RunToTheFinish

Online Running Coach | Running Shoe and Gear Reviews

About the Author

Amanda Brooks

I am a running coach with over a decade of experience helping thousands of runners to achieve their goals from running injury free to crossing that marathon finish line with a PR. I've run over 28,000 miles in my own running journey since 2002. Run To The Finish is my place to share that love and my deep dive in to researching all things running. I hold multiple run coaching certifications, as well as a personal training certification. But it's my ongoing desire to learn and progress as a coach that has allowed me to help runners from their 20's through their 70's! More ways to connect with me:

Amanda Brooks

Running Weight Gain | Why You Might Not Be Losing

Marathon training seems like it should be a great way to lose weight. Why is it then that many runners gain weight? It’s not because running will inherently make you…

Best Trails Near Denver and Boulder

Since moving to Colorado, one of the most frequent questions I get from those who will be visiting is what are the best trails near Denver? It’s important to know…

Low Heart Rate Training | Virtual Run Club

Our Virtual Run Club is exploring all you need to know about Low Heart Rate Training whether your goal is learning how to do easy runs easy enough, increase your…

Top 5 Sports Nutrition Books

While my book can get you through all the key areas of training, it’s not designed to be a top sports nutrition book. That’s because I’m not a Registered Dietitian…

How Long do GPS Watches Last

Our running shoes have a lifespan of around 500 miles…or less. But how long should we expect our GPS running watch to keep on ticking? Our watches have become such…

Steamboat Springs Summer To Do: A Long Weekend Itinerary

After 4 days in Steamboat Springs, we still felt like there were more trails to explore, mineral waters to soak in and food to be licked from our fingers.  Which…

Female Athlete Triad: What Is It? Why do so many experience it?

I want to start this post with a really important message: the female athlete triad is not a given for runners. It’s not an inevitable thing that’s going to happen.…

How Long Between Half Marathons

You’ve crossed the finish line and are already considering your next race…or perhaps you accidentally stacked your race calendar and now it’s time to figure out what to do between…

Why the Runners Nod Matters

In those first years of running, I could have told you a lot about my shoes, not because I’d yet made my way in to a running store to find…

Running Nutrition Plan for All Parts of Training and Race Day

Creating a nutrition plan for your next round of training and race day!

5 Best Active Things to do in Grand Junction

In planning our trip to Moab for a week of trails, I was informed we MUST stop in Grand Junction. It turns out the things to do in Grand Junction…

Joint Health for Runners

Is running bad for your knees? No. Can running actually be beneficial to joint health? Yes!! We know that healthy joints are important for our everyday lives to simply move…

Healthy Chicken Broccoli Casserole | Dairy Free Options

Ooey, gooey….golden colored cheesy goodness waiting to be devoured. That my friends is the memory of sitting down to nearly every casserole of my childhood. They still spell comfort to…

12 Low Cost Things to Do In Moab | Runner and Biker’s Vacation

Like many of you, one of the things I missed the most in 2020 was taking our active vacations. We are remedying that starting with all the things to do…

Virtual Half Marathon and Marathon Training Group

In June our Virtual Run Club is continuing half marathon and marathon training as a group!! But of course it’s so much more than just running 13.1 or 26.2. You’ve…

DNS, DNF, Push Through – How to decide?

What does it mean to DNF a race? What about to DNS a race? Or perhaps you’ve unfortunately had those letters with your name and now you’re wondering how to…

Mastering Lunch Run: 15 Minute Sweat to Work Plan

Not only is the lunch run (aka. runch) a great break for your brain, but it could be when you’re primed for a speedy run. Your body will have warmed…

Daily Harvest vs Freshly vs Eat to Evolve: Prepared Meal Delivery

One of the overlooked pieces of marathon training is nutrition. It’s a piece that will help us to perform our best, but often between the  miles and life don’t have…

Edible Cookie Dough Chickpea Energy Bites

These little high protein energy balls pack a punch! With just a few pantry staple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these tasty snacks in only 5 minutes. …

30 Day Running Technique Program

RUNNING FORM FOR BEGINNERS… run faster, run easier with a few small tweaks. 4.8 (536 runners) Grab the course now before prices go up! HERE’S WHAT YOUR 30 DAY RUNNING…

