Guest Blog by Oiselle Team Member Meggie Smith.  Meggie is in medical school in New York City and started running just over three years ago.

Who is Eugene?

By Meggie Smith

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Four years ago, I distinctly remember walking through a sporting goods store seeing new Nike duds emblazoned with “EUGENE 2008.” I wasn’t sure if Eugene was a person, place, or thing, but a little internet research afterwards showed me that a lot of skinny running fiends were flocking to some “random town in Oregon” for the Olympic Trials.  Nike did not get a lot of my extra cash that year, seeing as I wasn’t too keen on having a shirt that said “EUGENE” on it, for some reason.

Fast forward to this past week and now I’m one of those running fiends who flocked to Eugene to watch the Trials [the skinny part is left to reader discretion].  And, yes, I have a shirt that says “EUGENE” on it now, albeit one from the Eugene Marathon.

In each Olympic year, besides the current one, I’ve been preoccupied with gymnastics. I’ve watched the 1996 Women’s Olympic Team final at least 1,000 times and can recall specific performances, leotards, floor exercise music selections, and NBC fluff pieces from the 1992 Olympics to present.  My former self would be appalled that I skipped days 1-3 (out of 4 total days) of the gymnastics trials to go to the track trials.

If I were going to get philosophical about things or overthink things, as I usually do, I’d like to think my pilgrimage to track town this summer solidifies my runner nerdy-ness or, more succinctly, me as a runner.

I started running three and a half years ago (February 2009, if we want to be precise) and, as hobbies tend to go with me, I dove in head first trying to learn everything about the sport. I got an “RC” (running coach, for those of you not down with my lingo) in November 2010 to try to improve. I read running blogs. I bought running books [my favorite is “Run: The Mind Body Method of Running” by Matt Fitzgerald], but hid them under my bed, which sounds completely insane now that I am writing this, but was motivated, I guess, by not wanting to seem “too into” a hobby that I wasn’t particularly good at, yet. When people asked me if I was a runner, I’d respond, “Yes, I dabble in it – I run,” using the verb rather than the noun “runner.”

I’m not sure when I decided I was a “runner,” the noun, but I think it’s safe to say that my skipping out on the gymnastics trials in favor of the track trials as solidified my status.  I couldn’t think of a better group to be a part of.

A few final things:

1. Start saving your money for new Oiselle gear as Sally’s new designs are amazing. Just don’t get your hands on that yellow top with the pink birds before I do.
2. MC Hammer is a good DJ.  He can totally DJ any party I throw.  His son, Booby Hammer, is an awesome performer, too.
3. Runners are cool people, including professionals. Cool story – Kate Grace, who ran in the 800 and 1500 at the Trials, so sincerely offered to go run with me upon learning that we both live in the tri-state area. I had to tell her to renege on that offer unless she had an elliptigo or Segway I could borrow to keep up with her.
4. Alysia Montano can also perform at any party I throw. Girl can run. Girl can rap.
5. Runner couples are too cute for words. Seeing Jesse (Thomas) + Lauren (Fleshman) as well as Steph (Rothstein) + Ben (Bruce) dance their little hearts out made me happy and sick at the same time. Those lovebirds… 
6. Elle Woods was correct when she so eloquently stated, "endorphins make you happy and happy people just don’t kill their husbands.” I didn’t see one unhappy person spectating the Trials, even when it would start to rain (which was every hour interspersed with sunshine - Eugene weather is weird!).
7. The Oiselle chicks are some of the coolest gals I've met. Serious about running. Serious about having a good time. Serious about creating unique, well made, and stylish clothing. In accordance with #5, I’ve never seen a happier group of girls – all active, fit, and fun. I’m honored to be a part of Oiselle.

Guest blog post by Cheryl Kellond, Founder/CEO at Bia. As a female distance runner and entrepreneur, we wanted to explore what gets this fabulous woman fired up about running.

1. What kick started your running career and when did it all begin?

I’ve always loved to swim and cycle, but hated running. Two out of three is a start though, so I picked up triathlon as a “re-set” between each of my 4 kids. I had a choice: become a runner or DNF. So I ran. I still remember my first mile as if it were yesterday.

Now I love running the most out of the three sports. It’s not my strongest but I am proving something to myself with every mile, plus there is no better way to spend time with girlfriends. My kids are getting into it so it’s become family time as well!

2. What gets you most fired up about women in fitness?

I need to confess: I totally choke up when I see a sea of ponytails – or pink swim caps - at the start line. The guys will be grunting and staring each other down and the women will be high fiving and smiling – equally as competitive, equally as ready to kill it, but getting as much joy from their friends achievements as their own. Girls just friggin’ rule!

The effect of endurance sports on women’s lives fires me up. Especially for those of us who discover our inner athlete later in life, it’s transformative. Achieving new athletic firsts, no matter how big or small, makes you more bad*ss in all aspects of your life. It’s so much bigger than sports.

I want to make more of that.

