run the last 3 miles of the course. I've watched the race many times on tv and in person but it's hard to feel a course out when you're not actually running on it. I'm preparing for the electricity on 1st Ave and hoping to stay composed. I guess I'm really looking forward to just hearing all the fans yelling at us throughout the entire race. I love fans!

SL: Your teammate Kellyn is racing as well. How does that change your training and racing plans? 

SR: Having Kellyn during this buildup will be a great addition. Kellyn brings her A game to all of her workouts and I know she'll push me on the days that I need pushing. I'm hoping we can work together and train symbiotically this fall so we both set ourselves up to have great days in NY.

SL: Do you have a training mantra for September? 

SR: Training Mantra - Be smart, train cautiously aggressive, and keep a level head. The fitness will come. 

We'll reach back out in October to touch base. We are so thrilled to cheer you on Steph!

BY: COLLIER LAWRENCE

“I don’t care about the bread, I care what’s in the sandwich.” Lauren Fleshman has a knack for analogies; especially before we’re about to do something hard. Little bits our brains toss around keeping things simple & focused in the moment. This particular occasion was a workout this spring that started and ended with a longer rep, but what we were trying to get out of the workout was in the middle. What follows are excerpts from a stubborn commitment to an unfulfilled goal and the flexibility to get there differently. Snippets of conversations, that on their own (and maybe strung together) are insignificant, but stuck with me. A snapshot of what going from injured, to training for a half, to running an “ultra”, to qualifying for US Champs looked like. Details from a season that, fronted with a hurting heart and backed with stubborn grit, seemed unlikely; impossible if you will.

June 2016 phone call 4 weeks before Olympic Trials

“What if you aren’t made to jump things?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

July 2016 phone call, post Olympic Trials

“There’s a point, the same point, where you keep getting banged up. Step back from the steeple. Do something new. Different.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s get your hamstring better and look at some longer stuff, some road stuff, something new.”

“Alright.”

August 2016 end of season wrap up

“Maybe I’m not the right coach for you. Maybe the training isn’t right for you.”

“I didn’t get injured because of your coaching or training.”

“Think about what you want and how you want it to look and we’ll meet in a few weeks.”

August 2016 in the car with Mel

“You need to find a way to let it go. You can’t do this and be angry. You don’t have the energy to put into being angry and it won’t come from a place that’s fueled with your frustration.”

September 2016 Pre Season Planning

“Running 9:40s in the steeple isn’t unrealistic. Qualifying for the final at US Champs isn’t unrealistic. I don’t have a track record that says it is realistic. I need to be healthy. I need to be fit. I just refuse to believe that those things are unrealistic.”

“It’s not unrealistic, there are different ways that get you to the same place. You have to be willing to play the game and be willing to play it differently.”

“I want to play. I’ll do a half. I’ll do other events. I’ll run the roads. I can play differently.”

“Alright. It’s on.”

October 2016 when LF told me to pick a half

“Looking at halfs. Can’t do Houston. I don’t have a half or 10k time, which seems to be a theme.”

“Well when you only race steeples...”

“Touche. Maybe Phoenix RnR?”

“Good weather. Flat. Sounds like that’s what you’re looking for.”

November 20, 2016 post workout, weeks of consistency start to show themselves

“You’re in a fitness chute and it’s like being at a party. You’re having a great time but you’ve been drinking. Don’t make decisions when you’ve been drinking. Keep doing what you’re doing. Smart consistent work.”

Jan 15, 2017: RnR Arizona Half Marathon Race Report

Result: 1:20:08 Disappointed. Unsatisfied. Not a proper display of fitness.

How was I brilliant: On plan first four/five miles. Made the right decision to stop and go to the bathroom. Followed plan all the way through

What I would change: better pre race/warm up planning, including multiple bathroom trips pre +70’ race, recognize and respect the grind early *Know the first one out of the gate isn’t perfect and there is a learning curve*

January 20, 2017 on a treadmill, warmed up, ready to workout

“So Lesko asked me about this relay.”

