On Boobs, Bras and Running

Boobs, breasts, bust, puppies...... The other day names we have for breasts was trending on Twitter. Even I was amazed and amused by the names we have for them. Most were fond and loving, not rude or crude. We love our boobs and quite right too!

As this month is breast cancer awareness month and because for one reason or another I've had boobs on my mind for the last week or so, I thought I'd do a blog about boobs, oh and a bit of running too.

The other week I had a small sebaceous cyst removed from under my bra strap.  It was very minor and nothing to worry about and only 2 stitches. 'Can I run?' I asked the (male) doctor as I went under the knife. 'Of course' he said as he snapped his rubber gloves. I looked away.  Afterwards, as I slid off the bed and tried to put my bra on, I remembered a fundamental fact of life. Men don't understand the psychology or physics of breasts in the way that women do. How could I possibly run with two stitches under the bra strap just at the place where there is probably maximum pull! Any woman would know that gravity and pressure made running like that a no no.

Now for me, any exercise without a bra is to be contemplated with some caution. Even spinning I need a bit of support; and yoga, well just think downward dog (thanks @longjogroz and @runner786 for that image!). I have a very serious and totally wonderful shock absorber bra that keeps me safe and sound and I wouldn't be without it. But it is very tight, especially in just that place where the stitches are.

A few days later after three spin classes, I'm really ready for a run.  After a bit of experimentation with all those hooks and things on my bra, I worked out a way of  getting an off the shoulder strap so I could run without too much movement. I decided to give it a go and headed off on a dusk run. Necessity truly is the mother of invention.

Well I had a lovely run, it was a beautiful evening and I worked out a route I can run any time of day to test out my speed and improvement ready for the Edinburgh Marathon next year. I put on my running music and hit the road. As always, as I ran, thoughts that had been blocked by shopping lists, work and by my, Mum's, Ali's 'to do' lists popped into my head like bubbles in fine champagne.

I thought about how lucky I am. What must it be like to have had a lumpectomy or more serious surgery. I remembered the stories I'd read about in Women's Running Magazine about women with breast cancer who found that running gave them strength and courage.   

I thought about how running and other exercise can help to fight breast cancer and other cancers too.  Nothing in life is guaranteed, but research shows that exercising after being diagnosed with breast cancer can reduce the risk of dying from the disease.  A 16 year follow-up of women with cancer, showed that women who exercised one to three hours each week lowered their risk of dying from breast cancer by one quarter and those who exercised between three and eight hours per week cut their risk in half.

I thought about how exercise can help reduce the risk of getting breast cancer in the first place.  Women who exercise for three or more hours each week can reduce their risk of breast cancer by twenty to forty percent. Forty per cent! If running cuts my risk be even a tiny percent, I'm all for it.

I thought about the race for lifers who cope with cancer, the gruelling treatment; the surgery, chemo, radiotherapy who walk and run. I thought about all the other women who walk, support, run and cheer for Race for Life. 
As I ran, I was glad to feel a tiny tug now and then that reminded me that I'm lucky to be running with boobs. That running might help me keep them. That being healthy and being lucky enough to choose to run are very very special and wonderful gifts to be treasured.

Of course men get breast cancer too, I hope running works for guys as well. Does anyone know?

Nothing is guaranteed in this life. Running doesn't stop you getting cancer, if only things were that easy. But running and other exercise might help reduce the risk. If there's the tiniest chance that exercise will keep me whole and healthy a bit longer, I'm all for it. And I'm very happy that it helps keep me slim, has brought me dear friends and is great fun too. A no brainer I'd say.

So, whether you run round the block or run Ultras; whether you're a treadmill trotter or a fell runner; a runner, walker, cyclist, swimmer; trapeze artist - whatever. Whether you're a boob carrier or a boob appreciator (or indeed both), be a gambler and  cut the odds, get off the couch, out that door and move.

Happy running and take care

Sue