The Life Of Bryony - The Life of YOU: Running Bras, Blisters & Bingo Wings: Your Biggest Running Questions Answered

Episode Date: May 2, 2025

QUICK SURVEY – TELL US WHAT YOU'RE LOVING: We’re running a short survey to get to know you better—so we can keep making the kind of episodes you actually want to hear. Takes 2 mins, promise: https://ex-plorsurvey.com/survey/selfserve/550/g517/250305?list=3 Welcome to The Life of YOU! The bonus series where we tackle your dilemmas and share advice to navigate life’s trickier moments. This week, I’m joined once again by Helen Thorne and Emma Campbell—two women whose lives have been transformed by running—to answer your most honest and hilarious questions about everything from sports bras to bladder leaks. Together, we unpack the reality of starting running from scratch. TODAY WE ANSWER… 💬 Claire wants a sports bra that won’t slice her in half—and a fix for underboob chafing. 👟 Tasha is starting from scratch. No kit. No fitness. No idea where to begin. ✈️ Rosie wants to combine running with travel—are there any inclusive, fun international races? 🚽 Emily is wondering: what do you actually do when you need a wee mid-run? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 🗣 Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB 📧 Prefer email? Drop us a line at [e-mail] If this episode made you what to run, laugh or rethink your choice of underwear—please share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Bryony xx ⸻ CREDITS 🎙 Presenter: Bryony Gordon 🎙 Guests: Helen Thorne & Emma Campbell 🎧 Content Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan 🎥 Audio & Video Editor: Luke Shelley 📢 Executive Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Life of You, the bonus episode where we dig into your questions and dilemmas. This week, Helen Thorne and Emma Campbell are sticking around to help us tackle your biggest running questions. Your questions answered right after this. This is from Claire. Claire says, can you recommend a sports bra that actually works for bigger boobs and doesn't feel like a torture device? I'm also struggling with chafing between the thighs and under the bra. Should I stop if it happens mid-run? And what's a good chafing plan to have before and during a run? Well, I have had many episodes of chafing and I have to say lubricate in terms of the inner thigh, use your bodyclad or Vaseline and put that there for your thighs.

But under the boob, again, a bit of Vaseline, but I would use a light vest, like a thin vest and then put your bra on over the top that That has stopped all my chafing. And I do that. And also, I was a G cup and the bra that I liked the most was a Panache Sport underwire. I thought that was very, very good. Yeah. People kind of balk when you tell them to wear a wired sports bra. They're like, what? And they do wired and underwired, but I would say go, there's a website called booby-doo,

and you put in like your details, and you say I wanna do running, and I like this, that, and the other, and they'll give you, so that and the shock absorber. Can I just say, as someone with J-cups, I am patronized so much by people on the internet about not wearing, oh, you need to get a better sports bra. I'm like, fuck off, this is the best sports bra I can find. Like, because when you, the thing about it is when

you have big boobs, you can't, there's nothing you can, unless you kind of literally binding them down, yes, you can't stop them from moving. So the idea of having like, and I remember when I did that, when we ran that 10k last September, Helen, in our pants, and I put up a reel that I made like on the way home and it got watched like 10 million times. And when something gets watched 10 million times, it gets a lot of patronising men and women actually come at you. And it was like, this is, you know, your boobs are not supported properly, you're not wearing a proper sports bra. And I was like, this is, you know, your boobs are not supported properly, you're not wearing a proper sports bra. And I'm like, I'm wearing like, and like people are so unused to seeing real women's bodies

in the wild that they don't understand how gravity works. Right? Yes. So I would say to you, Claire, yeah, people places like boobadoo, but also bravissimo. Oh, yeah, they're brilliant. Shock absorber don't go higher than an H, I think. Okay, yes. But there are loads of places like Elomi, Panache,

