the more things change....

Here I was thinking I've made all these great strides with my running (no pun intended) in the last year, but I really haven't changed much at all.  I'm still as much of a dipshit as ever.

Every day brings the same challenge - making sure Jane gets out for a few miles, either walking or running..... and today was a running day for me, so all day I'm thinking I'll go for a run with Jane as soon as I get home from work.  Kill two birds and all that.... I knew it was getting colder and the wind was really picking up so I didn't want to be out after dark - I wanted as much sunlight as possible!  I sort of figured out what I was going to wear so I wouldn't waste time standing in the closet looking at my running clothes saying, "duhhhhh..."

I'm quite sure this is EXACTLY
what I look like in my Body By
Victoria bra. Who says marketing
doesn't work?

My plan was unfolding like clockwork, I got home, got changed, and Jane and I headed out the door.  A five minute warm-up walk and we're off and running!  But....at the first step something felt wrong.  By five steps, I figured out, I forgot to change my bra!  Although I'm a fan of my Victoria's Secret Body By Victoria bra, a running bra it is not.

Shhhhiiiiiitttt.  Now what?  Do I go home and change?  Ummm, no.  I'm out here. I'll just deal with it.  So I'm running and NOTHING is feeling right.  My stride is funky, my shins hurt, (Why are my shins hurting?? That's new. Dammit!), and now my ankles are hurting... but it's a different pain, more at the crease between the ankle and top of foot.... wait... how tight are my shoe laces??  Turns out, I tightened the snot out of my trail shoe laces and I'm pretty sure I was cutting off all circulation to my feet...... So I loosened the laces and kept on running.  The pain eventually went away.

The run was only a little over three miles but dang, it sucked pretty much the whole time.  The last mile was all run into a 15-20 mph headwind, and to make things even better, the sky decided to throw some rain mixed with snow into the fun.  At that point, I was laughing at all the things that were going wrong with this run.

But I got it done!  The "run at least one mile per day" is going strong on day 18, and I got my 30 minutes of purposeful movement in.... and I rewarded myself with a lavender scented bubble bath tonight.  Lovely!

The whole "clean eating" goal, however....... I might need a coach/trainer for that one....

wookin' pa nub

I'm looking for a sports bra I can love.

The girls and I are getting pretty tired of bouncing along the roads of life and could use a little more support.  And color!  I'd also like to not risk dislocating my shoulder getting in and out of a boulder holder strait-jacket.  I need some help, people!!  Help me find a bra the girls and I can love which will love us right back!!

Fun facts to know and share: I wear a 34D.  I am 5'11" tall and weigh about 145 pounds. I am also in my mid-forties so the level of perkiness has gone from amazing and unappreciated (age 19 or so - oh, the sweet ignorance of youth!) to reasonable (mid-thirties) and has now morphed into.....disappointing.

But I digress.....

Here's what I have tried so far:

Champion style #6209.  Pink.  Really faded pink.  Standard bra with 3 hook/eye closure.  Non-adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 1.0.  I love this bra but it's getting quite ratty and not nearly as supportive as it used to be. It fit PERFECTLY when I got it.  Plus, the inside is getting all pilly so I had to use a sweater shaver on it to avoid irritation.  Don't judge.

Champion style #6209.  White.  Standard bra with 3 hook/eye closure.  Non-adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 1.0.  I bought this one because I LOVE my faded pink one so much.  But of course, Champion had to *eff* with the sizing and fit so it rides super high under my armpits and I swear the straps are shorter.  Fairly uncomfortable.  Big disappointment.

Under Armour style #unknown.  White. Pullover with no clasp. Non-adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 8.5. Comfy but has annoying seams IN the cups.  Can you say "Chafing alert?"  Owie!!

Moving Comfort style #unknown. Electric blue!! Pull over with no clasp. Non-adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 9.0.  Comfortable once I can get the damn thing on except for the seams at the shoulder which are irritating.  Strange little nubbins on the band that leave interesting pattern on skin.  

Champion style #1612.  Hot pink!! Pullover with 2 hook/eye closure.  Non-adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 6.0. This one has a strange fit to it - too big and just right at the same time.  Quite comfortable but not supportive enough.  Ok for when I'm on the elliptical, anything more "impactful" equals fail.

Champion style #9516.  White. Standard bra with 2 hook/eye closure.  Entry and exit difficulty rating = 1.0. Worst bra ever.  Ugly.  Cheap construction. Is only included here as a warning. Piece o' crap!! 

Champion style #unknown.  White. Pullover with 3 hook/eye closure.  Adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 1.0.   In it's heyday, this bra wasn't too bad but has now passed its prime.  Hate the seams in the front.  

Moving Comfort style #350025.  Bright green!  Pullover with 3 hook/eye closure.  Adjustable straps. Entry and exit difficulty rating = 7.0. Probably operator error but I have a tough time hooking it together.  I really want to love this one but the jury is still out.  Just got it and it's finally getting softer.

So here's my wishlist:
1.  34D
2.  Color! Color! And more color!! (what is it about bra manufacturers and their unwillingness to bring color to the chests of women with boobies larger than a C cup????)
3.  Adjustable straps
4.  Relatively easy in/easy out.  I don't want putting my bra on to be the toughest part of my workout.
5.  Seamless inner cups
6.  Separate cups - one for each lovely girl.  I am NOT a fan of the uniboob, from the aesthetics standpoint as well as comfort and moisture accumulation.  Blech.

Oh, and a bra that will take me back to my 19 year old shape. <she said wistfully>

Any ideas, ladies??  Please help the girls!!  What bras can you recommend I try?

And hey!!  Any sponsors out there looking for aging runners to test their bras??  Send 'em my way!!  I'll post honest reviews - glowing, scathing and in between!