Finding a sports bra that actually works...

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For my male readers, if I have any... you can stop reading now as I don't believe this will apply to you.

Part of what I'm doing differently for marathon training this time around is trying to work out all the the things that gave me trouble the last time. Working out the kinks is especially going to be important in May/June since I'll have so many marathons so close together, recovery is going to be paramount.

Something that was a real problem happens to be a bit of an intimate subject. This is the post that inspired me to finally do something about it. A friend posted it on Facebook and I cannot thank her enough because boy do I feel a lot better!

For the past two years, I have been wearing a variety of sports bras and to be honest, they have pretty much all failed me. Many of my previous sports bras gave me some pretty serious chafing underneath my chest where the band sits. After the marathon, it was so bad that I had blisters there.

I think part of the reason I have waited so long to really research this topic is I knew that finding something that actually worked for me was going to cost more money than I'd like to pay for an undergarment. I've outlined the 3 bras I've used the most and the one that I've recently found and decided that I can't live without.

-Prices are in Canadian dollars-

1. The Lululemon Ta Ta Tamer $58.00
This bra goes up to a size DD which is why I thought it would work well for me. I like that it has nice wide straps so it has some stability, but it's the support underneath that is missing and unfortunately, I don't think the size was really working for me either... and then of course there's the chafing issue. And ahem... the price! If you're going to spend that much, you might as well invest in a real bra.

2. Handful Adjustable Bra $48.00
I actually really like this bra, just not for running. The idea behind this bra is to "flatter not flatten". I like to wear it around the house or to sleep in but it doesn't have enough support for me to run in. Handful is a great company but definitely more designed for a smaller-chested woman.

3. Lululemon All Sport Bra $52.00
This, I think has to be the worst one, especially now looking at the pictures... It is also very similar to the Nike sports bra I also wore for a while. Though, I probably have used it or others like it the most. I think it gave me the illusion of support because it was so tight that it held everything in place. However the band isn't really holding anything up and the so-called flat seams are what gave me those horrible blisters. After a while, it also gives you what I believe is referred to as "uni-boob", so NOT flattering...

4. The Panache Sport Bra $79.99
By far the most expensive bra, but so unbelievably worth it. For the amount of time I spend running, I can't believe I've walked around so uncomfortable for so long. I've always believed in having the right bra during my normal daily activities, so why should running be any different? I happened to find this bra 20% off last week and I loved it so much that I went back and bought a second one, the very last one they had actually. It has underwire, wide straps, and the ability to convert to a racerback. I wore it on my 14k run last Sunday and a few other short runs and I've had no chafing issues, everything stays secure and in the right place, and above all else, I feel a lot more comfortable. I didn't realize how uncomfortable I actually was before until I ran with this bra on.

And since, lets face it, I wear running clothes the majority of the time, I'm getting a lot of use out of it. Personally I think it looks pretty good too.

P.S. This is not a sponsored post, just sharing my thoughts/opinions. Believe it or not, I bought ALL of those sports bras... Also, I apologize for the terrible iPhone photos but it seemed a little strange to be taking the tripod and "good" camera out to take pictures of my bras... haha.