Buffalo Rising Online

Sep 22nd, 5:10pm By Thomas Tarapacki

Along with finding a good pair of running shoes, it’s important for women runners to select a good sports bra--or so I’m told. But experts say that choosing the right sports bra, one that helps ensure comfortable and pain-free running, can be a challenge. That’s why Fleet Feet Sports is sponsoring a free “Diva Night” for women on Tuesday September 30th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the store’s location at 2290 Delaware Ave. at Hertel in North Buffalo.

Representatives from Moving Comfort, a company that has been making sports bras and other women’s high-performance athleticwear for over 25 years, will be on hand. Moving Comfort and the Fleet Feet staff will show those in attendance how women runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts can select the proper sports bra.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, the purpose of a sports bra is to provide support and comfort during vigorous physical activity. A good sport bra minimizes movement by compression or encapsulation. With compression, the breasts are held against the chest wall to control motion; with encapsulation, the bra surrounds and supports the breasts. Usually small- or medium-breasted woman prefer a compression style bra, while larger-breasted woman prefer encapsulating styles. For maximum support, you can select a sport bra that uses both techniques.

Proper fit is also important; a sports bra should feel snug, but not tight. A tight sports bra can slow you down by affecting your ability to breathe deeply, as well as cause chafing.

However, because women all come in many shapes and sizes, finding a good sports bra that fits well can be a daunting task. Diva Night will attempt to help women runners do just that.

Tuesday’s women-only event will also include a Yoga demonstration by Darcy Dyll of Buffalo Yoga, and attendees will be invited to participate. Kim Sands of Fleet Feet will make a presentation on the importance of weight training for women.

In addition, there will be a variety of other fun activities, such as make-up and hair tips from R Salon, Mary Kay product demos with Joanne York, a fashion staging of Fleet Feet’s new Fall apparel, wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, and more.

Diva Night will be limited to the first 75 women to RSVP. Any woman who wishes to attend should RSVP to alice@fleetfeetbuffalo.com.