Meet the Run to the Finish Team
Run to the Finish is built by runners, for runners.
What started with Amanda Brooks sharing what she was learning through her own training in 2007 has grown into a team of running coaches, writers, registered dietitians, experienced athletes, and gear testers.
And that variety is intentional.
We don’t believe the best running advice comes only from elite athletes or that one runner can tell you how a shoe will work for everyone.
Our team includes runners with different paces, shoe sizes, foot shapes, body types, training backgrounds, goals, and favorite places to run. Some of us love the roads. Some would choose a mountain trail every time. Some chase PRs, while others are much more interested in running strong for decades to come.
Together, that helps us provide more useful training advice and more complete gear reviews for the runners we’re here to serve: everyday runners.
Running Experience Matters
Anyone can read the specs on a running shoe. We want to tell you what actually happens when you run in it.
Our team tests more than 200 running shoes each year, along with treadmills, GPS watches, apparel, recovery tools, and other running gear.
Shoes are generally tested for at least 30 to 50 miles so we can evaluate more than the first impression. We want to know how the shoe feels on easy runs, long runs, workouts, roads, trails, treadmills, hills, and tired legs.
Depending on the product, we may also have multiple runners test the same shoe or compare notes across models.
And we will always tell you what we don’t like.
No shoe is perfect for every runner and no piece of gear is amazing simply because it was sent to us for testing. Our goal isn’t to convince you to buy more gear. It’s to help you understand what may actually work for your body, your training, and your goals.
Have a shoe you would like us to review? Feel free to drop us a note >>
Meet Our Running Experts and Gear Testers
Amanda Brooks
Founder, Running Coach, Author and Gear Tester
Amanda founded Run to the Finish in 2007 and has spent more than two decades running, researching training, coaching athletes, and testing running gear.
As a certified running coach and personal trainer, Amanda has helped thousands of runners through one on one coaching, training programs, and more than 2,000 articles on Run to the Finish.
She has logged tens of thousands of miles herself and tested hundreds of running shoes over the years, giving her a unique perspective on how shoe technology, fit, cushioning, and performance have changed.
You’ll find her running roads and trails, testing shoes on the treadmill, digging into the research behind the latest running trends, and reminding all of us that running should add something to our lives.
Expertise: Running shoes, training, injury prevention, strength training, middle of the pack running
Learn more about Amanda Brooks →
Stacey Gross
Running Coach, Writer and Gear Tester
Stacey joined the Run to the Finish coaching team in 2021 and has become an important voice in both our training content and gear testing.
She brings the perspective of a middle and back of the pack runner, which is something we think the running industry needs more of. She runs on the road and treadmill, is building her trail running experience, and puts shoes and gear through the kinds of miles most recreational runners are actually doing.
Stacey is especially good at asking the question we care about most: Who is this actually going to work for?
Expertise: Everyday running, road shoes, treadmill running, beginner and intermediate runners
Meet Stacey and see her articles →
Constance Mahoney
Trail Runner, Writer and Gear Tester
If there is dirt, climbing, unpredictable weather, or a long day on the trails involved, Constance is probably interested.
Constance has been writing about and testing outdoor gear since 2010 and is one of the leaders of her local Trail Sisters group. Her running experience ranges from 10Ks with her daughter to ultramarathons, including 50K and 60K distances.
That makes her an invaluable part of our trail testing team, particularly when evaluating traction, stability, durability, fit, and how gear performs after hours on your feet.
Expertise: Trail running shoes, ultrarunning, outdoor gear, long distance trail running
Meet Constance and see her reviews →
Jeff Ruane
Writer and Gear Tester
Jeff is our resident faster marathoner, but that’s not the only reason we value his feedback.
With a 2:58 marathon, 1:27 half marathon, and years of training experience, Jeff helps us evaluate how shoes respond when the pace picks up. He’s especially useful when we’re testing performance trainers, speed shoes, carbon plated racers, and gear designed for runners chasing faster times.
At the same time, his philosophy is very much in line with ours: whether you run once a week or haven’t missed a day in years, running should be something that makes your life better.
Expertise: Marathon training, speed shoes, carbon plated shoes, GPS watches, performance gear
Meet Jeff and see his gear reviews →
Tim Harrison
News Writer and Gear Tester
Tim brings a different running journey to the team.
He grew up being able to cover short distances quickly while admittedly struggling to run a mile without stopping. Over the last several years, he has immersed himself in long distance running and particularly heart rate based training.
That combination of natural speed and newer endurance experience gives Tim an interesting perspective when evaluating daily trainers, faster shoes, running technology, and the latest developments in the running industry.
He’s also proof that your identity as a runner can keep evolving.
