Enell Sports Bras

Title Nine Portland Fit Fest

2013-05-22T18:43:00.001-06:00

Title Nine Portland is having their Annual Bra Fit Fest on June 5th and is the perfect opportunity to get fit by experts into your Enell size, and to save some money!

Enell Production Director Heidi stopped by Title Nine Portland yesterday and all of the fit associates are ready to get you into your perfect bra:

Ideas for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

2013-05-21T22:11:00.000-06:00

In 2011, President Obama signed a proclamation designating May as National Physical Fitness & Sports Month. And what does that mean? It means it’s time for everyone to focus on getting active! As we all know, a healthy lifestyle includes being physically fit and active. Physical activity is beneficial to people of all ages – keeping childhood obesity levels low, preventing diseases like heart diseases and diabetes in adults and preventing falls in older adults. With the weather warming up, it’s easy to participate in National Physical Fitness & Sports Month!

Photo Credit: Edson Hong via Compfight cc

Here are some ideas:

Walk: take advantage of longer days, grab the family and go for an after-dinner walk. Nothing strenuous, just enjoy the beautiful weather and some extra family time. Or, let the kids bike ahead of you and get some extra time with your spouse. Another way to get some extra steps in: park further away from your favorite stores. A little extra movement can go a long way.
Swim: with neighborhood and public pools opening up for the start of summer, suit up and get wet! Utilize the lap lane to churn out some laps; or play a rousing game of Marco-Polo or Cross Pool – burn those calories while having fun. You would be amazed how many calories you can burn by simply treading water.
Play: let your inner kid loose and join the kids in a game of tag. Or, join an adult recreation league and find a kickball team. Have fun with your physical activity! Recreation leagues aren’t just for adults – sign your kids up for everything from T-ball to soccer to swim lessons through your local Parks & Recreation or private clubs like the YMCA.

You can go one step further and get your community involved with these ideas:

Organize a fitness group: put together a running or walking group with your friends & neighbors. Or, head to the local pool and do some water aerobics together.
Organize a play group: since National Physical Fitness & Sports month is about kids and adults, put together a play group that gets moms and kids playing together. And added bonus? Creating some great memories for your kids.
Organize a fitness competition: get your friends & neighbors to participate in some sort of fitness challenge, be it your own spin of The Biggest Loser or a competition that benefits charity. Not looking to compete against your neighbors? Put together a relay for a local triathlon or create a team for your local mud run.

What are you doing to celebrate National Physical Fitness & Sports month?

Raise Money During Your Daily Workout

2013-05-20T13:10:00.004-06:00

This is a fun app we thought you might like hearing about:

Thanks to a new app from Charity Miles, you can raise money while you bike, run or walk. And it’s easier than you think! All you have to do is download the free app (available for iPhone & Android) and log-in, either using your Facebook account or creating a username/password of your choosing.

You may be asking: how does it work? You simply open the app when you begin your workout, swipe to choose the charity for which you’d like to raise money and hit “Start”. The app tracks your distance, and donates per mile (bikers earn $0.10 per mile and walkers/runners earn $0.25 per mile). During your workout, the app tells you what kind of impact you are making for the charity you chose – for instance, based on your mileage, you’ve raised enough money to put 1.5 meals on the table through Feed America.

Once done, all Charity Miles asks is that you share with your social network – they give you the option to post on your Facebook page and/or tweet your accomplishment. This fundraising concept will only work if 1.) people advertise it & their friends sign up and 2.) sponsors can see that people are participating.

Looking for motivation for your next workout? I can’t imagine anything more motivating than doing good for others while getting healthy!

Charity Miles is adding new charities to its family every day. But here’s a list of the current charities from which users can choose:

VisionSpring – providing affordable access to eye ware, everywhere.

Every Mother Counts – a campaign to end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world.

Feeding America – nation’s leading domestic hunger relief organization.

Autism Speaks – changing the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorder.

Wounded Warrior Project – honoring and empowering wounded warriors.

Stand Up To Cancer – accelerating innovative cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.

Achilles International – enabling people of all disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics in order to promote personal achievement, enhance self-esteem, and lower barriers to living a fulfilling life.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research – dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those who live with Parkinson’s disease.

RED to Benefit the Global Fund – fighting for an AIDS free generation.

World Food Programme – world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger.

The Nature Conservancy – protecting nature for people today, and future generations.

ASPCA -- providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.