Bravissimo go up to K, I think. Who else? There are like a number of brands and you can find them all on there. Yeah. And you can get wired versions, you can get non wired versions. If I wear a non wired version to give my because actually the big chafing problem I get is under the wire of the boot. Okay, yeah. Like don't you find like I also

find because I've got a belly like a bit of a belly. It's like the bottom of my bra rubs on the top of my belly. Yes. Yeah, yeah, I get that. Yeah, you know, like that chaf my bra rubs on the top of my belly. Yes yeah yeah I get that yeah you know like that chafing bit there so the other thing that you can do is um is like I put sometimes that you know the tape that you use to tape up your injury. Yes yes um I think it's rock tape um yeah it's you can get it very cheaply like five or six quid and it's a bit of a stretch you can get it a stretch I think it's called KT like physio tape yeah and yeah I I do that on my back where the join of the bra is so I don't get like five or six quid and it's a bit of a stretch. I think it's called KT like physiotape. Yeah. And yeah, I do that on my back where the join of the bra is so I don't get any scratches

and yet underneath. Perfect. Yeah. Yeah. But also I would say a trust that while you're, because Claire asked should we stop mid-run if you're getting chafing. I often find when I'm running I don't notice I've got it. There's something going on in the body where the endorphins have kicked off that it's only afterwards you go oh look at these gaping wounds or I used to find when I went to the shower and I'd be like oh that that is that is a horrific feeling but yeah if you're in look if you're doing any exercise and you're in pain stop don't don't feel you have to push through it because that's silly. And yeah, but yeah, like you, Bryony, I've got it to end of marathons. And like, I used to get chafing under my arms as well.

I still do because I have, like I'm still like an 18. Yeah. And you do get chafing under your arms. Bingo wing chafing. And I always size up half a size for my shoes. Yeah. Give yourself a bit because your feet do swell. They do swell. Like Jamie Lang's. Yeah.

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And what is the best use for other cream? And that is a question to which only Sarah has the answer. Do please join us wherever you get to your podcasts. Thank you. the survey link in the show description to tell us more. It only takes two minutes, I promise. Right, next question. This is from Tasha. Tasha says, I've never been a runner. I don't have fancy kit. I'm definitely not fit and I honestly don't know how to begin. I just gave that dramatic effect to Tasha's question. What's the most realistic, no judgment way to start running when you've done absolutely nothing for years? I really do think things like the couch to 5K are the kind of really great first step

or just that rather than the distance, maybe I'm going to be out for 20 minutes. Really again coming back to music just any first outing is a tick and that's your kind of day one and just building very, very slowly and very gently. And I think we've all had that feeling of I couldn't possibly run five minutes without stopping, you know, get a a 5k I mean 5k to me in certain points of my life felt like what but the progress is quite you'd be surprised and once you incorporate it it's like any habit isn't it. Running is so good for that like whatever you put in it will give back to you it's very it's a very faithful friend. Walking is okay walking is okay you know there's a very faithful friend. Walking is okay. Walking is okay. You know, there's a lot out there about the walk-run method and it's absolutely valid

and allowed. And again, I always say it, you know, I this morning went for my run in my five-year-old leggings and the t-shirt that often doubles up as a bed t-shirt. You know, I don't, I never really had a proper kit. But it is worth, I mean, the one thing it is worth in training, spending money on is, not spending, you don't have to spend huge amounts of money on, but you go to a shop like runners need,

and they're all over the country, and they will put you on a treadmill, and they've seen every type of runner, every shape, every size, people that have no fitness whatsoever and they're non-judgmental, they don't give a toss, they've all been there themselves and they will analyze your gait and tell you what proper kind of shoe that you should wear. And they'll advise the kind of shoe that you should wear and that makes a big difference. Yeah because if you buy the wrong shoe,

because if you roll your ankles in, or if you've got all this, if you have the wrong shoe, you can become more injured, or if you're not being, you need something to stabilize you with things like that. So it's worth it. But the cost per wear, it will pay off.