3. How has running influenced your career path?

Haha... It’s become my career! Two summers ago I started looking for a GPS training device for a triathlon. I was NOT going to strap my $600 smart phone to my arm to workout, so I ordered every GPS watch on the market. I returned every one. There was nothing that fit my wrist right and didn’t hurt to wear. And they all required a user’s manual to operate. I went to MIT, so I’m no dummy when it comes to technology, but seriously? Clearly we could do better. I wanted to make something women could love as much as their sport.

So I quit my job and grabbed my co-founder Sylvia and we started Bia. We built a killer team and bootstrapped ourselves onto the American Express most wanted list. 18 months later and we’ve launched the first GPS sports watch by women, for women, on Kickstarter the popular crowd-funding platform. 

It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. With a safety alert and quick-connecting GPS, Bia turns the old school “shrink it and pink it” approach to women’s sporting goods upside-down.

4. What current goals are you working towards for the 2012 year? 

Kickstarter is an all or nothing funding model, and if we don't hit our goal by July 13th, we won't be able to get Bia to market. Hitting this goal has become a 24x7 job! It has taken a toll on my summer race season. Sometimes something has to give though.

Luckily (or crazily?) I just committed to Ironman Lake Tahoe so my post-Kickstarter goal is to fall in love with the marathon. My mantra is pretty form + pretty smile = pretty fast. I’ll be doing a ton of TRX cross training and natural run training to help with the form and then smiling like crazy during my long runs to help me find my happy pace at that distance.

5. If you could go on a run with any one in the world, who would it be and why?

Kathleen Switzer, the first women to run the Boston Marathon. She didn’t ask permission OR forgiveness. She went where “they” said she couldn’t. That’s my style! She should have had a girlfriend with her that day. In all honesty if she and I had been friends, I might have been the instigator suggesting we run it, and when she took me up on it, I would have no choice but to do it with her.

Thank you Cheryl for sharing your story with us, photos are coming soon! If anyone’s interested in their newest creation, the Bia GPS sports watch, feel free to check it out here. 

Guest Blog by Oiselle Team Member Susan Empey. Susan ran the Olympic Trials marathon this past January and lives and trains in Washington State. 

Amy Hastings – my Olympic Trials Hero! 

By Susan Empey

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While I’ve never met Amy Hastings (and those of you who know me well, know that I will find a way to meet her someday!), she earned big time respect and admiration from me when she fought so hard over 26.2 miles in Houston at the Olympic Trials, broke the OTs record, but still came up 1 slot short for making the team.  It was utterly heart breaking to watch (even though I am so excited about the team of marathoners that the US is sending!).  But what impressed me in addition to her speed, endurance and tenacity over those 26.2 miles, was how absolutely gracious she was in interviews hours afterwards.  The poise she showed under what had to have been horrible circumstances, launched me into the slot of being her #1 fan and I started crossing my fingers then that she would make the 10K team. 

I absolutely would have loved to be in Eugene for the 10K to cheer her on, but it was quite evident I wasn’t her only fan, and clearly she was fit and determined enough to make this team.  And while any place in the top-3 would have qualified her since she had already made the Olympic “A” standard, I love how hard she fought to win the race (see photo below).

And while she could be a barefoot runner and I’d still be a huge fan, as a side note, I am also thrilled for Brooks Sports.  To have Desi Davilla, a Brooks athlete, make the team in the marathon, and now Amy Hastings, also a Brooks athlete, make it in the 10K, is great for a local shoe company that does amazing things supporting local and national runners.  I love the shoes they manufacture and respect how supportive they are to locally competitive runners who in most cases would never get any assistance from some of the other bigger name shoe companies.  For that Brooks will always have my loyalty as far as shoes go. 

But as for awesome athletic apparel, it’s all Oiselle for me.   Now it’s up to some Oiselle athletes to get cracking and represent another awesome company in Rio 2016!

3000 meter steeplechase, 2001USATF Championships Eugene, OR 

It was almost midnight and I was running the streets of Eugene, OR alongside my friend and teammate Cindy. A few steps ahead of us, Jason, another teammate, had just taken a sharp left turn up a steep hill and quickened the pace. I exchanged looks with Cindy, or at least tried to since we were running by moonlight.

"You know, Jason, I just ran a race a few hours ago.  And are you sure you know where you're going?"

I had just finished my final at The USA Track & Field Championships, where I set a new PR of 10:12 in the 3000m steeplechase and finished 10th. What made that race so special was that it was my first USAs, and before that meet my PR was 10:32. I had also set a new PR of 10:18 in my prelim to make the final, which was completely unexpected. Needless to say, my legs were toast.

"We're almost there, just... you can do it," he called back. 

It had seemed like a fun idea, to make a midnight pilgrimage to Pre's Rock with my fellow steeplechaser and friend Cindy before we hopped on an early morning flight back to Virginia. But when Jason, a sub-4 minute miler and 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier crashed our party, the fun run took on a new meaning. He hadn't made the final of the 1500 so he had fresh legs.

Eleven years later, when I look back on it, I'm glad I sucked it up and didn't complain that night. Those were some of the last memories I have of Jason.