Habitat for Humanity – building and repairing houses all over the world using volunteer labor and donations.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – working to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Partnership for a Healthier America – devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation’s youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis.

Pencils of Promise – believes every child should have access to quality education.

Girl Up – envisions a world where all girls, no matter where they live, have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted and positioned to be the next generation of leaders.

Shot @ Life – a movement to protect children worldwide by providing life-saving vaccinations where they are needed most.

Nothing But Nets – a global, grassroots campaign to raise awareness and funding to fight malaria, a leading cause of death among children in Africa.

Ironman Foundation – enhance the IRONMAN© legacy through philanthropy, volunteerism and grant-making by supporting athletic, community, education, health, human services and public benefit by supporting non-profits around the world.

Do Something – country’s largest non-profit for young people and social change.

Do you use Charity Miles? What's your experience been?

The Buzz Behind CrossFit

2013-05-12T20:14:00.001-06:00

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the craze sweeping the nation called CrossFit. CrossFit is an intense strength & conditioning program that works out the body by constantly switching the focus – you never work out the same muscle group back to back. Crossfit gyms have popped up all over the US; and have been touted by everyone from police academies to elite athletes to people just wanting to get in better shape.

CrossFit athlete and owner of Battleship CrossFit in Panama City, FL - Eberle Funches
in a custom black and white Enell Sport bra

Most CrossFit athletes enjoy the communal workouts that last 30-45 minutes. Coaches run workouts that include everything from dead lifts to burpees. The communal workouts have created an incredibly tight community, where athletes bond and push each other to better their fitness. Most gyms ask that newbies visit their local gym, get a fitness test and provide an intro course where those new to CrossFit can learn how to properly do the exercises without injury.

If you’re anything like me, your first thought is: what’s the price? Most gyms provide various packages, where athletes can pay per session or lump sum based on the number of workouts they attend. In addition, most gyms post their daily workouts for those athletes that cannot make it to the gym.

Tell us – have any of you tried CrossFit?

What's tone got to do with it?

2013-04-25T19:35:00.000-06:00

If you’re anything like me, when it comes time to shedding pounds your mind goes right to sweating them off by focusing on a cardio workout. Did you know that lifting weights can actually jump start your weight loss? No, you don’t have to become a bodybuilder or spend all your time with on the weight machines. But some light toning a few days a week can add lots of benefits:

Weight loss: muscles burn more calories than fat, and continue to burn calories post-workout. Want to skip the cardio? Burn just as many calories doing some circuit training.
Bye-bye flab: in addition to losing weight, with muscle toning you can focus on problem areas and knock that flab out. Does excess flab under your arms have you covering up in the summer? Tone those triceps, and break out the strapless dresses! Same goes for thighs and love handles.
Less fatigue: strengthening your muscles will actually help you improve your endurance levels; you’ll be able hit that cardio longer and better in the long run.
Good posture: stronger core muscles make it easier to stand up straight by providing the strength and support your frame needs for good posture.
Prevent injury: when toned, muscles keep everything in place and keep your body moving the way it was designed to move.

Tell us – what are you favorite toning exercises?

Enell in Shape Magazine - May 2013

2013-04-23T15:15:00.001-06:00

We are so excited to have the ENELL Sport bra included in the May 2013 issue of Shape Magazine. We were picked as a top sports bra for D+ cups.

Pick up the issue on newsstands today!

Gear Up for Triathlons

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

So, you’ve decided to tackle your first triathlon – good for you! But the sheer amount of gear to choose from can be completely overwhelming for a beginner. Rest assured, you don’t need to run out and buy the newest, most high-tech and aero-dynamic gear your first time out. Save your bucks – get what’s necessary for your first one. Let your inner gear-head go wild once you have fallen in love with the sport.

Here is a list of absolute must-have gear for your first triathlon:

Swim suit – find a suit that you are comfortable in, but is still snug enough to help you get through the water without issue. Many women choose to use their ENELL SPORT bras under their swimsuits for extra control. When choosing a swimsuit, sizing is much different than your normal summer swim suit, so it would behoove you to try on a few on before purchasing. Also, make sure you purchase the suit and train in it to get comfortable – the last thing you want to do is wear a new suit that you’ve tried before on race day. To cut down on the amount of gear, check out tri-suits – these are suits designed specifically for triathlons; think of it as a swim suit combined with bike pants and a race top. While expensive, it is a way to get all of your apparel in one suit.
Goggles – be kind to your eyes, and purchase some goggles. They will help you see during the swim, and protect your eyes from the elements (be it chlorine for indoor swims or particles in open water). Again, purchase some and train in them – make sure they are comfortable. There are lots of goggle choices out there, so you’re sure to find one that fits your needs and comfort.
Swim Cap – some races will give you a cap that designates your age group (generally color coded). But, that’s not guaranteed so make sure you have one in your gear bag. Swim caps are great for not just keeping your hair out of your eyes – they protect your hair from elements like chlorine, and they make your more aero-dynamic (thus faster) in the water.
Towel – while this is not required, it may make you more comfortable. Have a towel set up at your transition station (generally where you bike is set up and where your gear will stay during the race) so that you can soak up any excess water after the swim leg – no one likes biking/running in soaked shorts.
Shorts – after the swim, you will need to throw on some shorts for the bike/run legs. If you want some extra padding for your bum, check out bike shorts. But, if you’ve trained on a bike and don’t feel the need for bike shorts, just grab some regular running shorts. I would suggest making sure you choose a moisture wicking fabric – this will help lessen a chance for chafing.
Race Top – you’ll want something fitted, as you don’t want it to become a sail during the biking leg. Again, look for moisture wicking fabric – cotton can be your worst enemy during a race, as it can lead to chaffing. Try different options during training – look at tank tops, as well as cap sleeves. Choose whatever is most comfortable for you.
Bike – this is no-brainer. You will definitely need a bike to do a triathlon. Don’t let bike sticker shock scare you away from doing a triathlon. First thing you should do before shopping for a bike is head to your local bike shop & get fitted. Just like clothing, your bike’s fit is incredibly important – the wrong fit could cause injury. There are lots of options for buying a bike: check out Craigslist, Ebay, your local bike shops or local triathlon clubs for used bikes. Some bike shops may also be willing to sell bike they previously used as rentals. Make sure you purchase your bike well in advance so that you can train and get used to it.
Bike Helmet – USAT (USA Triathlon – the governing body for the sport) rules state that you must have a helmet to participate. No helmet will lead to disqualification from the race. So, when you’re out buying your bike, purchase a helmet and start getting used to it being a part of your triathlon uniform.
Running Shoes – this should be a no-brainer, but I’ve known runners to travel to marathons only to realize they left their shoes at home. Head to your local running store, and get fitted for a show – they will take into account your foot structure, the way you walk/run and your comfort when picking the right shoe for you. They are slightly more expensive, but the right shoe can make all the difference in running. Also, get a pair and train in them – make sure you are comfortable and have broken them in before your race.
Water Bottle – not all races will have water stations; and if they do, they will more likely have them during the run section. Make sure you pack a water bottle, and leave it at your transition station – hydration is super important for an endurance race like this. You can also opt to have a water bottle on your bike – just make sure you practice reaching for it before race day!

I know I’ve mentioned it several times, but I cannot say it enough: it is important to train with the gear that you are going to use race day. This not only ensures your comfort, but it helps you get the feel for what to expect on race day. Also, make sure you pack your gear the night before and double-check your list to ensure you haven’t missed anything. This way, the morning of the triathlon all you have to do is grab your bag and head to the race.

Have you done triathlons before? What tips do you have for newbies?

Boston.

2013-04-15T19:30:00.000-06:00

Our thoughts go out to those affected by the tragic events in Boston. Hoping you, your family, and friends are all safe. Run on.

Let's Take This Outside!

2013-04-12T08:30:00.000-06:00

Does anyone other than me have cabin fever? With the weather warming up, most of us are finding it harder and harder to want to go workout at the gym. Why not take your fitness outside? Not only will you enjoy the weather and get your daily dose of Vitamin D, but you may find some fun new things to add your fitness routine!

