Girl runners/joggers--need advice

[Food Lady]

OK, so I can walk forever--3 to 4 miles at a stretch is enjoyable to me. But jogging at least part of the way will burn more calories and work out my heart. I've never really done it. Occasionally I've tried to jog a few feet to see how that feels. It hurts. I'm not taking about my knees, hips, etc; I mean my chest hurts. I've looked for advice online on getting a good sport bra. Some specific brands were mentioned. Some people said to wear a regular bra under a sport bra. Some double up sport bras. But I'm not sure which direction to go. Is anyone above a D? What do you do? Also, I feel like if there's too much bounce, that might mean some kind of damage or stretching of ligaments/tissues. I have no idea if that's a valid concern. I just really want to try this summer. I want the endorphin high/heart benefits. Thanks for any help, girls!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I don't run, but I'm pretty active and fairly well endowed. If I'm going to be doing something where I need some serious support, I wear a good sports bra with one of those stretchy tank tops-the kind with the built in support inside. Don't get the kind with spagetti or bra straps. You want some serious fabric over your shoulders, and some good solid lycra over your chest. Make sure both it and the sports bra has a snug fit. Flattens me down a bit and keeps everything from chafing and moving.

[Kheldarson]

I'm not a D, but I'm a track runner, so this was the kind of thing we talked about.

You can double up on bras, but that tends to get uncomfortable and rub wrong. I never tried this but some girls on the team did. It could get...unpleasant.

You might have a valid concern about the bounce doing damage, but track girls are mostly worried about not interrupting the flow of the run, which is what bouncing will do. It throws your weight off in a direction you're not going anymore. That might be causing the pain. Sort of like how a car comes to a stop but you go forward for a moment? Same principle.

As for bras themselves, Kink has good advice. I'll admit I just bought an Under Armour bra for mid-impact and it's the comfiest thing ever. And we've just started selling a high-impact bra that fits Kink's description that look pretty cool. Expensive though.

But the main thing you want is to stop the bounce, however's most comfortable.

[ArcticChicken]

Depending on where I buy, I'm a DDD/E/Whatever they're calling it now.

I just took up running a few weeks ago. For now, my normal bras have been working fine, but they're ridiculously expensive and at my size don't stop the bounce enough for long term use. I've just bought two Enell sports bras, the research I've done on the topic tells me they're some of the best sports bras for large breasted women. They should come in the mail tomorrow, and I've a run scheduled later that day, so I'll come back and give you a review.

This article has some good information about sports bras, and links to their manufacturers.

[Food Lady]

Thank you. I would love to have your review. None of my friends who jog/run are as big as me.

[Mishi]

I'm not well-endowed, but the best advice I have for picking a sports bra is the same as for choosing a good strapless. Try it on and wiggle, jump, shimmy, jog on the spot and see if it does what you want it to. My preference is for as much support as possible, but thats probably the result of reading the news articles over here explaining just how far breasts can move while running without decent support and how it can do some damage. Us Aussies sure love our boobs!

[Food Lady]

Oh, yeah, apparently they do a figure-eight movement. So they not only bounce up and down, but side to side.

[fireheart]

I'm an E-Cup (at least down here) and I've had the same trouble finding sports bras. While I don't run, I walk fairly vigorously and I'm somewhat active (if you looked at me though you wouldn't notice it >.<) so a sports bra is a must for me.

I'll pretty much echo the others statements...when you try it on, actually do a little bit of the sport that you're doing when you try it on. Also look at the label, some bras will label themselves high impact, medium impact, low impact and so on. Generally if you're going for a jog, something around the low-medium impact should be OK.

Unfortunately I swim, so I'm afraid I'm not much help.

[trailerparkmedic]

See jane run (google it, can't link on my phone) has a great selection of sports bras. They're a bit pricey but will last quite awhile if you handwash them. You want a sports bra that has hooks and stuff, not a purely stretchy one as you'll get more support. I have Enell ones, but I have friends that swear by pretty much every brand on See Jane Run's site.

[bhskittykatt]

DD here. I don't run, but I do dancing, elliptical, tae-bo DVDs, etc. I usually just double-up a couple shelf bras (or a shelf over a cupped one) and haven't had any weird rubbing issues or anything like that so far. At least locally, I can't find any single bra with the support (and if I could, they'd probably be fairly expensive).

Argh, I actually found a highly-reviewed company a while back, and sent the link to my email at home, hoping to someday order from them...when I get home, I'll try and remember to post the link here. I can't remember the name atm, but they specialized in larger sports bras.

[Luna Baby]

My friend is quite large (no telling just exactly what size) and advised me to try "doubling up" a regular bra with a sports bra. At the time, I was a DD. I don't even remember what brands I used at that time, but post reduction, I still have to double up when I jog and I'm currently a "large B". I wear a body by victoria soft cupped, with underwire, and then over the top I wear a soft walmart brand that has about 6 clips in the front. That works for me.

Good luck in your quest. Once you are comfortable with your body and how it will handle, you'll love to jog. I'm still working up to the point where I can get a "runner's high", but one of these days, I'll get there.

[ArcticChicken]

I'm still working up to the point where I can get a "runner's high", but one of these days, I'll get there.

I've only gotten euphoric and giggly the once, but I always feel fantastic after a run.

[kpzra]

I'll try and dig it out later, but I have one I love. It has nice adjustable straps that never came loose when I was running (DD's at the time) and slightly formed cups. The birth control I'm on right now has caused them to get bigger so it doesn't fit right now so it's packed away. I know it was a bit pricy, like $50 a few years ago. My boobs never moved though while full out trail running though. If I was street running I'd usually add a workout top that had a built in shelf bra. For the trail in the middle of nowhere just a regular moisture wicking top/tank that I usually took off after the first few miles. I'd sweat so much I'd prefer to just let the wind dry me off since no one was around.

[ArcticChicken]

OK, so, the Enell bra is great. There is, of course, still some bounce, but the bra acts like a shock absorber. My breasts felt much more controlled, and I felt like my running form was better. Well worth the price.

[blas]

I can't jog or run more than 50 feet without wanting to puke.

My boobs swing to and fro no matter how many bras I wear or how well I try to hold them down, so I never do more than a fast walk.

I do need new sports bras, though.