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When I think about Eugene I remember a few distinct moments. First, the steeplechase and how it saved my running career. I had decided after a year of running at JMU that I wanted to "pursue other interests". Truthfully, I was not happy with my progress after a year and was one of the slowest women on the team. But some time during my sophomore year, I heard that the NCAA was going to add the steeplechase to the championship meet the next year, 2001. I had run it once in high school, and fell in love with it- being a dancer- turned pentathlete- turned 400 meter hurdler- turned distance runner- makes sense right? That news sparked something in me to want to RUN again. I somehow convinced my coaches to let me back on the team, but my Junior year was rocky. I was putting in the hard work, but not seeing the results in my races. Things started to some together in time for outdoor season of 200I , so I set my sights on the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 10:20 and slowly chipped away at it. By the end of the season, I came close but didn't make the time, and missed a provisional entry by a few seconds.  Then my coach told me about USAs, and that's how Cindy and I wound up at USAs amongst much more accomplished athletes. I was disappointed because I desperately wanted to be there for the beginning of something, to say I had competed in the first women's steeplechase at NCAAs.  But I "settled" for a trip to Eugene and an opportunity to race at historic Hayward Field.

The second thing I remember about Eugene is just being completely star struck. Cindy and I were in the athlete warm up area, pretending to videotape ourselves while we "secretly" videotaped Regina Jacobs and Suzy Favor-Hamilton... and Marion Jones. This was a year before the Balco scandal, so Marion was sill competing. I remember how big she looked in person, and how powerfully she exploded put of the starting blocks. I watched one of her starts and how she kept her head down for what seemed like forever until, well, until she literally an over a girl who had just stepped out of the Port-a-John. This girl happened to be in the steeple final with me, and she was one of the favorites. She recovered in time to run, but she had definitely been injured.  I was happy to escape that fate.

And the third thing I remember vividly is that night we ran to Pre's rock. Although it wasn't the last time I would see him, it was my fondest memory of Jason. He was so excited about leading us on that adventure in the dark, and so excited to be running through the streets of Eugene.

* * * * * * * * * *

On New Years Day of 2011, I woke up with a bad feeling. I quickly checked my messages, and got the sad news: a plane crash that I had heard of from one of my grad school friends turned out to be the private plane Jason was piloting, and he had died. It was a freak accident, and a complete shock to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. At Jason's memorial  a few days later we exchanged stories and grieved. Someone mentioned  that a few days before the crash he had just been talking about getting back into running again. It made me mad that he didn't get that chance. In fact, it sucked. I had those same thoughts and kept putting it off. I suddenly realized that I didn't want that for myself.  So I started running again, because I was tired of wasting my talent. Luckily I found Team Oiselle a few months later, which turned out to be a perfect for someone like me. Being a part of a team of such amazing women helped me realize that just because I'm not considered elite anymore, well, that's no reason to quit running altogether! 

I'm happy to be going back to Eugene as a spectator for the Olympic Trials this year because it holds so many good memories for me. In 2001 it sparked my confidence and I ended up having my best year, culminating in 3 All-American awards and a 4th place finish at NCAAs and USAs in 2002. My school record of 9:56.07 still stands. Not bad for a walk-on who quit for a year. I'm most excited to be a part of Team Oiselle this time around, and to cheer on a new generation of fast, strong women steeplers. Three of our team members qualified for the trials, and Jamie Cheever made the final of the women's steeplechase. I hope Hayward Field works its magic for you, Jamie, and everyone else competing at the Trials.

* * * * * * * * * *

I'm sitting here now at the Denver Airport, waiting for our connecting flight to Eugene. I'm laughing because I've got my boarding pass in the pocket of my sweater, and that's because of a prank Jason played on us on our way to Eugene. I asked him to watch my stuff while I went to the bathroom, and he hid my boarding pass. He let me Type-A freak out for what felt like an hour (maybe 5 minutes) looking for it, before he admitted the truth. Lesson learned, I always keep my boarding pass in my pocket. Thanks, Jason.

Day 1: KATE in the 8!

Wow, Day 1…800m qualifying heats…and all the fixins for big track drama…

-       Totally stacked women’s fields…the deepest they’ve been in years

-       An epic downpour, one of the Northwest’s finest

-       Super physical races, with at least two girls hitting the track

-       And Oiselle’s Kate Grace toeing the line in Heat 1

When Kate walked onto to the track, I got a fierce chill. Not sure if it was the rain or just realizing all the factors that had brought us to this moment…

There was Kate’s story itself…a 22-year old California girl, multi-sport standout, owner of raw speed talent and Yale graduate. A runner who, like all serious athletes, had taken her lumps in the form of injuries and setbacks. But also a runner who, in just six short months, and with the help of legendary coach Frank Gagliano (“Gags”), had achieved her first Olympic Trials berth. Only last month she got her 800m PR of 2:01.63, and then a few weeks later her 1500m PR of 4:10, both A Standard times. Incredible.