Group Runs: with Spring bringing those great running temps, people are heading outside to get their runs in. Join a group to help make your training runs go by even faster – check out your local running store for organized groups, or reach out to your friends, family and neighbors to start your own.
Hiking: take to the woods, and go for a nice, long hike. Enjoy your beautiful surroundings while building your leg and core muscles on uneven terrain. To make it harder, try adding weight using a backpack – be sure your pack fits properly to avoid chaffing.
Circuit training: jump rope, run in place, haul some logs, do incline push-ups and tackle some good old fashioned pull ups on equipment already at your local park. You may want to do this in off-peak park hours, so as to not have to wait on equipment or worry about working around small children.
Swimming: take to your neighborhood pool and swim some laps. If your pool doesn’t have a designated swim lane or is an odd shape, get creative – swim the perimeter of the pool as many times as you can.
Water skiing: if you’re lucky enough to have a boat or a friend with a boat, head to the local lake and get your ski on! Work your core, legs and arms while being pulled from a boat – what could be more exhilarating?
Surfing: hit the waves for some fun in the sun and great all-over body workout. If you’ve never surfed before, we recommend getting a few lessons either from an experienced friend or a local surf instructor. Hang ten, dude!
Family bike rides: explore your neighborhood while bonding with family by heading out on a family bike ride. But don’t forget your helmets!
Outdoor games: remember how much fun recess used to be? Head outside and play a game of tag with your kids, or challenge your friends to a game of Red Rover. You’ll be squealing with delight in no time.
Adult rec leagues: check to see if there are any adult recreational leagues in your town. Sign up to play softball, kickball or even dodgeball. Get your fitness on, meet new people and help take your team to the championship!

What's your favorite outdoor activity?

Enell Review on FitBottomedGirls

2013-04-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Check out the review of the ENELL Sport bra on FitBottomedGirls.com!

Have opinions to share of our bra? Please check out the review and leave comments there. Our customers are the reason we work so hard to beat the battle of the bounce!

Fact or Fiction: No Pain, No Gain?

2013-04-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

We’ve all heard the phrase “No pain, no gain”. And we’ve all had coaches or that little voice inside our heads tell us to not give up just because of a little pain. But isn’t there a difference between pain and discomfort? How do you tell pain from discomfort? Should you push through?

Here are some tips on how to identify pain, how to keep your fitness level while allowing an injury to heal and how to prevent injury.

Pain versus discomfort: every athlete has felt discomfort during a workout. This discomfort is a sign that you are pushing beyond your current limits to better yourself. Discomfort shows itself in a myriad of ways: muscle soreness, fatigue, cramps. Think of how you feel lifting weights or tackling a hard run – that’s discomfort. But pain? Pain is the body’s way of warning us that we have either pushed too far or we are doing an exercise incorrectly. Pain could be anything from pain at a joint to limited range of motion. Should you feel any pain during exercise, you need to stop and consult a physician.
Maintaining fitness while healing: since every injury is different, maintaining fitness during injury will vary. Some basic tips include:

Consult a physician: before you take it upon yourself to build your own workouts, consult your doctor or a physical therapist for the best ways to workout with your injury. They will also be able to give you exercises that will heal your injury more quickly and strengthen the injured area in the long run.
Circuit training: this allows you to focus on larger muscle groups that are not affected by the injury. It will maintain your cardio conditioning while allowing the body to heal.
Running in the water: for running injuries, running in the water is a great way to keep your cardio level up without putting your body through the hard impact of running. Head to deep end, put on a flotation belt (like they use in water aerobics), stay vertical and run like you would on land. You’ll be surprised what a workout this can give you.
Swimming: like running the water, swimming is a low-impact way to get your heart pumping. Head to your local pool and start pounding out some laps. Bonus: once your injury has healed, swimming is a great cross training workout that works every muscle in your body.
Pilates: like yoga, you can usually find a class at your local gym. Pilates allows you to work on your core and flexibility with little impact.

Injury prevention: what’s the best way to maintain your fitness while injured? Don’t get injured!! Here are some things every athlete can do to help prevent injury:

Warm-up/Cool Down: we all know you don’t go all out from the minute your workout begins to the minute it ends. Make sure you take 5-10 minutes at the beginning to warm your muscles up – they will thank you for it, rather than punish you with cramps during your workout. When you’re done, do your body a favor by taking 5-10 minutes to cool your muscles down – you may want to stop immediately and sit or lie down, but make sure you taper off your level of activity to help prevent delayed onset muscle soreness.
Stretch: post-workout, take a few moments to stretch. Not only does it feel great after a long workout, it helps keep your muscles from tightening up. Loose muscles help prevent injury.
Mix it up: don’t do the same workouts over and over. You’ll notice that most training plans build in cross training – this allows your body to utilize different muscle groups rather than wearing down the same muscle groups every day. It will also make your stronger and build your endurance.
Listen to your body: pain is your body’s way of telling you to stop. But don’t wait for pain to ensue – as you workout, listen to your body; if it needs you to back-off, it will let you know. Also, if you have pain points or problem areas, make sure you pain special attention – these areas are usually the first to get injured.
Ease in to your exercise plan: there’s a reason no one goes out and runs a marathon their first day of training – your body needs to get used to the exercise you are doing. Find a plan online or write your own, and make sure it builds your fitness level.

