by Kcurly on April 7, 2010
Running with a jogging stroller is pretty much like running with a nice,mobile storage container. Need to bring along some water? No problem! I’ve got a cup holder right here. No where to put my keys? I have a handy dandy hidden compartment right next to the cup holder. Jacket getting too warm? I just toss it in with my son’s diaper bag in the basket under his seat. Whatever bad things I have to say about running with a stroller, the fact that I can take a lot of stuff along would make up for it (eh, maybe not 
) .
So when I was finally able to get in some runs without the darn thing, I was left holding a lot of stuff. I hate running with anything in my hands. It’s hard enough running period, but to have my hands tightly clenched around my car keys is annoying.
I was so happy to find this:
This nifty little invention velcros onto the shoe laces and can hold a credit card, a few keys, or a bit of cash. I usually have to drive to the places I run (crazy, huh?) , so I always need somewhere to hold my keys. I generally put my car clicker in the shoe wallet and just leave my keys in my car.
I’ve had this one for about a year. It stays on very well. I think it cost me about 5 bucks on eBay.
by Kcurly on February 27, 2010
I *heart* this bra!
It’s incredibly supportive, probably one of the best I’ve had. I enjoy the look of this one as well. It’s just looks pretty and feminine to me. I can run in this with little to no bounce.
Bad points: It will give you the dreaded uniboob. It has adjustable straps, but they are secured by velcro. I have two of these bras and one of them is very annoying because the velcro keeps popping off as I’m trying to put the bra on (it’s a bit older and has been washed a lot). The band (bottom) also has a tendency to dig into my side sometimes. I’ve also found that it doesn’t dry very fast when soaked in sweat.
Despite all of this, it’s still a fav simply because of the support. These run around 40 bucks in price. I got both of mine on sale and/or eBay.
by Kcurly on February 2, 2010
I have two of these bras. They are not quite as much support as the Enell, but they are pretty darn good. The cups actually give you a bit of a shape and not a “uniboob”. It has an underwire which is a big help usually, but I one of mine came out (and if you don’t know, that can be terribly painful). The underwire is barely noticeable otherwise however.
I also just like to wear these to work. The front comes up high and kind of looks like an undershirt. So you can leave a shirt unbuttoned at the top and no one knows it’s a bra. If you have trouble with too much cleavage showing when wearing a sports bra, this bra may help.
I would recommend buying this bra in person and trying it on first. In my experience, they fit a little bit bigger than my regular size. But once I found the one that fit better, everything was great.
I have to say that this is not my first choice bra for running long distances (there is still a bit of bounce). But this bra kicks butt for other exercises that are not quite as high impact. Also, the shoulder straps are not adjustable, so that’s something else to keep in mind.
by Kcurly on January 26, 2010
And, no I don’t mean, Dr. Miracle (rolls eyes).
I’m talking about Miraclesuits!!
If you’ve ever been swimming and you’re heavy on top, then you know the pain of the typical swimsuit’s lack of bra support. While training for my triathlon, I could not find a swimsuit that gave me the type of support I was looking for. I always ended up wearing my sports bra under it. That’s a fine solution, but it makes me feel bulky and I also worried about ruining my bras.
I saw these being raved about somewhere and it entered my little mind to try them out. They are pricy though. The prices range from 60-130 bucks! However, lucky me, there are a lot on eBay. I found one in my size for 40 dollars.
This is the suit I have and LUVS it!
Let me tell you, I LOVE it. It is the only swimsuit that I have ever seen that gives me boob support AND makes them look good! It also gives me a nice coke bottle shape with gathering at the waist. Um, not that I’m trying to look cute at the pool, but *shrug*. It’s nice to just put on one item of clothing and then hop in the pool.
Even if you’re not a swimmer, these are nice for vacation. They also have a lot of different styles, some that include covering for the tops of the thighs.
Yes, they have strapless suits too. I haven't tried them, but they are supposed to be supportive as well.
So you might be asking if these are supportive enough to run in? Not for me. I used them for training. But it would’ve been nice to have just worn the suit and then slipped on some shorts for the triathlon.
Oh well, maybe Miraclesuits will come out with a trisuit! They actually are supposed to be coming out with a new jean. Dare I hope they make some that make me look like I have an awesome butt?!
by Kcurly on January 13, 2010
Danskin Trisuit
One of the more frightening things about preparing for my triathlon was the thought of what I would wear.