Back to Hayward. Rain…a few stride outs…Lane 8…she was ready. The first lap was even and smooth, with the girls bunching into their pack. With 600m to go, she was in great position, about 5^th on the outside, moving into 4^th in the last 150m. Down the homestretch it was a bunched race but with wicked acceleration. Kate finished strong, striding out, so obviously fit, but in a time and place we knew would disappoint her: 2:04/6^th.

Maybe it was my maternal instincts, but I wanted to run down on the track right there and then to tell her it was okay…that we believed in the long-term, and in the enormity of her being here, and how amazingly quick she had ascended. After all, I feel like that about Oiselle most days. That the best is yet to come. Or as Mr. Gretzky put it… “It’s not about where the puck has been, but where it’s going.”

Lucky for us, the ability to cheer Kate comes real soon. This Thursday, she’ll compete in the 1500m and we’ll have our K8 shirts on, rain or shine. Go get ‘em gal! We’re cheering you every step!

Calling all Lauren Fleshman fans!! You know that Lauren will be toeing the line for the women's 5,000m on Monday at 6:05pm at Hayward. She's been battling an IT band injury for months, but isn't giving up hope. She is asking the stadium to throw up a 'c' for courage and we will be there to show the love.

In fact we created a special tee for her fans. And we want to get it in your hands in time for the race. It's FREE!! Just meet Sally and I at the corner of 19th and Agate street (by Prince Pucklers) today (6/24) at 4:00pm and throw a 'c' or say 'fleshman flyer' and we'll get you a tee! Of course while supplies last.... so run don't walk! Men's tees also available.

The first day at Hayward was wet. Not the typical NW mist, but heavy downpour. The stands were filled with poncho and trashbag covered track fans. I should say the uncovered stands. The covered stands clapped their dry happy hands. My hands were pruned from the rain.

We thought we were going to enjoy a reprieve as we headed to the 10k. But just as the men’s race was about to start, the skies opened with the heaviest downpour of the day. It was unbelievable. At first everyone hunkered down trying to stay dry, but within minutes gave up. There was a lot of laughing up in the uncovered world of, we didn’t believe it could get wetter but here we were.

The puddle, more like a lake, on the first turn grew and grew with every lap as Rupp, and men’s field splashed through the 10k.  Rupp won the race in 27:53.33. But my eyes were on Dathan Ritzenhein, who I’d seen in January narrowly miss his chance at the Olympic marathon. He not only needed to place in the top three last night, but also do it under the A standard. The announcer reminded us and him of it every lap. The crowd was out of their seats crazy, as they round the last turn. He made it!

10K Men Headed to London
Galen Rupp
Matt Tegenkamp
Dathan Ritzenhein

Of course after the men’s race came the race I was waiting for. Amy Hastings, Shalane Flanagan, Amy Hastings… Like Dathan she missed her Olympic marathon ticket to London in January. Watching her struggle through that race was heartbreaking.  The marathon has a way of breaking a person into a way that you seem to see all their thoughts. The emotion is on their face, nothing to hide it.

The women’s race started in slightly less rain than the men’s race.  Hastings already had the A standard, so girl just needed that top three. She ran smart and strong. Meanwhile, Deborah Maier went out ahead of the pack. At first the crowd wrote her off, then lap after lap… they started to cheer for her. Men around me were muttering, well I thought she’d be eaten up by the pack by now.  Eventually she was. Amy Hasting took the lead midway through the race. In the last 250 Shalane took the lead. Then Rogers. Then Amy Hastings and Shalane Flanagan cranked around Rogers. Amy was gunning for that finish. She was fire in her eyes, her face showed that she was going down to the bottom to find this finish.

She won! I was trying not to cry at this point. She looked shocked, like waking up from a dream to a dream. She collapsed to the track in exhaustion and amazement. When the women regrouped the announcer explained who was actually going to the Olympic Games. Shalane was only going to be running the marathon, so her spot was up for grabs. Then Natosha Rogers didn’t have the A standard! The next woman to have the A standard was Lisa Uhl and then 7^th place Cherobon-Bawcom.

Women Headed To London
Amy Hastings
Lisa Uhl
Cherobon-Bawcom

It was an amazing day and night at Hayward! That’s day one. My sister and I stayed to watch the awards despite being soaked to the bone. Joan Benoit Samuelson awarded each woman. Deena Kastor was there to congratulate them. She pulled out of the 10K due to injury. 

Oh! Highlight of the day: Sally and I both met Joanie and got our tickets signed. Her namesake tickets. Day 1.

THE DAILY RUNDOWN
Yesterday – June 21
Opening Ceremony 4pm (rain)
800m 5pm Kate Grace Races – 6^th  in heat 2, 2:04 Sally’s recap coming.
10000m 7:30pm (women)

Today - June 22
800m semi-finals 4:30pm (women first)
400m semi-finals 5pm (men first)
1,500m Decathalon Men 5:30pm
100m Final Women 5:52

I’m sitting here in Eugene, at our media table in the hippie house. I can’t believe we are here, after so many months of build up. It’s time to soak in all the energy, excitement, highs and lows, triumphs and close calls of the Olympic Trials.

