Nikki Hiltz was on fire during their European circuit. In the women’s 1500 at the Trond Mohn Games in Bergen, Norway, they came in first with a time of 4:07.18. They placed first in the women’s mile, clocking a time of 4:22.07, at On Track Nights in Paris. And at the Oslo Diamond League meet, they finished fourth in 4:18.38. This result puts them behind only Mary Slaney, Jenny Simpson, and Cory McGee for the fastest US woman’s performance in the outdoor mile.
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There are only a few days left in June, but summer is just beginning. It’d be remiss not to put a spotlight on Hiltz’s collaboration with Article One. The eyewear company is donating 100 percent of sales of its Avalon sunglasses to Stand with Trans.
The Partnership
Hiltz, a nonbinary transgender professional runner, is Article One’s first brand ambassador. Living and training at 7,000 feet in Flagstaff, AZ, Hiltz says sunglasses are a part of their arsenal of running accessories. They were introduced to Article One back in December and liked how the sunglasses “vibed” with their style. (We awarded Article One’s The 6 Best Polarized Sunglasses for Runners.)
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“A lot of times you can get lost in the shuffle of, ‘I don’t even know who I’m talking to within the brand,’” they said on a video call with Runner’s World, recalling meeting Article One CEO Wes Stoody. “But within my first few conversations with Wes, I knew it wasn’t about money or things like that. It was like, ‘Hey, you’re doing really cool things on and off the track, how can we help you?’ And I thought, ‘Okay, this is a brand I want to work with.’ Article One was very supportive and recognized that, yes, I’m a good athlete. But what I can provide off the track is really important, too.”
The collaboration supports Stand with Trans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping trans youth. Hiltz describes this Pride Month as a weird time due to the political environment and anti-trans-specific legislation. They emphasize how now, Other Hearst Subscriptions.
“I think it’s really cool that Stand with Trans addresses the need to have that one accepting adult if you just need someone to talk to or text or call,” said Hiltz. “I think that’s especially needed right now given the climate we’re in. It’s obviously a weird and scary place, but there are people and organizations doing the work to create that safe space for people everywhere. Find those people who are doing the work and support them. That’s what Pride Month is all about.”
The Cause
Choosing Stand with Trans was partially influenced by Stoody’s wife, Dr. V. Bernadene Stoody, MD. An adolescent medicine specialist at the University of Michigan’s Department of Pediatrics, she provides gender-affirming care to patients daily.
“Stand with Trans is my top go-to resource for youth and families,” she said to RW. “They have a plethora of resources and offer a way to find community. That is really important and powerful for people who are just starting out and are feeling really intimidated by the process.”
According to a 2020 study by The Trevor Project, transgender and nonbinary youth are more than twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide compared to their cisgender LGBQ peers. Affirmation from family and closely connected members in their network, said V. Bernadene Stoody, can drastically reduce feelings of vulnerability and poor mental health outcomes.
“The reduction can be as powerful as a two-thirds drop in the risk of suicide attempts,” she said.
The Sunglasses
Article One’s active sunglasses collection can be worn on the run and out-and-about. The Avalon has an angular frame that’s available in several colors—including traditional tortoise shell, crystal, and black Havana. It’s constructed with polarized lenses that have an anti-reflective coating.
The Nikki Hiltz x Article One packaging includes a pink and blue hard shell box, soft shell case, Progress Pride flag polishing cloth, and Progress Pride flag pin.
The donation commitment will conclude on June 30, but Hiltz’s relationship with Article One is just beginning. Hiltz will take on an advisory role for future advocacy efforts.
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
