While out for dinner with the design team on a work trip to Taipei – Aly, our run fit model, casually mentioned, “if Steve (her boyfriend) proposed to me tomorrow, I would definitely say yes”. Having only dated for a year, it was bold statement to make. Little did she know, it was exactly what was going to happen the very next day.

meet aly

Meet Aly. When she’s not busy working as a personal trainer, we’re toting her around the office (and the globe for that matter) asking her to try on new product so we can ensure a perfect fit. Aly’s been our run fit model since 2007 and is also the star of this little love story that landed her a boy, a ring and bra named after her.

it’s a love story…

It was a fit session with our vendors in Taipei, like every other. Long hours spent poking and pinning and twirling Aly, followed by outfit changes and more poking, pinning and twirling. What Aly didn’t know was that her boyfriend, Steve, had flown in all the way from Vancouver and was plotting an epic surprise for her that involved popping the question, “will you marry me?”

With the help of one of our run designers, Niamh, the whole team (including the lovely folks at our vendor) were in on the surprise and anxiously waiting Steve’s arrival. The vision: Steve would arrive while Aly was in the change room and as she came out from behind the curtain he would be waiting there, down on one knee.

how the engage bra came to be

But of course, plans rarely go as planned. When Steve arrived, Aly was working with the team outside the fitting room making the surprise entrance nearly impossible. Luckily Niamh thinks fast on her feet. She grabbed a bra and sent Aly into the fitting room to “try it on”. The rest happened exactly as intended - well, with the help of the encouraging look Niamh shot Steve when he appeared to be a bit frozen.

The lovely people we work with in Taipei gave Aly and Steve this book after the engagement!

she said yes!

Not to anyone’s surprise (given the conversation that had occurred the night prior) Aly said yes, but not before exclaiming, “I’M WEARING A SPORTS BRA” first. In hindsight, Aly jokes with Niamh, “couldn’t you have asked me to put on a beautiful dress or something!?” Then again, nothing says ‘a long life of happiness, togetherness and support’ like a full support bra, right?

Editor’s Disclaimer: we can’t guarantee that you’ll get engaged if you wear the Engage Bra – but then again, Aly did, so you just never know. Best wishes to Aly and Steve on their summer wedding – we love you!

One month ago, I wrote a Big Hairy Audacious Goal on a piece of cardboard that said, “I have been featured on lululemon.com in a sports bra by July 1st!”. I had a lot of friends asking me why this was a BHAG. While some people have no problem heading into a hot yoga class sans shirt, I have always been a little shy of my body. So what better way to overcome my fear than to declare to the world that I will show my stomach off! This scary goal fit into my health, personal and career goals!

• Health: it motivated me to push my body a little harder when I worked out because I knew I was going to be wearing a sports bra in public and online.
• Personal: it helped me overcome my ego, as I was committed to doing it whether I was in my ‘ideal’ physique or not.
• Career: it pushed me to create and accomplish a BHAG and be featured on my company’s website for all to see!

In order to hold myself accountable, not only did I write my goal down, I shared it with the entire company through our internal communication channel and online for all of our guests to see. The response was a little overwhelming, but it was also empowering to see the support I got! For me, this wasn’t just about taking my shirt off and snapping a picture, it was about being comfortable in my own skin, literally.

following through

Flash forward to July 1st. I woke up, packed my yoga gear, picked the hottest class on YYoga’s schedule and was on my way. I even specifically wore a long sleeve shirt as extra motivation to take off my top in class. As I walked up the stairs of the studio, I secretly had my fingers crossed that the class would be full and I would be turned away. I quickly pushed these thoughts aside and told myself, “Shawna, this is not a big deal".

I was the last one to join the class and ended up right in the middle of the room. I placed my yoga mat down and pondered the idea of wearing my long sleeve shirt for the whole class (it was moisture wicking after all).

Shawna letting go to achieve her BHAG.