Yesterday 6:30am Sally and I pulled out of Seattle. Her VW packed to the gills. And we headed south.

First stop PDX to meet with our party planners! They are pulling all our dreams for the Track and Fun Party together. My favorite question  of the meeting, “When’s Hammer Arriving?” Below we pose with a random WCEP office hall display...

After the meeting we headed off to Nike HQ to watch the Hammer Throw. The rest of Trials events are in Eugene at Hayward, but Nike wanted to showcase the Hammer event.

It was really cool, because like second place finisher Amanda Bingson said, “it was way different than college …where we’re on the outskirts, on the back patios and throwing in the dirt. To have the crowd here is amazing”

After the throwing we went around to meet the athletes. Kibwe Johnson was so nice, offering photo ops and signatures left and right. Amanda was glowing with happiness as she signed a girl’s shirt. She seemed taken aback by the sudden celebrity status, but ready to soak it in.

After training in solitude for months on end, dreaming of this moment and have it come to fruition…I’m sure the feeling is indescribable.

THE DAILY RUNDOWN

Yesterday - June 21
Hammer Finals
The Men Headed to London
Kibwe Johnson
Chris Cralle
A.G. Kruger

The Women Headed to London:
Amber Campbell
Amanda Bigson
Jessica Cosby

Today - June 22
Opening Ceremony 4pm
800m 5pm Kate Grace Races
10000m 6:45p (men)
10000m 7:30pm (women)

We are so proud and excited to have Kate Grace representing Oiselle at the Olympic Trials in the 800m. We interviewed her over the web and here's what she had to say. Time to get to know Kate Grace!

What got you into running?
Soccer, actually. High school, freshman year, we had to compete in cross country meets for cardio training. I still remember the first race. We didn't practice with the xc team, so it was the first time I had met their coach. He had us all doing drills, warmup stuff, and something about my form impressed him. He said I had nice gait -- Kate with the great gait -- and that I was going to be a runner. 

I wound up getting second in that meet. It took them over a year to finally convince me to put track training above soccer, but I eventually came to the dark side.

my first 1k? This was taken in the town where I grew up, Santa Monica, CA. I'm number 79, with my mom and younger sister.

Where do you train and live?
I train with the New Jersey New York Track Club, under famed coach Frank "Gags" Gagliano. A group of us live in Annandale, New Jersey, and everyone in the club meets to run our track workouts in New Brunswick, at Rutgers.

People ask why a west coast girl would stay on the east for running. Reasons number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are Gags. He's just that good. But the east has also become my home over the past four years. I went to school here, I became an elite runner here, and a lot of my support networks are in this area, be it from Yale, my college coach, or friends living nearby.

sophomore year, after placing third at state finals, and dropping twenty seconds in the 800 over about a month (on the right, in purple)

What do you like least/most about training for the Trials?
I have never had such a singular goal. It's a wonderful feeling. To wake up every morning and work toward attaining it. It's been great running more mileage and higher-volume workouts with Gags. That is something that I didn't test much in college.

How do I make a negative out of this? I love most aspects of training. Maybe the number of showers I have to take throughout the day? Ha!

Other than race, what are you looking forward to doing in Eugene?
Party! No. Joke. Gags would not like that -- he already thinks I go into the city too much. Am I allowed to say I'm pretty pumped for MC Hammer at the Oiselle fashion show? That's still a party! How about ... seeing other athletes compete as I watch quietly in the stands. 

the reservoir near my house in New Jersey -- nice vista for a run

When did you know you had "it"?
Track has always been fun. I love training, I love competing. I love running with people and without. Maybe there wasn't a specific point when I had "it," just never a point that I didn't. 

A big leap did come sophomore year of high school, when I started thinking of myself as a source of untapped potential, and a mid-distance specialist. There was a period of 5 races during the championship season, where I dropped 3-5 seconds each time, to win every one, and go from a 2:30 pb to a 2:11.

Fun fact, we used to run all our high-school meets at the Occidental College track. That's where I first started that rise to the next level. And a few weeks ago, I was back for the first time in 5 years, running another big 800 pr, 2:01.6, at the High Performance meet. How’s that for coming full circle!

Is there a mantra that keeps you going?
If you opened my laptop last fall, you’d see a black screen and the words: "THE IMPORTANT THING IS THIS: TO BE WILLING AT ANY MOMENT TO SACRIFICE WHAT WE ARE FOR WHAT WE COULD BECOME." Good for a girl leaving her home of 5 years to move to rural New Jersey and train for a dream. 

A few weeks ago, I changed it to a web comic I like, with the phrase: "It's later than you think. Go ahead and f*** up. No room or time for timidity!"

But if you really want to get me moving, a good song. "Rockin' Robin," specifically. I’ve been bopping around to that one for weeks.

my roommate, ashley, and me ice-bathing after a run

What other runners inspire you?
My training partners. Sometimes literally - physically dragging me out of bed on a few occasions. I live with Ashley Higginson. Steeple extraordinaire. We new each other from meets in college, and she has been my rock this year.