Have you ever dealt with an injury? How do you prevent them going forward?

So, You Want to Take Up Yoga…

2013-04-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Yoga is great for the body and mind – it’s a great way to tone your muscles while clearing your mind of stress and cobwebs. But, where does a beginner start when it comes to yoga? Here are some tips:

Check to see if you gym offers yoga – most gyms these days offer a basic yoga class, which is great for beginners. Rather than spending a bunch of money on sessions at a yoga studio, head to your gym and try their class a few times. If you like it, then find a yoga studio and try the different kinds of yoga. Also, if your gym offers multiple classes with different instructors, try the different options – you may find you prefer the method of one instructor over others.
Learn some of the names/poses – before you head to class, take some time to learn some of the basic poses & their names. This will help you as you move through different poses in class.
Go early – head to the class early, and ask the instructor any questions you may have before the class. Going early will not only clear up any issues plaguing you, it will also give you a better sense of comfort; you will be able to focus more clearly on the yoga.
Grab a mat – do yourself a favor, and invest in a yoga mat. These sticky mats provide some padding and prevent slip during yoga sessions. There are lots of options out there -- if you’re not sure where to start, head to any major athletic retailer to see what yoga mats they have stocked.
Dress properly – wear clothing that gives you good range movement and is comfortable. Moisture wicking fabric is a plus, but not necessary. Ladies, you will still need support – the Enell Lite is perfect for low to medium impact activities like yoga.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – while yoga is a low to medium impact activity, hydration is still important. Make sure you hydrate before and after; it wouldn’t hurt to take a water bottle with you so that you can easily hydrate during if need be. Just make sure you keep the water bottle near you so that you do not have to move too far from your station to access it

Yoga etiquette – here are few etiquette tips for your first yoga session:

Make room for people – try not to take up too much room; be sure you make room for other students/attendees. But watch that you don’t crowd in on your neighbor – leave yourself enough room to move on your mat without disturbing those around.
Turn your cell phone off – or, better yet, don’t take it in. The less distraction the better. If you must take it in, then make sure you turn the sound off so as not to disturb others.
Coming/Going – make sure you get there 10 minutes before class is scheduled to start to make sure you have time to set yourself up; and leave after savasana. This ensures as little disruption to everyone in class. If you must leave early, make sure you set up near the door so that you do not disturb others as you leave and try not to leave during savasana out of respect for others.
Grunting – yoga can be difficult; but remember, you are not the only person in class. Try to keep your grunting/noise to a minimum, unless the teacher instructs otherwise.
Be prepared to take off your shoes – most yoga classes and instructors ask that you take your shoes off during the yoga session. You will see some attendees lose their shoes & socks; feel free to lose both if you’re comfortable. But, the shoes are a definite no-go.
Modifications – as a first timer, you may have some difficulty with the more advanced positions. Know your limits, and don’t be intimidated to do the modified stance; be sure you ask your instructor before class if he/she will be providing modifications for beginners. This lets the instructor know that you are a beginner and may need modifications.
Listen & feel – be sure you listen to the instructor’s guidance during class, and try to feel the positions & posture. Try not to ask too many questions during class – instructors may come around and give some individual instruction during class, but you don’t want to monopolize the instructors time with questions, nor do you want to disturb the session for other attendees.

The most important thing to remember is that no one is a natural at yoga when they start – it takes time and practice. Stick with it, and learn as you go – don’t be embarrassed at being a beginner. Feel empowered for trying something new!

Purple Orchid Quantities Limited!

2013-04-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

We have had tremendous response to our ENELL SPORT bra in Limited Edition Purple Orchid and wanted to let you know that availability is limited.

Sizes 7 and 8 of the Purple Orchid SPORT bra are completely sold out.

If you were holding out on ordering one, we suggest you grab your size while it's still availble. We don't have plans to make more of this color in the immediate future.

Here's to warmer weather and spring races!

Twin Biathletes Back in Action

2013-04-04T13:15:00.002-06:00

Today we share a letter from the Twin Biathletes, Olympic hopefuls sponsored by ENELL sports bras. Last time we heard from them, they were just recovering from surgery. So glad to see they're well enough to start training for the 2013/2014 season!

Happy Spring!!

