A Running Horror Story- The Tale of Ultra Chafing 😱

Disclaimer: I received Handful’s The Closer Bra to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Gather round close kids, for I am about to tell you a horror story. But don't worry, this one has a happy ending. It's about one of the most scariest things that can happen to a female runner... CHAFING FROM YOUR SPORTS BRA!!!! /cue dramatic scream 😱😱

Let's go back to the beginning shall we. Once upon a time (like 3 months ago actually), I had a super crazy idea that I was going to run an Ultra. I wrote a blog post about it here: https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-ultra-that-wasnt.html. It's a long, sad story, but I will summarize - I trained a lot, in the cold of winter, for lots and lots of hard trail miles, and ultimately, the Ultra was cancelled due to a massive storm. /cue sad noises 😢😢

Here I am about 6 miles in, all layered up with
the race's namesake Millstone

So before the cancelling happened, however, came the story that I came to tell you today. I'll set the scene for you. I'm planning to spend long hours in the woods, in the cold, running hard technical trails. I need water for my run. I need warmth for my run. Meeting this will require many, many layers (did I mention, I'm a Southern girl who HATES being cold?). So I'm all geared up - on top I've got a sports bra, base layer, jacket, vest and hydration pack on. And I do my 21 mile run. And it is long and sweaty (I do end up tying the jacket around my waist at one point). 

And as I'm running, I start to feel, something. Something on my shoulders isn't quite right. It feels pinchy. And itchy. And just wrong. You ladies know what I am talking about I bet. I adjust as I run, but I suspect that I am in for a world of hurt later. 

Smiling cause I'm done with 21 miles
Gritting my teeth a bit, cause OW!

So I finish my LOOOOOOONG run. And I'm feeling accomplished. But by now, I know that I am chafed. And not just a little. But I'm completely sweaty and starting to cool down in the cold and need to get into a hot shower before I start to loose feeling in my fingers. There is no delaying the SHOWER OF PAIN!!

I remove my clothes. Yup, there are large red welts on my shoulders, one much worst than the other. I turn on the hot water. I take a deep breath knowing what is about to happen, and step into the shower...

So yeah, on January 29th around 1 pm, if you heard a strange high pitched noise that you couldn't identify, but made every dog in the neighborhood stop for a moment, that was probably my scream of the shower water hitting my sweaty, chafed shoulders. The pain was the worst chafing I had ever had in my time as a runner. It was insane. I cursed the entire shower. There was some sobbing. My shoulders were not just red, they were welted and bloodied. Afterwards, I took that sports bra from out of the laundry and threw it into the trash. I am not even kidding.

This was taken 2 days later. 😭

Luckily... I had just ordered a brand new Handful Closer Bra which boasts having - "Smooth, non-chafing, quick-dry fabric"- from the Handful website. And even luckier it arrived the next day, because I'll be honest, I was a bit terrified to run again with my shoulders, and since I'm doing a daily running challenge, I couldn't wait it out to heal up. So on went my Handful bra and off I went on the road.

Same gear, same trails, different result!
No chafing AT ALL

And like I said, HAPPY ENDING, it worked like a charm! It was supportive, comfortable and not only no chafing, but no pain on my already pained shoulders. I've worn it for every long run I've had since (plus a few other activities like Boot Camp classes and a 2 hour Self Defense Class).

So if you do not want to end up like poor me and take the world's most painful shower, you should try out a Handful Closer Bra for yourself. Or any of their other bras, all of which have the chafe-free bands. Some of my other BibRave Pro Sisters have tried out the Y-Backs and have all reported good things. I've even have a 20% off discount code to share for a bit of added incentive, if not fearing the shower isn't quite enough. Use code BIBRAVE20 on the handful.com website.

Soft, Comfortable, and Supportive: Handful Closer Bra Review

Disclaimer: I received Handful’s The Closer Bra to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Fun Fact: The average female runner's breasts travel approximately 3 miles in bounce when running a marathon* 

That's crazy! And one of the reasons that I am always on the look out for an amazing sports bra, one that will keep the girls locked in and closer to my legs' mileage instead of running off ahead of me. Seriously, and I have no shame. I will totally hit up my fellow lady friends about their bras in random conversations. Last Fall, my girl - BarkingMadRun receive a Handful Bra at The Running Event. The second I saw her post about it, I IMed her - Hey, tell me more about that bra. She had nothing but amazing things to say, so I knew I had to try it. Luckily, I too got the opportunity to try a Handful bra - The Closer.

Yo, she was right. This is a pretty great bra. Here's the official details from the Handful website:

• Removable Lights Out™ Pads
• Front zip for easy on/off
• Smooth, stretchy, and supportive performance fabric
• Soft, moisture-wicking lining
• Quick-dry polyester/spandex shell
• Breathe easy with power mesh
• Adjustable straps – lengthen or shorten for custom fit

And here's my un-official purely my opinion details after wearing it for the following activities - running, strength training, yoga, recovery and dorking it up on my brother's trampoline:

• This bra is super soft! It's really comfortable to wear. In fact, I packed it as a part of my post-marathon outfit
  

• No chafing issues, which I often have. My first run with it was in an unexpected rainstorm and I had nary a mark on me. 
  

• I like that it is pretty high cut in the front. I've had bras that show a bit too much cleavage for a sports bra and it always makes me a bit self conscious, esp at the gym. 
  

• Super easy zipper front - Yo, I wore my Closer for Arm Day this week at Burn and man, I'm not sure I could have wrestled my way out of a traditional sports bra after. Bonus points for not being able to feel the zipper at all. I had another zipper front sports bra that I could never quite adjust it to the point where the zipper wasn't an issue. No problems with this one. There's also a cute little hook to hold the bra closed while you line up the zipper
  

• It's cute!  Not a deal breaker/maker, but having cute things is nice. Esp since it does peek out a bit in the front on most of my running tops, but I don't mind a bit because it is really cute. I picked the Spoon Me silvery color for this reason. The back is also nice, but the way it is designed I've never seen it sticking out from my racer-back tanks, but again, I wouldn't mind if it did. 

  

  Did I fail to mention the yoga I wore it to was Cat Yoga! 

• Let me talk real quick about the Lights Out Pads. Okay, I'm not a padded bra kind of girl. I'm one to pretty much remove the pads, never to be seen again, really for 2 reasons - first, I don't need them, and second, once they come out, good luck getting them back in right without looking lumpy. Well, with my Closer, I decided to get the full experience and wear the pads for my post-marathon comfort outfit, so back in the pads went. And to my delight, the pads have idiot(me)-proof instructions on the back! Seriously, they not only identify right/left and up/down, but also have little hands to show you the correct direction. FREAKING BRILLIANT! 

  

  Even I can put these back in proper!

Overall, I am super happy with my Handful Closer Bra and will be taking advantage of their BibRave partner discount - using discount code "BIBRAVE" for 10% off on their website: https://handful.com/ to get at least another one if not more (you can totally use this discount code too!) 

*Figure based on information from Michelle Norris, senior research associate in the department of sport and exercise science at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K. who estimated that breasts move on avg 15 cm per stride with an avg stride of 4.4 ft.