As for people not living on my block, I look to similarities for motivation. Like Morgan Uceny -- the Ivy Leaguer improving post-college. Sometimes on solo runs, I do visualization track. I picture myself in a big race, and what it feels to be right behind, then next to, some of the women at the top of the field. Alysia Montaño, Jenny Simpson, you name it. My imaginary running buddies! I know, a bit crazy.

What's a favorite memory from HS running? College?
High school: definitely when my cross country team won the California State title my senior year. My two best friends and I grew up with the program, had the best relationship with our coach, helped nurture younger runners, and saw our team improve with each year. There was this great arc, from that first cross country meet in 9th grade, for soccer training, to a wonderful, cohesive group that was firing on all cylinders. We won state as a team the same year I won individually. First time in the history of our school. We felt such a part of that improvement.

College: proudest race moment was a fourth place finish in the 4x4. 4x4s help remind me that kicking can happen at any time, over any distance. Bolt seems to kick in 100s. It's simply a belief that the race is not done until someone crosses that line. I had a mean kick in a 4x4.

I ran the fastest 400 split of my life in that race. Passed two people early, and was gunning for 3^rd. She had taken the baton maybe 30 meters ahead. With 20 to go I had made up the distance, was a stride away. The final push to go ahead was feet from the line and just over my edge. My legs seized and I fell. She crossed the line first. There is still this big scar from a huge gash on my right knee. I am so proud of that scar. It's a reminder that I can push my body beyond its limits. (Is that the name of a Pre movie? I think so).

the state-winning XC team -- a very happy day!

my love of relays! this is actually a 4x100 ... no, that's not a typo.

When not running, we're most likely to find you __________?
Outside. I'm a big outdoors person. Running is a great means to do this, but I love all form of outdoor activities --  biking, hiking, exploring new places. For the past few months, if I were to be realistic with this answer I'd say Riverside Coffee on Main Street Clinton. I've been doing part-time research on science and new trends in wellness and exercise. I post up with my iced coffee for hours at a time. The owner and I have become friends. I think he found me strange at first, this person wearing colorful spandex furiously typing. Now I report back to him after each race.

Learn more about Kate on twitter and on her blog!

The Olympic Track and Field Trials start on June 21st. Oiselle HQ and team have been counting the days until we are swept up in all the excitement.

Months ago we put out the invitation to our team of athletes to come and stay with us in Track Town and take in as much of the Trials as they could. Flash forward to now, we have three houses booked and packed with Oiselle runners, friends, and our Totally Trials contest winner Emily and Sarah. Full house!

And as we announced on Friday, we have three athletes competing in the Olympic Trials! Our excitement levels have reached their max! To imagine these strong women in the Oiselle singlet stepping onto Hayward… it gives me goosebumps. I’m so excited for them, and can’t wait to meet them.

All that alone is enough to make me lose sleep, and I didn’t even mention that on Friday, June 29^th we are throwing the most ridiculous party! Hosted by Oiselle and DJed by none-other-than MC Hammer and his son. AND Oiselle will be debuting hot new looks in our first runway show. Yes, I get to strut the catwalk.

I have child-levels of excitement. Seven more sleeps until Eugene! My bag is already being packed! My calendar days are being checked off in Oiselle orange. And the rest of HQ is ready too!

Meet some of the players headed to Eugene and get tips for the best Totally Trials week possible:

Kristin Metcalf - Oiselle Team Manager

What day do you arrive in Track Town?  June 27th
Which event are you looking forward to most? 1500 meters, steeple, 5k, 800 meters
Which athlete are you most likely to stalk? ;) aka Who are you most looking forward to watching compete? Katie Flood and Kate Grace in the 1500m, Brie Felnagle in the 5k and Collier Lawrence and Jamie Cheever in the steeple!
Which athlete would you like to have a beer with? Lauren Fleshmen

Olympic Trials Spectator Guide
What should I have in my bag, besides hopefully-much-needed sunscreen?  Snacks for the track meet, sunglasses, and sanitizer
Trials Styles: what to wear?  Roga's, Oiselle tank tops and tees!
Best place to get an autograph?  On the fence line by the steeple pit or in the north stands by the pole vault
Must have cheer gear? well rested voice
Fun activities?  Morning runs
Best place to get swag? Outside the stadium, Oiselle housequarters :) 

House Rules
Do you snore? Nope
Who's your bedmate? Jacquelyn Komen What oddity should they be aware of? I sometimes walk in my sleep 
When's the last time you shared a house with this many awesome women? College: a long time ago!
Who between us could win a pushup contest? Sarah Lesko for sure!

