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Women runners learned long ago when every woman should know: It’s absolutely essential to have a bra that fits right. Unfortunately, it has taken the sports fitness clothing industry a longer time to catch up to what’s needed in quality running bras. However, the wait is over and the good news is there are several bra manufacturers that are designing running bras that offer maximum support as well as comfort.
Women Runners Need To Wear Good Quality Running Bras
Here are some tips for women runners to get the right kind of supportive garment for their favorite sport.
Go shopping in person if at all possible. It’s essential for a runner to try on her sports bra for comfort and fit. Find an athletic store that specializes in running, because they’ll be more likely to carry the kind of high-impact bras designed for runners.
Look for fabrics such as CoolMax and Dri-FIT that are made to draw moisture away from the body. Avoid running bras made from 100 percent cotton; they’ll just stay wet once your start perspiring.
Full figured runners should look for wide shoulder straps or racer back straps to provide extra support.
Check the seams on the running bras you’re considering. Bras without seams over the cups, covered seams or rolled-edge seams will guard against chafing.
Make sure that the wire is completely covered if selecting an underwire running bra. Some bra makers even encase their underwires in a three-layer channel to keep the wire from poking out.
Think fit, not size, when trying on sports bras. The band and cup size you wear in a regular bra may not be right in an athletic bra, which uses compression, encapsulation or a combination to minimize vertical breast movement. If the bra cuts into your skin, it’s too small. If the fabric bunches or wrinkles, it’s too big. When you find a bra that lets you slide two fingers under the straps, then you’ve found the one that’s just right, Goldilocks.
Test the bounce control of every bra you try on by jogging in place or doing jumping jacks. Remember, a runner’s breasts move in a figure-8 when she’s running, so you need something with maximum control on movement.
Large-breasted runners can have the most difficult time finding a sports bra that gives them sufficient support. Among the brands recommended for full figured runners are Moving Comfort’s Fiona Sports Bra and its Maia Sports bra, both of which have back closures for easy dressing; the Enell Sports Bra with an easy-access front closure and crisscross back weaving for extra support; and The Shock Absorber Sports Bra featuring double-layer cups with slings inside the cups for extreme support.
Shopping online for a running bra can be tricky. Be sure to check the vendor’s policy on exchanges and returns before buying.
Don’t expect to hold on to that perfect athletic bra forever. For longest life, launder your sports bras by hand and air-dry them. When the elasticity is gone, your weight changes markedly or you’ve washed the bra around 70 times (about six to 12 months), replace it.
The right bra can make a runner do extra laps for sheer joy.
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