To think big breast & regular running isn’t compatible?

[Lemsipper]

I have fairly big breasts E cups (with implants) and I have recently completed the Couch to 5k, which I absolutely loved and wanted to continue, except my boobs are just full of aches and pains (not when actually running but afterwards)

So im wondering whether bigish boobs and regular running just isn’t compatible? Google seems to suggest this too as i’ve read the breast tissue can become irreversibly damaged with too much strenuous bouncing.

I wear the shock absorber ultimate sports bra.

Does anyone have any sports bra recommendations I can try before giving up on running? 🥲

You’ve already had loads of good advice here, and I don’t have much more to add, other than well done doing C25K!

I’m a DD and have a couple of really good running bras - my word of warning comes from a big error I made once and never again. Both my bras were in the wash because I mistimed it before a half marathon - I decided to just wear the lighter one that I normally wear for yoga. OMG biggest mistake - it’s cut slightly lower than my others, and the chafing was beyond! I ended up with a very painful burn at the top of my left boob. This was about 3 years ago and I still have a scar from it. So never think that a lighter sports bra will just do - over a distance it will hurt you!

G cup here , regular runner.
I use F cup sports bras. M and S are my preference.

Go into bravissimo for a fitting, they are really helpful. I wear the panache ones, really good

Go to Bravissimo and have one fitted. Check the straps are tight enough. I’ve worn Shock Absorber run bra for running for years but the latest ones haven’t been as good so I’m off back to try something new. You just need the right bra in the right fit then your boobs will be fine.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0823MCML9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Slim back and big boobs, I was late to the party in learning that sports bras come in 2 types- some like shock absorber that squish, and which are best suited to smaller boobs, and encapsulating, better for bigger. I have this one and would highly recommend.

I'm breastfeeding at the moment so breasts are much bigger than usual. I really do find it a deterrent to any kind of exercise. Even just chasing my toddler around the garden I'm really aware of them. Yeah I can go upstairs and dig out a tight sports bra but I really couldn't be bothered for spontaneous bits of activity and it wouldn't suit with the breastfeeding anyway.

Sorry, this isn't really relevant to your thread, I just can't wait to get smaller boobs back.

I am a 38E and wear a freya sports bra and a crop top over the top of that- no bouncing at all!

I'm very big too and the only thing that works for me is a normal wired bra with a sports bra on top.

I wear panache tango balconette and then a Royce sports bra. both from bravissimo

I like this Freya one, with the back clasp done up to make it a racerback. Holds everything down.

I don’t much like Shock Absorber because they don’t come high enough up my chest (no I’m not in the wrong cup size, they are baggy and still low cut if I size up).

I like something that stops just below the neck of my Tshirt to prevent bounce, anything with cleavage is useless.

Was also going to advise tightest bra you can manage

I have big boobs and do not run

Too uncomfortable

Why would you want boobs too big to run with

I mean, come on 😂

I'm a G cup and Shock Absorber bra keeps mine in place perfectly! Have you been properly fitted for the bra? Bravissimo are excellent .

I discovered the need for sports bras in secondary school when having to run away from teachers having snuck out of school for a fag at lunch time

Regular bra with a sports bra over.

E cup and wish I wasn't. Regular runner.

Another vote for Enell. Or two bras.

You need a much better sports bra. I run with significantly bigger than an E cup! I ran the marathon in a 28GG sports bra. Get a proper fitting and invest in a decent bra. It's not cheap but it is comfortable.

I was an 32/34H and ran marathons and only wore one bra. No boob band or other gimmick.

ONE decently fitted sports bra should be enough. If you need more than that then you are in a badly fitted bra.

Shock Absorbers have always been my go to but I really think that the OP is probably in an incorrect size.

You also need to make sure that the front of the bra comes up high enough as sizing down can flatten everything and with bigger breasts that means a proportion spills out the top. Personally I prefer Sweaty Betty Ultra run bras, but experiment with fit. They are light and I’ve never had chafing with them. The Maree solidarity bra is also pretty good. If I’m not running a long distance some M&S high impact ones are ok but they are very heavy so find them very hot for longer runs which is one of the reasons the doubling up doesn’t work for me.

32F and I highly recommend this Panache sports bra, my boobs are going nowhere in this thing!

https://www.bravissimo.com/products/wired-sports-bra-pr100/?gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3ft9UEDpkbannzDwSwdyVo4W8B-HlBGbN7WVbSgKidw0O4GXrsH7wxoCG8kQAvDDBwE#black-pr100blk

Something else to consider is if you have a bouncy gait/ running style which can be common in new runners. If so, aiming to run smoother with a smaller but quicker stride of legs (higher cadence) will reduce bouncing through the whole body including breasts.

I was BFing when I started running so temporarily a 34F compared to my usual 34B. I double-braed as it wasn't worth spending too much on a temporary bra size. Make sure the cups cover high up the breast tissue and contain the breast around the sides rather than taking from the back coverage.

I wear a Shock Absorber one with a crop top over the top. It's perfect for extra extra staying power. I've been doing it like this for 25 years and now I feel weird going out with only one on!

I'm a 28K, running is fine with the right bra. Panache Active wired might work well with implants as it has a lot of volume but quite a small wire, also Freya, Shock Absorber. In all cases play with sizing and make sure you jump around in the bra to see how much movement there is before you buy. I also like layering - real bra plus tight crop top/unstructured "sports bra" or possibly a compression top depending temperature and how warm you get...

I don't have implants so I don't know if implants specifically affect comfort when running.

However, I do have massive knockers. I'm a 34/32 GG/H, and I run regularly. I definitely think you'd benefit from a different bra. Bras are so personal and a style that works for one person might not feel right for someone else, even if they're the same size. For example, I much prefer to wear an underwired sports bra, but I know that some women, regardless of size, hate them.

It's also really, really important to be sure that you're wearing the correct band size as well as the right cup size. The vast majority of the support in a bra should actually come from the band, not the straps/cups. Most women (including me, for many years!) are wearing a band size that's too big for them because the right band size, when you first try it on, does feel quite tight.

Bravissimo are very good at fitting bras on a larger bust - I think they start at D cup and above - and I found their sports bra advice really helpful. And their fitters are lovely. If you tell them you specifically need a sports bra for running so it needs to be as high-impact as possible, they'll know which styles to try on you.

Well done for doing Couch to 5K! That's how I got into running. Such a game-changer! Properly transformed me from a couch potato into a runner.