I do think maybe rather than the, oh, I'm gonna run this far, maybe just look at the clock and think I'm gonna run this far, maybe just look at the clock and think I'm gonna be out for half an hour. And really slowly. And Tasha, no one is looking at you. No, absolutely. I think following different types of runners

as well on Instagram, I follow so many different plus size runners and people that you wouldn't classically believe are runners. And it's just, it's really, I find that really helps because after a time, you see so many, one of my favorites is Scotty is fat. I think that's right. Oh, glorious. Absolutely glorious.

And when you've seen, you know, like their posts pop up a certain amount of times and you start to normalise, you're like, oh yeah. Can I just say one more thing actually that I've just thought? Patash, you know, if you're thinking of what should my first kind of goal be? Would it be 5k or this or that? Actually maybe kind of you could set yourself a target of, I think doing a charity race is a lovely, like a race for life. Yeah, that was my first.

They're all over the country and the 5k's you can do, because you're going to get that, again, you're going to have that purpose, you're going to have that reason, that why, you're going to raise some money and those events, those runs, the atmosphere is so lovely because everyone's there. It's there doing it from the heart. Noodles are very nice. They're a nice thing at the end. They're wonderful.

And joining a local park run is great. There's always people who just walk it. You know, they might be walking with their dog or their buggies or whatever and just seeing the smiley faces and being part of a community. Absolutely wonderful. Apparently, park runs are the new dating kind of thing. I heard that. I might just head down to a park run. Oh yeah. This leads us nicely to the next question from Rosie who says, I've done a few UK 10Ks

and one half marathon but I'd love to travel and make a trip of it. Are there any international races, especially women-focused or fun ones, that you'd really recommend? Oh, well I saw recently that there are 10Ks and half marathon women only in Spain. I'll send the link through. So that might be it. You could get this warm, excellent food. I do think making a trip out of like going away last year, my husband and I went to Rome for the weekend to do a half marathon. And it was just such a fun, nice and fundamentally

wholesome thing to do where I was like, wow, I'm not spending my weekend just in nightclubs or pubs or whatever like I would have normally. But just going around and using it is, like I do find that the further you get into the running community, the bigger your world becomes. Absolutely. I did the last two marathons with, I stayed with Sports Tours International and they're awesome and they have hundreds of people doing these international half marathons and marathons and you can share a room or you can do a room by yourself but in the morning you sit down

to breakfast and you're like oh how are you and you know it's I just it's it's full glorious nerdy runners and you know you do little warm-up runs together and I was like, this is me now, this is mine. I get, yeah, and I've made friends through doing that and it's like, and lots of people come by themselves and everyone's like, all in the same boat. It's great. So there's so many and you can just, if you even just Google like women only races, I think there's a women's only half marathon in New York if you're gonna carb load New York is a nice place to do it

I was yeah, one tip that I would give to like people Is to check I think the larger the race the kind of more inclusive it's gonna feel So because you can get lots of half marathons and 10Ks that are very kind of like. Hardcore. Hardcore run club people and they've got like cutoff times, right? If something has a real, I always look this up and you and every kind of race will tell you what their cutoff time is. But you know, if there's a half marathon and the cutoff time is less than

three and a half hours, I'd avoid it because it's not going to be that inclusive. No. So I think there's a really good like things that you can tell kind of that, you know, and like, because, you know, signs that this is an inclusive race and it's going to make everyone feel welcome, because there is nothing more affirming than doing a race and suddenly seeing all the different shapes, sizes, types of people that take part in them. I think that is like one of the most brilliant ways to kind of remind yourself that running is for everybody. You want it to be a race where it's like, yeah, if you want to walk it, sure.