Eugene Travel Guide
Where is the best ice cream? Prince Pucklers
Best track nerd bar? 19th street McMenamins is my favorite track gathering spot
Must see landmark?  Alden Baker Park for a run

Sally Bergesen - Oiselle Founder

What day do you arrive in Track Town? Not soon enough! Heading down to see the Hammer Throw on the Nike campus on June 21st - and then zoom! Eugene-bound 
Which event are you looking forward to most? The Hammer Throw - because I've not been a good T&F fan and have never spectated that event. The power of the athletes is very cool. Plus, it's Hammer Time, and well, it turns out that's our Trials theme.
But the events I am totally insane over watching are those being run by Oiselle Athletes, including Kate Grace in the 800m/1500m and Jamie Cheever and Collier Lawrence in the Steeple. I will be their biggest super fans EVER.
Which athlete are you most likely to stalk? ;) aka Who are you most looking forward to watching compete? Kate Grace, Collier Lawrence, Jamie Cheever, Lauren Fleshman, Stephanie Rothstein, Amy Hastings, Morgan Uceny, Alice Schmidt, Lolo Jones, Allyson Felix, and Brie Felnagle.
Oh are there guys at the Trials? lol The guys will be amazing too.
Which athlete would you like to have a beer with? All of the above! Beer Fest 5000?

Olympic Trials Spectator Guide
What should I have in my bag, besides hopefully-much-needed sunscreen? Sun hat AND umbrella. You never know. Print out of the schedule. Something to get your heroes' autographs on.
Trials Styles: What to wear? Hello? Oiselle.
Best place to get an autograph? Athlete village exit/entrance
Must have cheer gear? Voice, hands, camera, any apparel that shouts your spirit loud and proud
Fun activities? I'm guessing there will be a lot of fun activities in the Trials Village. I know they do a good job of involving fans. Best place to get swag?
The Track & Fun Party of course!

House Rules
Do you snore? Yes. So I should I have my own bed.
Who's your bedmate? What oddity should they be aware of? My family will be squeezed into a single room with me. I'd like to say we know everything, but there may be new discoveries made...
When's the last time you shared a house with this many awesome women? Um, like never.
Who between us could win a pushup contest? Hmmm. I know it's not me. I would give that to Lesko, 'cause she's a beast with the exercises... runner ups JJ or Mac 'cause they've been goin hard at the gym lately.

Eugene Travel Guide
Where is the best ice cream? Duh. Prince Pucklers.
Best track nerd bar? Hmmm. Not sure.
Must see landmark? The Pre Trail of course! Lovely wood chip trails through pretty shade trees along the river...ahhhh.
When I went to UO, I didn't like Eugene. I thought it was too small town. But now that I'm older, and its track heritage has only grown stronger, I appreciate it more than ever. I'm also making my way through the "Bowerman" book by Kenny Moore. A lot of great history. I love how the town turns into one big celebration of our sport.

Sarah MacKay - Marketing Lady

What day do you arrive in Track Town? June 21^st!
Which event are you looking forward to most? Steeple
Which athlete are you most likely to stalk? aka Who are you most looking forward to watching compete? Our Oiselle athletes, Kate Grace, Jamile Cheever and Collier Lawrence! I can’t even wait!
Which athlete would you like to have a beer with? Lauren Fleshman or Lolo Jones

House Rules
Do you snore? Like a tiny squirrel
Who's your bedmate? Maybe my sis, Rebekah.

What oddity should they be aware of? She knows all my oddities. The talking, laughing, crying and kicking in my sleep. I'm a real treat.
When's the last time you shared a house with this many awesome women? Never!
Who between us could win a pushup contest? Lesko. Woman is ripped.

Jacquelyn Komen - Social Media Specialist

What day do you arrive in Track Town? Wednesday (the 27th) if everything goes according to plan.
Which event are you looking forward to most? The Steeplechase is going to be awesome. Having Collier Lawrence and Jamie Cheever now on our team, it makes spectating 10 times more exciting to watch the water pitt!
Which athlete are you most likely to stalk? I mean...who are you most looking forward to watching compete? Ah that's a hard one. Must be honest, it will be very exciting to spot Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher rolling around Eugene.

Olympic Trials Spectator Guide
What should I have in my bag, besides hopefully-much-needed sunscreen? A towel in case you are sitting on the grass in the stands! And granola bars, I don't think they will let you bring water in.
Trials Styles: what to wear? A oiselle tee and some rogas!! Sandals.
Best place to get swag? The Eugene Bookstore on Agate (I think is the street) will have lots and lots of goodies. 

House Rules
Do you snore? Nope
When's the last time you shared a house with this many awesome women? Sorority Days at U of O (Alpha Phi!)
Who between us could win a pushup contest? Sarah Lesko definitely could take the cake on that one.

Eugene Travel Guide
Where is the best ice cream? Prince Pucklers! Right off 19th.
Best track nerd bar? Hmm... Track town pizza ;) (The only place I could go to under 21!) So yummy though. 
Must see landmark? Spencer's Butte. Only about 2 miles away from U of O and about 1-2 hours to get to the top (hiking). You can see all of Eugene and all of Springfield from the top. 