Skechers Razor Excess Review

Are you looking for a lightweight, yet cushioned shoe to carry you from 5k to half marathon. Let me introduce you to the Skechers Razor Excess. Over the last 14+…

UCAN | How Can SuperStarch Fuel Your Run

Stomach troubles derailing your marathon fueling? Then this UCAN review might just make your day with how it works and could solve your dilemma. Bonus points because I have a…

CBD Cream Benefits

Currently dealing with pain and wondering about the CBD cream benefits? Does it actually work? How does it work? I’ve talked with many of you who wish you could take…

Training Status Unproductive | How to Utilize Training Load

Garmin Training Load and Polar Cardio Load are designed to help runners prevent over training and take in to account their sleep recovery, but should they really be guiding you?…

Coros Apex Review | Fit, Function and Features You’ll Want

The Coros Apex is a beast of a running watch with stellar battery life, tools you’ll actually utilize and with plenty of options to find the fit that works for…

Running Gait Analysis | Is it Valuable and How to Use it?

Have you ever wondered if it’s worth the investment to do a running gait analysis? I LOVE data, but it’s so easy for us as runners to have too much…

Vitamins and Minerals for Athletes: Sport Performance Needs

Find out what vitamins and minerals for athletes impact performance and why even if you try to eat right that may no longer be enough.

Top Running Blogs: A Comprehensive List of Who’s Sharing Great Content

The best running blogs aren’t just a diary of runs, but someone who provides either information as a running coach or the stories that you make you go “OH MY…

How to Eat Healthy in Vegas (While Still Enjoying Yourself!)

It dawned on me last week that just as I had cleared my body of the holiday sugar cravings, I was about to head to Vegas for 5 days…not a…

The Broadmoor Colorado Springs – What to Expect

If you’ve been looking for an incredible resort to head to for a staycation, then I highly recommend The Broadmoor Colorado Springs. We spent some days there during New Year’s…

How to Eat More Vegetables Everyday | Hidden Veggies and More Tips

When I first heard the “gold standard” of healthy eating meant eating 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, my head nearly exploded.  How to eat more vegetables was…

Top Running Tips of the Year: Training Ideas You Loved

When it comes to training there are always going to be things that work for someone that don’t work for you, but these top running tips are the things you’ve…

How Many Calories Should a Runner Eat?

Should runners count calories? After all, doesn’t a long run = license to eat. Whether that statement is actually true or not, it’s absolutely the mindset I hear more often…

How Quickly Do You Lose Fitness: Bounce Back from Missed Runs

An all too common question for running coaches is what to do when you have to miss some training days? Or more common yet wonder how quickly do you lose…

The Year That Almost Wasn’t

One of the few times each year I write a post without worrying about SEO is my year in recap. Why? Because it’s FASCINATING to have these since 2007 to…

Snowshoeing for Beginners

Do you ski? A natural first question when someone finds out we moved to Denver. Nope. However, I’ve fallen in love with snowshoeing for beginners and that’s my way of…

Coros Pace 2 | Budget Friendly Running Watch

This year I’ve slapped a wide variety and brands of running watches on my wrist to cover thousands of miles. Coros Pace 2 is a new budget friendly running watch…

Runner’s Body | How to Have More Confidence

As runners and athletes, you probably follow bloggers and social media personalities who love to post motivational “fitspo” messages on the regular, am I right? And, of course, that means…

Polar Vantage V2 Review

In the last year, I’ve tested a number of Polar watches including the Pacer Pro, M, the V and now the Polar Vantage V2 review. The Polar Vantage V2 is…

Blood Work for Athletic Performance

Could a blood test for athletic performance help to prevent injury? Keep you from getting sick race week? A look at why it matters

Cold Weather Full Body Warm Up: Get Out the Door Faster

A full body warm up isn’t just a nice to have, come winter is a MUST do for runners. Having a little trouble convincing yourself to get outside in the…

I Am Not a Jogger (Despite What Any Race Photo Shuffle Might Say)

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but at an event someone said to me “oh you’re the jogger” and my brain went bananas. In that simple statement, I…

7 Secrets to Break Through

Feeling stuck? Discover which of the 7 most common runner issues is holding you back in this free program. Videos, interviews, workouts and more!