Winter is finally over (in some places :)) and Tracy and I have just started our training for the 2013/2014 Season which includes the 2014 Olympics next February. Tracy and I have completely recovered from the surgery and so far it has been deemed a success! We are back into training full time and are excited to get back into action with our new and improved legs.

As you may know we had to end our season early due to compartment syndrome, but the surgery will allow us to maximize our potential and ski faster. It's been 8 weeks since the surgery and we are happy to announce that we are 100% and back into training full time.

We also launched our new and improved website so we can give you better updates, pictures, and even video blogs for this year as we prepare for the Olympics. Check out our website at www.twinbiathletes.com.

We are also doing a fundraiser for our training on the website by selling a Twin Biathletes Cookbook that gives you our favorite healthy and tasty recipes and a lot of fun and cool facts about us and biathlon. Lanny is also selling her "wildlife series" artwork too. This unique series was done with white charcoal on black paper to bring life to all kinds of critters. All proceeds go directly towards our training and racing as we prepare for the 2014 Olympics.

We are really excited about the possibility of bringing home the United States first ever medal in the Olympics for Biathlon. So please check out our website and let us know what you think and also check back regularly for updates, pictures, and videos.

Vote ENELL in The Undies!

2013-04-03T19:08:00.001-06:00

It's Undie Time!

I know you're probably scratching your head, so we'll explain. Every year there is an award called "The Undies" that one of our retailers hosts. We are a repeat Undie winner in the sports bra category, and even made it into the Undie Hall of Fame last year!

Voting has just opened up again for this years Undie awards and we would love your "support" (pun intended)!

Would you take a minute to go cast your vote?

We appreciate you!

Get Your Mud On

2013-03-31T08:50:00.000-06:00

Themed 5K races seem to everywhere these days, as a way for people to find fun in their fitness. And one popular theme run is the mud run – think the Warrior Dash or the Spartan Race. Mud runs are not simply runs – they include various obstacles and muddy terrain throughout the route. Distances may vary, but the concept is simple: don’t give up. And be prepared to get dirty.

image via suckamc on Flickr

You’re probably wondering: what do you mean by ‘obstacles’? Obstacles will vary per race, but here’s an overview of what may be included:

The mud pit – this generally involves runners running through, jumping over or crawling under a line (think backstroke flags from a pool) while in a watery mud pit.
The rope wall – this is exactly how it sounds; runners have to climb up and over a wall with the help of a rope (and hopefully other participants). Wall heights vary.
Trenches – runners will do their best GI Jane, and crawl on their stomachs under barbed wire through the mud.
Rope wall – participants will climb up a mesh rope.
Mounds o’ Mud – throughout the course, runners will find giants mounds of mud to get over. The best way to get over the mud mound in my opinion? Slide down it – embrace your inner child and enjoy your mud slide.
Rope bridges – some mud runs include skinny rope bridges for participants to cross. And by skinny, we mean one foot in front of the other kind of bridge…did I say bridge? What I meant was a piece of rope to balance on – not to worry, they usually provide hand ‘rails’ in the form of rope for balance.
Tire run – here’s your chance to show off your coordination as you high-knee your way through a double line of tires.
Incline wall – participants have to get over an inclined wall. But it’s not just any inclined wall – it’s generally greased up, making traction a bit more difficult.
Over-Under – this involves participants going over an object (like a wall) and then under an object (like a wall) several times in a row.
Fire element – most races end with some sort of fire obstacle. I’ve seen everything from lines of flaming coals the runners must leap over to a giant fire hoop the runners must run through to cross the finish line.

Don’t let these obstacles intimidate you – most mud runs allow participants to simply bypass any obstacle they feel is too difficult to intimidating without any kind of consequence or disqualification.

Did I mention the killer after-party? Most of these runs reward their participants with beer, music and a raucous good time to celebrate finishing the mud run. Are you up for the challenge? Find a mud run near you!

Have you done a mud run? Let us know in the comments!

Enell Bra Mentioned on GalTime

2013-03-24T17:35:00.000-06:00

The Enell Sports bra was recently mentioned on GalTime as part of their post on Best Workout Wear for Mamas-to-Be:

"Something you don't hear much about is a sports nursing bra, a must for active moms after baby arrives. You can find a few options in one place at FitMaternity.com, including a very basic by La Leche for $23. While the mother of all sports bras, Enell ($60), doesn't specifically have a nursing bra, they told us "lots of people wear [the sport bra] while nursing because of the front hooks and accommodation for the larger bust."

Thanks, GalTime!