Christy Slye - Oiselle Sales Director

What day do you arrive in Track Town? Thursday, June 28
Which event are you looking forward to most? I was never a trackster but was part of a track family. When I was young it seemed like we went to college meets every weekend around the midwest. I love to watch all track and field events. My favorite events are high hurdles, intermediate hurdles and the relays!
Which athlete are you most likely to stalk? I mean...who are you most looking forward to watching compete? I would love to see the Oiselle women compete! I want to support my team as a fan.

House Rules
Do you snore? Sometimes
What oddity should your bedmate be aware of? I like untucked sheets
When's the last time you shared a house with this many awesome women? This will be a first
Who between us could win a pushup contest? Not me; I don't go to boot camp. My limit is 10, but I like to think I have good form.

Sarah Lesko - Oiselle Friend and #1 Fan

What day do you arrive in Track Town? Thurs 6/21. Whole hog!!!!
Which event are you looking forward to most? So many! Of course women's 800, 1500, 5K. But I love men's HJ too. And men/women pole vault: DRAMA.
 Which athlete are you most likely to stalk? I mean...who are you most looking forward to watching compete? Kate Grace!!!!! And, Ashton Eaton is spectacular.  
Which athlete would you like to have a beer with? Mary Slaney. I have read so much about her, from youth to the year 2000. I would love to sit back and just get her life perspective now.   

Olympic Trials Spectator Guide
What should I have in my bag, besides hopefully-much-needed sunscreen? Oiselle gear to trade with people or give to your favorite athletes. A sharpie for autographs. An empty plastic bottle for water (fountains inside) and some Nuun tabs. 
Trials Styles: what to wear? Oiselle of course. 
Best place to get an autograph? Back behind the track up top; everyone walks through there.
Must have cheer gear? Crazy shirts. 
Fun activities? The tree climb...so fun! 
Best place to get swag? On entrance day every day there is a new giveaway. My favorite in 08 was the bandanna printed with Hayward Field outline.

House Rules
Do you snore? Never. I make a little "woof" sound right when I go to sleep.
Who's your bedmate? My hubby :) What oddity should they be aware of? He knows all. 
When's the last time you shared a house with this many awesome women? Never. This is epic.
Who between us could win a pushup contest? Ummm, hello. Me? But Mac and Jack looking pretty buff too.

Eugene Travel Guide
Where is the best ice cream? Prince Pucklers!!! Oiselle HQ only 2 blocks from it! Crazy! The Turtle flavor is amazing. 
Best track nerd bar? Track Town Pizza.
Must see landmark? Climb Spencer's Butte on a nice day. And drive over to the Oregon Coast on the off days to run in the dunes and ice your legs in the ocean. So relaxing.

What about you!? Excited to cheer your favorite athletes onto London?

MORE TOTALLY TRIALS

Meet the Oiselle athletes, get race schedule and keep up with live tweet action from Hayward on the Totally Trials page. And shop the new Oiselle Trials Styles here.

Yesterday we kicked off the Olympic Trials madness by announcing the winners to our Totally Trials contest. First of all thank you to every duo who took the time to join in on the fun. We were blown away by the creativity. It was our first contest of this magnitude and we didn't know what to expect. Voting was the hardest part of the contest, of course. So we nominated a select number of our Oiselle team (out of office - since there are only four of us here) to vote 1 – 3, and everyone at HQ did as well. We didn’t discuss until we showed our lists.

Despite not receiving a billion entries, it was very hard for me to pick my top three. So much strength, humor, beauty, creativity, joy, enthusiasm… so much work and love went into creating these stories of friendship and why they wanted to join Oiselle at the Olympic Trials in Eugene. After tallying all votes, nearly 100% unanimously Sarah and Emily topped the lists with their Roga inspired video. And that is how a contest is won.

Also with near 100% unanimous votes came the #2, #3 places. Congrats to Barb and Steffanie. And Susan and Jeri. These two teams will enjoy $300 to spend at shopoiselle.us.

Below are the three winners’ video applications.

Emily and Sarah

Jeri and Susan

Barb and Steffanie

We are excited to have Emily and Sarah join our HUGE team of women in Eugene. We LOVE this sport, like we know you do. I hope you join our live tweeting and blogging from Hayward during the Trials. This contest is only a small part of the Oiselle Totally Trials excitement that’s been brewing all year! In fact on Friday we'll be announcing three Oiselle athletes headed to the Trials!

How about you, any of you planning a trip to Hayward to catch all the action? Whether you’re watching from afar or right there – what event can’t you wait to see?

Sexy core. How to explain? Sally and I created an alarm to go off daily to remind us to get up and do a few core moves during the work day. We called that alarm "Sexy Core", an ironic joke to us. Sort of like "bikini body". Ha. What is a bikini body? Of course when the alarm went off we'd do a little Sexy Shanna shimmy and get to some planking.

Then one day Jen Bigham, from Team Oiselle, was sitting at my desk and saw the alarm. She tweeted to me (I was home) hope you're doing "sexy core" or something. Our inside joke was totally outed. And now we have Tweeps sexy coring with us!

Today we had a great session, with 'requests' from you all!

Alright so now that the joke is out, lets rename Sexy Core. Please! Dream up a name for us!