“Already heard about it. I’m in.”

“...I think they want me to run it?”

“You’re driving the bus. No one training for track, no coach would say this is a good idea.”

“It feels like one of those opportunities you say yes to, even if it messes up things down the line.”

“Yeah. Max King did crazy stuff and ran really well in the steeple.”

“But I’m not going to train for an ultra.”

“No. I’m still prepping you to run 8k-10k and jump over things. That doesn’t change.”

“Okay. Same page. Excellent. What’s the workout?”

February 4, 2017: US Cross Race Report 10k

Result: 22nd, 38:15, exact same time as last year on a sloppier/harder course

How was I brilliant: gritty the whole way

What I would change: focus on chasing people on the down, not the up

February 2017 at the track, realizing Mel’s going to start racing soon

“How do we plan out my season?”

“We just have to see how you recover from the relay. Be mentally ready to not race until May. You’ll get in a good training block but everything will be delayed. Know as long as you do a good job recovering and keep doing exactly what you’re doing it will come together. There’s just going to be a delay.”

March 11, 2017 3am, navigating through the dark sandy desert

“I’m glad we said yes to this.”

“Yeah. It would have been a bummer to be sitting at home.”

April 26, 2017 at home drinking coffee, text from LF

“Are you ready to add in a little hurdling today in some form?

“Yes. I am.”

May 5, 2017 Ken Shannon pre meet

“When’s the last time you raced a 1500?”

“I don’t know. 2007? A decade ago.”

May 13, 2017: Portland Twilight Race Report

Result: 10:01.67

How was I brilliant: Raced first and foremost. Fastest steeple opener.

What would I change: Reign in antsyness the first 1k and not move around so much.

May 25, 2017 sitting on the track, unlacing my spikes after a steeple workout

“You know what I was thinking?”

“What?”

“I’m running out of time. I’m running out of race opportunities. We pushed everything back because I said yes to the Speed Project. At the same time, if I don’t make US Champs because I said yes to the Speed Project I’m okay with that.”

“That’s not a bad place to be.”

June 12, 2017 6am, AirBnB in Portland, morning after Portland Twilight

“That time from yesterday won’t get me in if three people below me race faster this week. Either I stay here and sleep on a couch OR I go home and have to come back in three days to race.”

“You have to make the best decision with the information you’re given.”

June 16, 2017 back in Portland

“What’s your plan?”

 “It’s almost like the time doesn’t matter I just can’t let the other women beat me. So whatever that takes.”

“You are experienced, mature, know how to handle a variety of shit. Own it, as you do.”

June 16, 2017: Stumptown Steeple Race Report

Result: 9:51.13, should qualify for US champs

How was I brilliant: executed plan to be with the people I wanted to beat at 2k

What would I change: stop going out in 75

June 23, 2017, day after steeple prelim, second person out of final

“You ran tough last night and went for it.”

“...those first three laps were 76- definitely paid for that.”

“You had to go for it. Would have been hard to fall back 6 seconds by yourself and then muster that last k in that sun.”

There it is. Another season I didn’t make the final at US Champs. I didn’t PR. I went to Europe confident I was, at the very least, going to get my PR and got hurt right out of the gate. So here I am, back where I started, a season done, and sandwiched with injury and unaccomplished goals. It would be dishonest to say I’m not a little upset, but this time I don’t care about the bread, I care what’s in the sandwich; it was fulfilling and far more important than really good bread.

The people have spoken! Here are the favorite races gathered from Volée, Haute Volée, and everyone that shared with us on social media. Thank you to everyone that helped us seek out the best races far and wide. From great crowd support, to fast and flat, to scenic with rolling hills... this list will definitely make the overwhelming process of race selection a little easier.

If you don’t see your favorite race listed below, leave a comment, or share on social by tagging #FaveFlyte – Because when it comes to race selection the more recommendations the better!

