Running questions and answers!
First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who submitted so many questions on my Instagram (@runfitmama) about all of the running problems and questions you need help with. Running can be overwhelming for newbies so any chance I get to help any of you who feel lost, makes me truly happy! Let’s get right to it!
What do I do about “boob bounce”?
Well, for me the answer is simple. Since I’m not super busty, I don’t really struggle with this problem as much others. I get my sports bras from my local running store, Fleet feet, or Target to be honest. If you are struggling with feeling uncomfortable with your bust while running, be sure to buy a sports bra that has an underwire and a molded cup, like the ones from Victoria’s Secret. My mom actually does a lot of horse back riding and her whole riding club has recommended this bra that they all SWEAR BY! All of these will be linked below along with another favorite of mine by Zella (found at Nordstrom)
Shefit sports bras:
Victoria’s secret sports bras:
https://www.victoriassecret.com/victorias-secret-sport/ultra-max-sports-bras
Zella sports bra:
The sports bra question goes perfectly into my next which is “What is the best underwear to wear while running?”I would defiantly find something that whicks moisture. Cotton has a tendency to bunch up when wet which leads to chaffing. I will discuss in a bit how to avoid chaffing while running, because I have perfected this. If you’re most comfortable in a thong, then you are fine to do so, or even go commando! Here are some great opinions to try:
Under Armour:
https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/womens/underwear/g/3c3s
An option for men:
Here’s a full coverage option:
https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Salomon_Womens_S-Lab_Sense_Brief/descpage-SWSLSB.html
“Why do my arms get tingly and right when I run?”Well this I can tell you is most likely because you are running with your fists clenched, and are super tense through your arms and shoulders. When we run, you want nice open fists and a forward and backward motion without crisscrossing your arms across your chest. What I want you to do is every five minutes or so, check in with your body. Are you tight? Are you feeling anxious about your running time? Do you feel like you are squeezing your hands shut? Are you breathing in through your nose and not your mouth? When you do a little check list in your head, you can remind yourself to loosen up. Make sure your hands are either flat, or pretend you’re holding something (like a microphone). By pretending you have something in your hand, it forces you to start relaxing your arms from the hands up. If your chest and back start to feel super tight after a run, you can start to remedy this by being more relaxed. Make sure hands and elbow are going forward and back, not across the chest.
“Do I have to eat before a run?” Honestly, no. You don’t. Everyone is different. I actually have a friend who ran a marathon without eating a single thing before. Whatever makes YOU perform your best, works for you and your body. If I were going to do a short run maybe 30-40 min, I would be ok running fasted. Others need a small banana to get their body going. Don’t feel like you need to force feed yourself because you might end up with a side cramp or feeling really out of breath.
“What are your favorite running leggings?” I love my Zella leggings! They are the best Lululemon dupe for half the price! They don’t stretch out and fit very true to size. I find that less expensive brands like Old Navy or Target tend to stretch leaving you with the job to yank your pants up the entire run. I will link my favorites below:
Zella leggings:
“What do I do if I really hate running, but want to like it?” Oh my friend, I have been there! Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to take it as easy as possible. Find the best playlist you can, get a great nights sleep and go out for 10 minutes. That’s it! Go out for 10 minutes and run for 30 seconds, walk for 30 seconds. Do that 3-4 times for the first week. The week after do the same thing but for 11 minutes, and build up from there. Do not start out thinking you HAVE TO LOVE IT in order for you to adjust to it. Running is a fickle friend which we all love and also hate. The first three miles of any run for me are awful. Yes, awful. It’s like I can’t quite figure out what I’m doing. My brain is like “oh no baby what are you doing” and my body is telling me that the couch is a much better idea. But, my heart, oh my heart. My heart tells me that I need this. I need to connect with the Earth, the air, my thoughts and my soul. Stick with it, I promise you’ll get there!
“How often do you use an energy gel?” I use them every 4-5 miles, or every 50 minutes or so. You’ll feel when you need it but this is the thing, if you’re already hungry or thirsty, it’s too late. You don’t want to “bonk.” Be ahead of your needs by testing these out on your long runs and recognizing your body’s signals. Are you slowing down? Are you feeling gritty on your forehead (salt)? Are you feeling brain fog? All classic signs that you’ve missed your window and need to refuel. Listen to your body!
“How do I prevent chaffing?” Oh this is a subject I could take all day to focus on. But short and sweet - YOU NEED BODY GLIDE! You need to put it everywhere that the ends of your clothes rub your skin. So your underwear and sports bra line, where your arm band hits, where your heart rate monitor will hit under your clothes, and around your sleeves. I also bring a travel size in my running backpack when I’m out on a long run.
Body glide:
Thank you so much for all of your questions, please feel free to comment and let me know if you have any more! Be sure to check out my Youtube channel - Run Fit Mama