First off, a little warning. We’re going to get a bit personal here today – specifically about boobs. My boobs and other busty girl boobs in particular. If you are of the male persuasion or a bit shy about all things related to the chesticles, and would prefer not to know the details of my bust size, you can come back tomorrow.
Anyone still here? Sweet! Welcome to a frank discussion of what it’s like to run (or really do any form of high impact exercise) if you are blessed with a serious chest. Now, what’s considered “busty” can certainly be up for discussion, but for today’s chat, we are going to consider you well endowed (CONGRATS!) if you measure over a D cup. For reference, I’m a 34DD most of the time with the extra weight I’m currently carrying pushing me to a 36DD. I know there are a lot of gals out there bigger than me so if that’s you, please comment at the end of this post with your tips for The Busty Girl’s Guide to Running.
- Bounce happens. It’s a fact of life – especially if you have also created life and have nourished said life from your bosom. This is probably my biggest annoyance when I run because I want my girls locked and loaded. Getting a proper sports bra will help tremendously in this department, but I have yet to find one that eliminates bounce all together. A few favorites of myself and my fellow mammary blessed runners include: Enell, Sturdy Girl Sports, Panache, and Moving Comfort Juno and Maia. Look for a bra with actual cups, adjustable straps, and structured but wicking fabric. For the love of all that’s holy, please do not double bag your girls. I can’t begin to tell you how many women continue to think buying 2 cheap sports bras is better than 1 high quality bra designed to work with your boobs. Invest the money. Your girls will thank you. Sadly, like our regular bras, sports bras for chesty girls are generally not as cute as those for your A, B and C-cup friends. If you find a cute one you like, buy it in every color.
- Big boobs are heavy. If you are a D cup, your breasts could weigh between 15 and 23 pounds. Larger chest? You are carrying even more weight up front. This extra weight puts strain on your chest, back and shoulder muscles, not to mention the forces of movement which result when you run. Something about Newton and objects in motion wanting to stay in motion was VERY noticeable on some race photos last year. I swear, if you clicked through fast enough, you could actually see my boobs bounce from side to side. It’s no wonder our chests hurt when we run! Strengthening these muscle groups can help prevent pain and potential injury.
- Chafing. Oh, the chafing. It seems no matter how much glide I use, I will chafe somewhere in the vicinity of my chest. Finding a bra that fits right definitely helps, but sometimes the best method is tape. Yes, surgical tape. If you have spots that always end up tattooed, cover those areas with some paper medical tape or bandaids designed to get wet. It generally stays on when sweaty and can really reduce the chafing.
- Coverage. This one is always based on your personal comfort. I like to wear tank tops so I’m always worried that I’m sporting too much cleavage or that the top of my bra is showing. Make sure when trying on workout tops that you wear one of your sports bras and do some bends and running in place in the dressing room.
Do you have any tips to add to this list? What’s your favorite sports bra?
Bari is an avid runner and sometime triathlete, learning the importance of training smart but also having fun. She loves to share a good beer with friends and has been known to host virtual toasts on Twitter. When she isn’t running, biking, swimming, or trying to lift heavy things, she’s playing on her phone or trying to figure out how to pay for college for her twins who graduate in 2015. Bari lives in West Michigan and loves to encourage new runners and triathletes to reach their goals.