Yeah. That's why the London Marathon is the most special out of all the marathons I've been to because there'll be rhinoceroses there'll be people holding a fridge it's so different to any other one in the world and I love it is every age every shape and size and background and all yeah crowds are amazing aren't they the cheers good stuff Good stuff. we heading for a zombie apocalypse? And what is the best use of other cream? And that is a question to which only Sarah has the answer. Do please join us wherever you get to your podcasts. Thank you. Right, last question is from Emily. And she says, this might be a daft question. No daft questions on the life of Bryony, Emily. This might be a daft question. No daft questions on the life of Brynie Emily

This might be a daft question, but I've never been running before and I honestly don't know the basics What do you do if you need a drink or a wee mid-run? Do you just stop and go into a cafe? Yes Yes Do you remember when when I started running with you and I was I remember one of the things it took a few months For it to register that I would always come out with a bottle of water because that, I thought well I've obviously got to take water and then I remember sort of learning and probably saying you don't actually, once you realize you can run a 5k without water, it was a bit of a kind of crutch and I'm like well I must surely.

I mean it depends doesn't it where you're running Emily, if you're running in the countryside, I would take and it depends how long you're going out for. If you're going out for a 5k, you'll probably you'll probably be okay. You'll be all right. Yeah. You know, but then of course, there is the thing of like people that take gels for the first time if they're going out for long runs. My tip would be take a gel at home first to get your stomach used to it. Yes. Because you do hear horror stories of people taking their first gel in the first 40 minutes of a long run and shitting themselves. Yeah. It's not a nice feeling.

I remember once I was running along the canals in Leeds because I go running when I'm on tour and I was like, oh, oh no. I had to go behind a bush and do number twos. Really? Yeah not fun not not a fun thing so just be careful but it what I've been running for seven years and it's the only time that's happened so yeah. I remember before that's that in 2019 that celebrate you Tengi, I had the heaviest period. Oh, Briony, poor darling. I had to empty my moon cup about six times

between the getting up the start line. And anyway, it was terrible. But also, yeah, and I remember Jada handing me, she basically, I'm not I'm not into the detail but like some tissue paper to kind of like pad out and I was just in my underwear so it's quite you know because we had to wear the underwear with our names on it so that yeah they yeah they were quite a light fabric that is not an absorbent no not a period pant no yeah but there's all sorts of stuff now. Yeah, they are.

I always run now in these pants called Nixie Bodies, which have got like an absorbent gusset thing. So not just for periods, but also for like... Yeah, they're sport pants. So like if you... If you wet yourself a bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because it can happen.

Also, I has found the third sneeze. If I'm running along, I have two sneezes, fine. Third sneeze, you can look out. And can we just discuss, as I remember Deborah saying, I have two sneezes, fine, third sneeze, look out. And can we just discuss, as I remember Deborah saying, knickers or no knickers? Some people don't. What? What dabs did you? I've got, so.

No pants! There's a WhatsApp chat the night before we did the virtual and the big question was, knickers or no knickers? Well knickers. Always knickers. Hang on, hang on, did she do it without pants? I think, I can't remember what her decision was. That's so derbs, isn't it?

Oh, absolutely. I was like, that's the big heated question. Well, I think maybe for ease, I think she was thinking about ease of Lou breaks and things but I don't know. I like to feel supported down there. I wear underwear. Yes, they're good. They're very good.

They're good for the old chaffage. And I think and actually you can buy like shorts if you you know worried about the chafing you can buy like pant shorts. Yeah. Oh my god we've turned. Fantastic. There's a lot of chafing chat. But yeah I can't run without my nixie bodies because they're having a bit of padding there isn't it? Yeah. It's like a little cushion. A little cushion for your panini. Very nice. Oh, that note. Thank you Emma and Helen. A bit of cushioning for your panini. That's it for this week's bonus episode. I'm exhausted just talking about all this running. Massive thanks to Helen and Emma for their warmth, wisdom and general good

vibes. And to all of you who sent in your questions, please keep them coming. Until next time, be kind to yourself and I'll see you out there pounding the pavement. And what is the best use for other cream? And that is a question to which only Sarah has asked. Do please join us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you.