Click here for more information on listed races – Including quotes from race reviews, and links to race registration!

Happy racing,

Working at Oiselle comes with quite a few perks:

• Calling Lauren Fleshman a creative partner.
• Getting to talk fashion and business (and the business of fashion) with our CEO Sally Bergesen.
• Having (Dr.) Lesko as your colleague, mentor, and graston specialist.
• Hearing Kara Goucher’s stories from the sport while she rides shotgun in your car.
• Talking fitness with Steph Bruce and Devon Yanko while they prepare dinner in the kitchen of your Airbnb.
• Sharing self-confidence goals on the phone with Kelly KK Roberts while catching up on her magazine cover.
• Working to create new benchmarks for badass women (stay tuned on that one).
• Poke bowl Fridays.
• Yetis.

(Really, where do you end this list, because now it just feels like I’m bragging).

Yes, there are many perks. But one of my favorite parts of the job is learning about what goes on in the mind of an athlete when she opens the doors of her closet. "How do you want to feel? What do you reach for, and why?” An idea Sally first coined ’The Powersuit’ has become a new way to think about dressing for any occasion. As I’ve hopped around this season — from business meetings to bird camps, backyard barbecues to the bleachers at major track meets — I’ve asked, and you’ve answered, sharing your powersuit picks with me for many occasions. So, as we evolve the conversation from “how do I want to look” to “how do I want to feel”, we wanted the editorial narrative to evolve too. Our athlete’s editorial is here to help you suit up, and think first about a feeling.

READY FOR FALL FIERCE? REACH FOR TECH SUEDE.

What styles do the women of HQ lust after? The athletes who live at the intersection of sport and style? Who fight the good fight for the feminine fierce? The team who refuses to line dry, regardless of how precious a fabric might feel? Tech Suede. It would be the cover of our September Issue — Vogue meets Victory. It’s perfect for fall, featuring a fabric feel we know and love (suede!) re-engineered to work for the athlete’s lifestyle. Because no one should be a slave to fashion.

LOOKING FOR ATHLETE CHIC? REACH FOR THE EMBOSSED ROGA DRESS

What does Chief Bird wear to her birthday dinner? A Roga dress if you must know. A four-way stretch fabric designed into a dress with pockets and a silhouette that liberates the athlete’s body. The dress that frees you to move, is the dress that respects your body. We’ve seen this one on athletes everywhere, at every occasion under the sun.

READY TO RUMBLE? REACH FOR THE DENIM LORI SHORTS

When it comes to shorts, runners have high standards. They’ve got to give and giddy up at just the right places. It’s no surprise that the women of O won’t settle for any old pair of jorts. The Denim Lori shorts were designed with the intentionality (and performance standards) of a running short, but work effortlessly into your everyday wardrobe. Throw on a vintage tee, and a pair of comfy sandals, and hit the kombucha bar, record store, or your local park. These shorts are ready for anything. 

CRAVING TIME TO CHILL? REACH FOR THE DENIM TRACK PANTS

Our body goes through the wringer when we train. And while we’re all working on our recovery game, sometimes a rest day happens when we’re on the go. Denim track pants were made for this mentality — performance denim and an athletic silhouette means these bottoms breathe and move, and the sophisticated fabric finish keeps these looking formal enough for whatever you may find on your agenda. Jeans made to move? Yes please.

PRIMED TO PARTY? REACH FOR THE TUXEDO TIGHTS

If there’s one thing I’ve learned at Oiselle, it’s this — give us a beat, and the world is our dance floor. The women of Oiselle love to dance — and we’re always looking for athletic wear that makes its way easily onto the dance floor. The little big details of the tech suede tights were born for this calling. The sophisticated tech suede tuxedo stripe gives them a signal of sophistication, within the Jogging Tights silhouette you love to run, live, and dance in. Boogie on birds.

How does the hero dress for the coming pages of her adventure? You decide.

Suit up. 

Head Up, Wings Out!