Race Recovery Tips

2013-03-23T17:28:00.002-06:00

You’ve put the work in, spending months training. You’ve triumphantly crossed the finish line. What now? Too many of us forget one of the most important pieces of the process: recovery.

Different races require different amounts of recovery. Here are some tips to help you plan your recovery process:

Keep Moving: You’ve crossed that finish line and all you want to do is collapse. But do your muscles a favor -- keep walking. Walking around post-race will help your muscles cool down and keep your blood flowing. In addition, a nice, long, easy walk a few hours after the race may also keep your muscles from getting too sore. Stretching is also suggested -- it will keep your muscles from tightening, and becoming even more sore.

Hydrate: We’ve talked about the importance of hydration before, but it is key post-race. Make sure you replenish all the fluids you lost during your race. Sport beverages with electrolytes help your body restore lost fluids more quickly. If you are worried about sugar intake, many name brand sports drinks have a light or no sugar added option: Gatorade’s G2, PowerAde Zero, Propel Zero just to name a few.

Eat: Just as replenishing your fluids is necessary, so is regaining the calories you’ve burned off. Grab a balanced snack that includes carbohydrates, protein and some fat. This will help your body recover. If your stomach can’t handle food right after a race, grab a chocolate milk - studies have shown it has the right balance of carbs, protein and fat to aid in recovery.

Rest: Now that you’ve cooled down, hydrated and fed your body, it’s time to grab a nap! The bodies heal when we sleep -- so let your body do it’s thing while you enjoyed a much deserved snooze. If you’re not feeling nappish, kick your feet up and relax. Also, take a few days off post-race -- jumping back in to training too quickly could result in injury. While you don’t want to tackle a grueling workout immediately after your race, active rest is a great way to keep your body moving without overdoing it -- go for a long walk or light jog, or do some light cross training. Just make sure you don’t overdo it.

Celebrate: Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishment! Take time to pat yourself on the back for a job well-done, and relish in the feeling of accomplishment. Reflect back on your training, and how far you’ve come. Take that excitement, and start planning the next race!

How do you recover from a race?

Enell Sponsors FORCE Heroes Campaign

2013-03-16T19:54:00.001-06:00

Enell sports bras are all about support, and we support the fight against hereditary breast and ovarian cancer year-round by donating 10% of sales from our HOPE bra to FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered). The FORCE Heroes campaign is such a wonderful way to learn more about those whose personal stories are often the catalyst to inducing great change, and we are proud to support this campaign for those willing to share. On our blog we will share stories of our own Heroes who are participating in this campaign. For more information visit our site and Like Us on Facebook.

Want to participate and be featured on the Enell blog? Email us.

We wanted to share a note with more information about the FORCE Heroes campaign from FORCE Executive Director, Sue Friedman.

At FORCE we're on a mission to round up heroes and need your help. Increasing demand for our resources has outpaced our ability to raise funds for the critical work we perform on a daily basis. You can help turn this around.

FORCE Hero, Janine Vollmer, knows first-hand the importance your help plays. After her own battle with hereditary breast cancer, Janine found the support she needed within FORCE. "I wish I had known about FORCE earlier...then I might be sitting here today as a "Previvor" instead of as a cancer patient and a "Survivor" who every single day is terrified of a recurrence or a metastasis."

Take part in our HEROES Campaign today and help sustain FORCE's programs for the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) community. Become a hero and help us raise the $150,000 FORCE needs to meet the growing demands of the HBOC community and save lives!

Becoming a Hero is easy!

Create your own hero page. (It's super easy to do!)

Visit our Firstgiving page, click the green fundraiser button and and follow the steps to set up your own personal page.
Share your fundraising goal and story with your friends, family, co-workers and health care providers. (Not sure how to ask? We've got it covered! Just download and customize our sample email.)

P.S. Not able to create your own page right now? Check out all of our current heroes and show your support by donating today.

Snap out of the Rut

2013-03-10T20:26:00.002-06:00

This past week in my neck of the woods it was cold and windy. I had a major case of the blahs. It's so easy when conditions aren't optimal (bad weather, no energy, busy at work, etc) for us to immediately drop our workouts. Sometimes rest is a great thing, but other times, we might just be stuck in a rut.

Does your gym routine seem stale? Find yourself looking for excuses not to go for the run in your neighborhood? Feel like you've been on auto-pilot for a while?

