Incredibly Inspiring Inclusion

Today, I want to celebrate the power of inclusion in our running community.

Today is exactly one month before my book is launched on Amazon (gulp!).

Today is also a day that Oiselle opens up its Volée Team to new members.

It's obvious why I am so excited about the former. I've been pouring myself into this book, and am thoroughly enjoying the editing and revision process, going back through my own thoughts and the contributions of other incredible, strong runners. It has been an absolute blast! I am both excited in anticipation of the book's launch and lamenting the fact that this process will come to a close. Maybe soon, more opportunities will arise.

As for the Oiselle team openings, I feel what I can only really describe as that same excitement I felt that day I first arrived at my freshmen-year college dorm, meeting my roommate and dorm-mates for the first time. Such excitement in anticipation of future memories, friendships, and growth experiences for all of us.

Too much of the time, we only realize how important and special some experiences are after the fact. You know what they say about hindsight. For most of us, there are few times that we know how special something is in "real time". That we appreciate and understand its significance while it happens, or even before it happens. This is when we feel the most centered and enlightened in our lives, secure in the knowledge that "right now" is so good for us, its where we are supposed to be.

With fellow local Oiselle bird,
Mary Margaret Malone, at a February 5K

Being a part of the Oiselle Team, connecting with local runners here in St Pete, listening to podcasts such as Runners Connect and Marathon Training Academy, and most of all, writing my book, has been such a powerfully special inclusion of running joy in my life. As someone who has always been kind of a "lone wolf" athlete, I never expected this degree of connection to be so important to me. Yet it has not only strengthened my own running, it has also cultivated my experiences for the betterment of others, hence my book. I have never met most of my fellow Oiselle teammates, yet here I am giddy with excitement as the team opens up further, including more wonderful, strong women.

The bigger our broad community of runners, the bigger my heart swells with joy, pride, and excitement for all that we can achieve. We are a tribe, we are always connected, and we are better athletes because of it.