Expertise: Running shoes, running technology, industry news
Meet Tim and see his articles →
Laura Swenson
Running Coach, Ultrarunner and Gear Tester
Laura is a member of the Run to the Finish coaching team and our resident expert when a shoe needs to be put through some serious trail miles.
She has logged thousands of miles on trails, from hot desert terrain to humid trails in Hawaii, and her endurance experience includes everything from everyday trail running to ultramarathons and a 48 hour running event.
That depth of experience makes Laura especially valuable when we’re evaluating trail shoes over long distances. She can assess how traction, fit, cushioning, stability, and comfort hold up not just for a few miles, but after hours on your feet.
Expertise: Trail running, ultrarunning, trail shoes, long distance running, endurance training
Meet Laura and see her reviews →
Laura Newman
RTTF Coach and Gear Tester
Laura has been running for more than 27 years, starting with high school cross country and racing everything from the 100 meter hurdles to the marathon. She’s also been strength training for nearly as long, making her one of our go to testers for gym shoes, strength equipment, cross training gear, and products designed to work beyond the run.
Before joining Run to the Finish, Laura also spent time selling running and athletic footwear, giving her another layer of experience when evaluating fit, function, and what runners actually need from their shoes.
More recently, Laura has been navigating a return to activity following knee replacement surgery. That experience has given her an entirely new perspective on cushioning, stability, walking comfort, gym equipment, and what it really means for a product to work for someone rebuilding strength and fitness.
Whether she’s running, walking, lifting, or testing the latest piece of gym equipment, Laura brings decades of athletic experience and a willingness to pay attention to the details.
Expertise: Running shoes, strength training, gym shoes and equipment, return to running, walking shoes, everyday athletes
Meet Laura and see her reviews →
Aimee Morey
Trail Runner, Writer and Gear Tester
Aimee is a chemist, longtime runner, and one of our go to testers for trail running shoes.
She signed up for her first marathon in college without actually knowing how far a marathon was and has now been an avid runner for about 20 years. These days, she typically logs 30 to 35 miles per week, often with her two German Shorthaired Pointers, Sam and Bert.
Aimee spends a lot of those miles on the trails, where she puts shoes through everything from smooth dirt and gravel to mud, snow, rocks, roots, and technical terrain. She’s tested a wide range of trail shoes for Run to the Finish, which gives her a strong basis for comparing traction, cushioning, fit, protection, and how a shoe performs across different surfaces.
Her science background also fits naturally with the way we approach gear testing: pay attention to the details, test things in the real world, and don’t make a conclusion based on one run.
Expertise: Trail running shoes, trail running, marathon training, technical terrain, shoe comparisons
Meet Aimee and see her trail shoe reviews →
Gillian Cermak
Run to the Finish Admin, Writer and Gear Tester
Gillian is one of the people helping Run to the Finish happen behind the scenes.
As part of our admin and content team, she helps coordinate the many moving pieces that go into creating, updating, and publishing the articles you see across the site. But she’s not simply working behind a computer. Gillian is also one of our regular gear testers and brings an important perspective as a middle to back of the pack runner.
Based in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, she has trained for distances from the 5K through the marathon and understands firsthand what it’s like to train around work, life, setbacks, and changing goals.
She’s also working her way back after knee replacement surgery, giving her firsthand experience with the return to running process and a particularly useful perspective on stability, cushioning, comfort, walking, and shoes that work for runners who aren’t always moving at the front of the pack.
We value Gillian’s feedback because it represents a huge portion of our readers: runners who care about their training and their gear, even if they’re not chasing elite times.
Expertise: Middle and back of the pack running, stability shoes, cushioned shoes, return to running, everyday training, behind the scenes editorial support
Meet Gillian and see her reviews →
Katie Westmoreland
Writer and Gear Tester
Katie is an artist, writer, longtime road runner, trail hiker, NYC runner, and mom who considers running her favorite form of transportation, decompression, and adventure.
After more than 15 years of road running and trail hiking, she has also started combining those two worlds through trail running.
Katie’s experience makes her particularly helpful when we’re evaluating shoes that blur the lines between running, walking, hiking, gym work, and everyday life.
Expertise: Road running, trail running, hiking, natural running shoes, versatile footwear
Meet Katie and see her reviews →
Serena Stewart
Registered Dietitian, Running Coach, Writer and Gear Tester
Serena is a registered dietitian specializing in women’s health and running nutrition, an RRCA running coach, and a longtime distance runner.
She alternates between half marathon and marathon training while typically running around 30 miles per week and keeping strength training in the mix.