I'm not going to lie, I kept my shirt on for the first 15 minutes of the hot yoga class and as a result I began to feel quite nauseous. Not because of the heat, but because of the internal conflict in my head and the increasing butterflies in my stomach. At that very moment, Will Blunderfield, an inspiring YYoga instructor, told the class to “just let go”. While it was a general statement to the class, in that moment I felt like he was speaking specifically to me. I took my shirt off and dedicated the rest of my practice to myself.

Forty-five minutes later, the class ended. While I admittedly had the urge to reach for my shirt a few times throughout the class, I didn’t. No one looked at me funny, no one judged my body and no one cared. So if no one else cared, why should I? In that class, I let go of more than just my shirt. I let go of my ego, my baggage and the barrier I put in front of myself.

Will I be able to let go and rock another class in just a sports bra? Yes.

you asked

I am training for my first marathon and as my miles have increased, I have been having painful chafing in the bikini area. Is there a product or clothing that would help alleviate this problem? - Kelly

I have been running for 4 years now and I am starting to struggle with my sports bra chafing. I have never had a problem in the past but when I do a longer run I am chafing underneath. What kind of running bras do you recommend and how is the best way to care for them?
 Thanks, Jill

a runner responds

Kelly & Jill,

Chafing can be so uncomfortable; I feel your pain! I have a combination answer to these questions: Bodyglide and good gear. “Bodyglide” (www.bodyglide.com), is a neat little product that applies just like deodorant. You can put it anywhere on your body (bikini area, inner thighs, armpits, man parts, etc.) and it will not sweat off. It’s also mess-free and invisible. Just slide some on in the areas where you are prone to chafing before you dress for your run, and it will be your new best friend! If you have an existing raw spot due to chafing, a little polysporin with bodyglide over top should help ease the pain during your run.

Although Bodyglide will help prevent chafing, I also have certain shorts and tops that I know tend to give me more chafing than other pieces due to their stitching and where the seams lie on my body. Unfortunately, this is found through the trial-and-error method. I have my go-to shorts that I know fit my body well that I always sport for my long runs (the Run:Speed Short), and I have an awesome bra that I love to wear for my long runs as well (All Sport Bra). Remember that rain will also increase your chances of chafing, so even if you are not headed out for a long one (and your are prone to chafing), load up on your bodyglide and get out there!

Ainslie

Ainslie is the first run expert featured in our Ask a Runner series. Check out her website to get to know her better: http://triplethreattraining.ca/

Upcoming run posts from Ainslie:

- Nutrition tips for runners – May 24
- Marathon training – May 26
- What kind of shoes to wear – May 27
- How to stay motivated – May 28

Exercise breakthrough moment: I can run in just a sports bra.

I never run in just a sports bra. On a rare occasion, I will whip off my tank top mid-run, but only if I’m really hot and sweaty. It doesn’t matter if I’m in peak condition or playing around with a few extra pounds. It may sound silly, but it’s been a life long hang-up.

Yesterday was hot and humid. My plan was to run outside on my favorite trail along the railroad tracks. I had brand new, beautiful running shoes to road-test as motivation to run. At the last minute I decided to go sans shirt right out of the gate. I had a moment of elation and liberation – a sneaking out after curfew when you’re 16 kind of feeling. Onlookers didn’t stop and gasp, no snickers from my neighbors. I was optimistic.

It was one of the worst runs I can remember. I was dehydrated from my morning coffee, immediately over-heated and I kept tripping over my new shoes. Oddly enough, my sports bra attire was the least of my running issues. So while my first time out of the gate wasn’t a success, I wasn’t overly preoccupied by what passing cars, surfers crossing the railroad tracks or other runners on the path were thinking.

Today, after a tough spin class, I left feeling motivated and determined. I had some juice left so I decided to try another sports bra run, this time with my trusty trail shoes. I put on my ipod and went for it. It was one of the best runs I’ve had in a long time! My sports bra/shorts combo kept me comfortably cool, I felt energetic and I worked up a great sweat. I was so inspired that I immediately sat down and cranked out this blog post.

My lesson: my workout is for me. No one cares, no one is judging so do what feels best!

What was your exercise breakthrough moment?