When doing a triathlon, most people take pains to make sure each transition (the time in between each leg of the race)is as easy as possible. Scatterbrain that I am, I knew that I was going to have to keep my wardrobe changes simple, especially since I was new to all of this. A trisuit seemed to be the best solution.
So, what is a trisuit, you might be asking. Trisuits:
- are made of material that you can swim and sweat in
- have small amount of padding in the crouch for biking (not as much as biking shorts)
- resemble a unitard in that they are a one piece outfit that covers from the torso to some of the thigh area
- are sleeveless
- usually zip up the front or back
- is not the same as a wetsuit
- usually have rubber or silicone grips at the bottom leg holes to keep them in place
- can cost from 50-300 dollars depending
I also liked them because it would give me more coverage than a bathing suit. I considered that extra coverage vital to my modesty…and to the life of the photographer who would be lurking about snapping pictures as I emerged from the water( in my mind’s eye looking like Godzilla coming to attack the city.)
I actually bought three trisuits before I settled on one that I liked. I chose the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Trisuit for the following reasons:
- It was inexpensive. Most of the ones I looked at ran over 100 dollars. This one was 80 bucks on the Danskin website, but I found it on ebay (brand new) for 50.
- It offered more coverage (seeing a trend here?) in the back area. Yes, I was trying to hide my back fat. It also hid my sports bra better.
- It had little mesh pockets on the side. Very helpful for keeping my energy gels in during the run.
- It was black. I know there are a lot of other black trisuits out there, but this one being black was big plus for me. I tried on an electric blue one and felt like a retired superhero. Color makes a BIG difference.
The only complaint I have about this is that the zipper has come down twice during some practice swims. I think I may have traumatized a poor little boy at the pool. You best believe that I was one paranoid triathlete the whole time I was swimming and double checked that sucker before I was fully out of the water.
Ok, I lied, I have one more complaint. It does not dry as fast as the other trisuits I have. Alright that’s it.
Things to keep in mind:
- I have yet to find a trisuit with good bra support, so I always had to wear a sports bra underneath.
- It’s gonna be a snug fit. It’s supposed to keep you streamlined in the water and give you decent compression while you run and bike.
- Always do a few trial runs in your new trisuit before the race to make sure it will work for you.
- If you are used to wearing biking shorts, it may take you some time to get used to the smaller amount of padding in a trisuit.
by Kcurly on January 4, 2010
Price: $40-60 (depending)
Availability: Enell, Sporting Good Stores
If you are well endowed (I’ve always hated that term. It’s not like someone gave me some money or something) you may notice that “the girls” need a little extra support when performing strenuous activity.
I first tried out the Enell several years ago when I started doing step aerobics. I have been anywhere from DDD to DD in my adulthood and never could find bras that gave me great support. I finally would end up wearing 2 cheapo sports bras during aerobics. After bouncing around painfully in class a few times, I went on an epic search for some out of this world support.
The Enell was (and is) the most supportive bra I’ve come across. I started doing jumping jacks in class and about died when I had minimal movement. The same happens now that I’m an avid runner. No getting jiggy with it under my shirt!
Here are its best features:
- Available in many colors
- Fastens in the front with eye hooks
- Fits women from sizes 32C – 50DDD. They will also custom make bras. They have a different sizing chart that ranges from 00 to 8.
- Does not lose strength(with proper care). I have one that I has been washed in the washing machine a few times and one that has been hand washed. The handwashed one is near perfect condition while the other is somewhat stretched.
- Offers support on the sides, top, and bottom
- Made from Lycra and Nylon to wick away moisture
- No straps digging in causing bruising or chafing
Downsides:
- A little hard to get used to putting on. I remember initially thinking that it was the wrong size, but once I read the instructions and got it on, it was comfortable.
- A bit much in very hot weather. I live in the humid south, so if I’m running when it’s very hot, I have to make sure and wear a very thin tank with this.
- Is visible under a lot of the skimpier tops because of the nearly full back coverage.
So, to sum it up, if you’re looking for sexy, the Enell is out. If you’re looking for to tame the incredible bouncing duo, the Enell is the way to go.