Her professional nutrition expertise combined with her own training experience allows Serena to contribute a perspective that goes beyond shoe specs. She understands how training load, recovery, fueling, and the realities of being an endurance athlete all fit together.
Expertise: Running nutrition, women’s health, running shoes
Meet Serena and see her reviews →
Mary Johnson
Running Coach, Strength Coach, Writer and Gear Tester
Mary has been running marathons since 2010 and coaching runners since 2015. She is also the founder of Lift.Run.Perform, where she helps runners understand just how important strength training can be for performance and longevity.
After major hip surgery in 2022, Mary has also experienced the process of rebuilding healthy running firsthand.
That combination of coaching, strength training, marathon experience, and return to running gives her a valuable perspective on how our bodies and our gear need to support us through different seasons of training.
Expertise: Strength training for runners, marathon running, return to running, performance footwear
Meet Mary and see her articles →
Cortney Berling, RD, MPH
Registered Dietitian, Running Coach, Writer and Gear Tester
Cortney is a registered dietitian and running coach who ran Division I cross country and track at the University of Cincinnati.
Today, she combines her academic background, competitive running experience, and coaching through Eat Well Run Better to help athletes fuel their training, build a healthier relationship with food, and perform well without sacrificing their overall health.
Her speed and competitive background also make her an excellent tester for performance focused shoes and racing models.
Expertise: Sports nutrition, racing shoes, athlete fueling
Meet Cortney and see her reviews →
Coral Eby
Writer and Gear Tester
Coral started as a competitive sprinter before falling in love with half marathons and marathons over more than 20 years of running.
Today she typically runs 20 to 25 miles per week on the roads and trails around Denver, Disneyland, or wherever her travels take her next.
She’s also balancing running with work, three kids, travel, and everyday life, which makes her exactly the type of runner we want represented in our reviews. Coral has tested everything from daily trainers and road to trail shoes to treadmills and other fitness equipment.
Expertise: Road running, half marathons, marathons, everyday trainers, fitness equipment
Meet Coral and see her reviews →
- Becky Trudeau: Trail runner and wide foot shoe tester
- Lisa Selby: RTTF Coach, 3:30 marathoner, mother runner
- Beth Long: Disney loving runner, every day runner testing
- Katrina Gainsford: Run/walk tester, treadmill tester
- Mayara Sanchez: Max cushioned running shoe tester for long runs
- Alyssa Leib: RD who loves a backwoods ultra to test gear and herself
- John Mahoney: Ultra runner putting in big trail miles for testing as a larger runner
- Ryan Schaub: High volume road runner, testing durability and speed
- Stevie Lynn Smith: RD that thrives in stability shoes
Why We Use Different Testers
This is one of the most important parts of how Run to the Finish reviews gear.
A 120 pound runner trying to break three hours in the marathon may have a completely different experience in a shoe than a 180 pound runner training for a five hour marathon.
A shoe that feels fantastic on smooth roads in California may perform very differently through a Colorado winter.
A trail runner needs different information than someone doing nearly every mile on a treadmill.
That’s why we don’t want every review coming from the same type of runner.
Across the Run to the Finish team you’ll find different:
We want you to be able to find a tester whose running looks a little more like yours.
How We Test Running Shoes and Gear
Most running shoes we receive are provided by the brand or its PR agency for testing. Receiving a product does not guarantee a positive review or a review at all.
Brands do not pay us for our opinions.
For a standard running shoe review, we generally put at least 30 to 50 miles on the shoe before making a final assessment. For long term tests and comparison articles, some shoes are worn for considerably more.
During testing we’re paying attention to things like:
Most importantly, we’re thinking about who the shoe is actually best for.
A shoe doesn’t need to be right for us personally to be a good shoe. Our job is to understand the runner who will benefit from it and the runner who should probably spend their money somewhere else.
Editorial Independence
Run to the Finish earns revenue in several ways, including advertising and affiliate links.
When you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We sometimes joke that it’s like leaving a tip when our review helped you make a good decision.
But a commission never determines what we say about a product.
We regularly tell readers when a shoe is too narrow, too firm, unstable, overpriced, poorly designed, or simply not as good as another option.
Because no one loves everything.
Our first responsibility is to give runners the information they need to make a better decision.
More Than Gear Reviews
While we test a lot of running shoes, Run to the Finish isn’t simply a gear review site.
Our certified running coaches, registered dietitians, writers, and experienced runners also create training resources covering everything from your first 5K to marathon training, strength work, fueling, injury prevention, race strategy, and learning how to enjoy running for the long haul.
That’s what makes our approach a little different.
We understand the training and the gear that supports it.
Because ultimately, the shoe is only one small part of helping you have a better run.