It might be time to introduce new variety! It doesn't have to be hard. Just a single change can wipe the cobwebs from your brain to get excited again. Some ideas:

Add/remove/change a workout partner
Change your route
Change your pace
Try 1 new machine
Run 5k's? Try one with color, or glowsticks (yes, they exist!)
Which do you do the most: swim, bike, run? Do one of the other things.
Search for Zumba videos on YouTube and try your hand at one. No one is looking (except perhaps your children, pets, or spouse!)
Change when you work out - days/times

Remember to introduce some variety every so often - you never know what you may discover!

ENELL Reviewed on Fit Fab Forty

2013-02-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

We were delighted to see the great review from Rachael at Fit and Fabulous by Forty. It is "a blog about my journey of weight-loss and fitness, my personal challenges, food addiction, insecurities and everything that goes along with being overweight and wondering how the hell I got here in the first place."

"I have been a convert and preacher about the Enell Bra since that first day. Unlike the many other bra’s out there (sports or otherwise) the original Bra I purchased has lasted me over 7 years (still looks amazing) and only this week I put it in the “too big” pile and it still has many more miles left in it. A few years after buying the first I purchased one in a size smaller because I had lost a little bit of weight. During my love-in with Enell I was shown another brand of sports bra which I purchased only to be disappointed. Had I found this bra prior to the Enell I may have thought it was pretty good compared to the previous junk I had been wearing."

Check out her entire post here.

Thanks Rachael!

Everyone Loves Compliments

2013-02-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves compliments, and we've been feeling the love lately. We love being able to get direct feedback with the internet and social media (Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest). Whether it's compliments about our sports bras, suggestions for changes, or questions about customer service, we're listening. So thanks for talking!

Here are some of our favorite Pinterest images right now. Hopefully they'll give you some encouragement. Want more? Follow us on Pinterest here.

Source: littlefancynancy.blogspot.com viaEnell Sports Bras on Pinterest

Source: shop.marcjohns.com viaEnell Sports Bras on Pinterest

Finding Your Fitness Passion

2013-02-25T12:31:00.002-07:00

Have you ever just dreaded exercising? You dismiss the feeling as laziness and push on with your workout, hating every step.

Have you ever considered that you might just be doing the wrong kind of activity? It took me several months of awful half marathon training before I realized on race day how much I actually disliked distance running. I was talking to a friend this weekend who had just completed 9 miles in her half marathon training plan, and she said she hated it all, "but others seem to enjoy it, so I'll keep doing it."

There's a difference between giving things a good faith effort and actually disliking something. If you try an activity for a month and still dislike it, perhaps you should try a different activity. Personally, I tried Zumba, which I loved about 10X more than running, and strength conditioning which I loved about 2X more than Zumba. There was also swimming, Bikram yoga, and spinning, all which I liked more than running.

Moral of the story? Don't do something because everyone else is doing it. It will lead to resentment and burnout. Life is easier when you do things you love, and exercise shouldn't be an exception!

What exercise do you like the least and what do you like the most?

Fleet Feet Carrboro Event

2013-02-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Girl Talk with Valerie Boyle- featuring an ENELL Trunk Show

Join Valerie Boyle, PT, DPT of Comprehensive Physical Therapy and the women of Fleet Feet Sports Carrboro for some serious Girl Talk, featuring an Enell Trunk Show! Valerie will talk about female health issues, such as pelvic floor pain, prolapse, scar tissue after abdominal surgeries or breast surgeries, and more. Here is your chance to ask your most embarrassing questions!

Enell Sports Bras are for the blessed and cursed… those of you who have worn 2 sports bras at once, or never feel like you have enough support from your bra- this one’s for YOU. Affectionately known as the “Oprah Bra” because of her love of this amazing undergarment, the Enell bra is for our well-endowed girlfriends!

Tuesday, February 26th 7:15 PM at Fleet Feet Sports Carrboro- 300 East Main Street.

This event is free and open to the public.... but NO BOYS ALLOWED!!!

Video Bounce Test and Purple Orchid Demo

2013-02-19T22:17:00.000-07:00

I am such an ENELL superfan that people don't really believe me when I get a little over enthusiastic about explaining how there really is no bounce when wearing the bras. My friends have heard it over and over, but they're not always in the gym with me to see the difference.

So I made a video to show the limited edition Purple Orchid color and to do a little bounce test for you. The giveaway mentioned in the video is already closed and the lucky winner has her bra, so just disregard that part. (Stay tuned here and on our Facebook page for more giveaway opportunities).