Sports Bras 101: Fit, Support Levels & Running Comfort with Nike's Anna Burdekin
This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie kick things off with a hilarious recap of a rainy Sydney drive, Vivid crowds, and another big week of training as they continue preparing for the Gold Coast Marathon.
The girls chat through race-pace long runs, interval sessions, threshold workouts and navigating training around some wild weather before diving into a topic every female runner can benefit from: sports bras.
Joining the podcast is Nike EKIN Anna Burdekin, one of Nike's internal product experts and storytellers. Anna is passionate about bra innovation and helping women find the right sports bra for their body, sport and goals.
Together they unpack why sports bras can be so confusing to shop for, the science behind breast movement while running, how the wrong bra can impact comfort, posture and even performance, and the simple fit checks every woman should know before heading out the door.
Anna also shares Nike's support-level system, common mistakes women make when buying bras, and her top picks for runners looking for high and ultra-high support.
Plus, Hayles and Jussie recap the biggest takeaways, share a listener message about comparison and self-kindness, and give an update on their Gold Coast Marathon preparations.
Timestamps
00:00 Podcast Kickoff
00:54 Sydney Drive Chaos
03:16 Weekly Running Recap
05:09 Boobs To Bras Segue
05:28 Meet Anna Burdekin
07:20 Why Sports Bras Are So Hard To Shop For
09:50 The Most Common Bra Mistakes Women Make
13:11 The Science Of Breast Bounce
14:49 Pain, Posture & Performance Impacts
18:06 Five Steps To Fitting A Sports Bra Properly
21:22 Understanding Support Levels
23:06 Small Cup Sizes, Cycles & Changing Needs
25:42 The Marathon Bounce Math
27:20 How Breast Movement Can Affect Your Stride
28:17 Bra Technology & Nike Research
30:20 Why The Right Support Helps Women Stay Active
31:49 Anna's Nike Bra Recommendations: Swift & Rival
33:52 Community, Confidence & Personal Stories
35:55 Hayles & Jussie's Bra Fit Checklist Recap
37:34 Athlete Box Recommendation (Use Code: WOMENRUN15) https://www.theathletebox.com.au/
39:59 Gold Coast Marathon Training Update
40:53 Listener Message: Comparison, Progress & Giving Yourself Grace
43:43 Final Community Send-Off
Whether you're training for your first 5K or your next marathon, this episode is packed with practical advice that could completely change the way you think about sports bras and running comfort.
