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

Plank Benefits for Runners

Do planks make you run faster? I say this is debatable, but without a doubt working your core makes you a more injury proof runner. I DO NOT believe that…

Running for a Cause: How to Raise Funds

In nearly 20 years of running, one thing I’ve not done is running for a cause. Meaning raising big money to be part of a charity group. I prefer races…

23 Bestie Quotes – Honoring Our Running Buddies

National best friends day sounds like the perfect time to give a shout out to a great running buddy who has helped you through those painful long run miles, talked…

Benefits of Thinking like an Elite Runner

Want to blow your PR {personal record} out of the water? Me too!! While I have no intention of working my way in to the elite coral {though I did…

Exercise with Knee Pain? What You Can Still Do

If you’re a runner, surely someone in your world has commented about how bad the sport is for the knees. While knee pain is common among runners, running isn’t inherently…

Why Do I Run Slower on A Treadmill? Why is it Harder?

Those who have been around these parts for awhile, know that I love treadmill running. It’s a fantastic tool for so many reasons and since I’ve talked ad nauseam about…

8 Things Upping My Running Game Lately

In the early days of blogging (hello 2007), I used to do more personal posts, sharing my training logs and took part in weekly themes like Friday Favorites. I never…

Cookies & Cream Recovery Smoothie – Vegan, GF

While I’m not one who loves to cook, I am a runner who spends a lot of time learning about how nutrition can enhance performance and one of those big…

Are You a Fitness Snob? Fitness Obsessed? Or Just Right?

Years ago, an article in Women’s Health magazine caught my attention and has stuck with me because well it labeled me as a fitness snob! I understand the idea they…

Best Running Injury Prevention Exercises

Nearly every runner has been through an injury, which makes the average non-runner believe that you simply can’t enjoy this sport without hurting yourself. As though there are no running…

Diet Cults Review – You are not what you eat

BAM talk about an in your face title! Doesn’t it immediately make you want to jusify why your way of eating is actually really amazing?! The best way…possibly THE way.…

20 Healthy Salads Ideas for Lunch | Easy At Home Recipes

I used to think the only way to get a delicious quick healthy salad for lunch was a trip to the Whole Foods salad bar. Anyone else ever feel that…

Loosen Your Hips to Lose the Belly

While researching stretching for runners, I learned a crazy fact that some stretches to lose lower belly fat are what we’re already doing in our workouts. It’s important to note…

9 Solo Running Tips and Benefits

Need to work on your mental game? Running solo tips and benefits that will help you to embrace the miles without a group.

Best Funny Podcasts: Laugh Your Way Through Your Run

The best funny podcasts can be a very subjective list, but with thousands of you chiming in and millions downloading I think we can safely say these will brighten your…

Why We Need Running Now More Than Ever

Why do you run? Why in the face of life issues do you feel compelled to lace up and get out the door? Why when there’s no race on the…

Race Cancelled: What to Do Now

You’ve been training for months with a singular focus on crossing that finish line. You managed not to develop an injuries. You squeezed in runs when it was raining, when…

Things to Do In Jaco Costa Rica

My third time to this beautiful country brought me to a new location and left me, like you, wondering what is there to do near Jaco Costa Rica. Unlike some…

Run To The Finish Book Tour and Podcasts

That’s right friends this show is going on the road!!!! The Run To The Finish Book Tour is taking shape and I can’t wait to meet so many more of…

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 22 Review

Sponsored by Zappos, all opinions are my own. In my last ASICS review, I gave you some insight to my previous history with the brand, which is to say they…

30 Tips to Enjoy a Magical RunDisney Race

While living in Orlando for 3 years, I received a lot of comments that I needed to try runDisney races…but I admit I never did! Yet, so many of you…

Common Running Injuries | Guide to Recovery and Prevention

While I am NOT a physical therapist or a sports doctor, I spend a lot of time researching common running injuries and talking to the experts to help my athletes…

Ragnar Sunset | What You Need to Know About the Newest Relay

What the heck is a Ragnar Sunset? Are we just starting our relay at night to prolong time in the darkness?? Nope, exactly the opposite in fact. We’re going to…

Merrell Trail Glove Review

If you’re in the market for a minimalist shoe, you might have come across the Merrell Trail Glove and wondered if they really know what they’re doing when it comes…

Runger | Managing Hunger After Workouts

Do you have increased weight? Irritability? Mood swings and a intense peanut butter cravings? Started working out more and always hungry?! You too may be suffering from runger {running induced…

5 Running Workouts for Beginners to Boost Confidence

Could your brain be the key to reaching your next running goal? Is running confidence just as important as speed workouts? Well, of course these are trick questions and you…

Intermittent Fasting: A Key to Running for Weight Loss?

Each time a new diet trend comes out, I find my eyes involuntarily rolling in to my skull and a sigh escaping my lips. Which is largely what I thought…

Running Challenge | 5 Days to Improve Your Runs

This isn’t a running streak. This isn’t a massive make over to everything you’re doing. This IS a running challenge that will give you tools you can put in place…

How I Finally Conquered Sugar: Stop Trying to Go Cold Turkey

I deserve this I mumbled defiantly as I bit in to a size of my face vegan chocolate chip cookie. I run. I eat tons of vegetables. I don’t smoke.…

Best Marathons for Beginners | How To Select Your Race

If the marathon bug has finally nipped at your heels, spurring you to action, it’s time to get serious about finding the right race. The best marathons for beginners is…

The Year I Wrote My First Book

Funny story. Around October I started thing gahh everyone must be so tired of me posting exciting news all year. Finished my book, ran a bunch of post surgery PR’s,…

Celebratory Road Trip: Sedona, Grand Canyon to Vegas

Of all the things that have changed since we met 16 years ago, our location might be the biggest…but right after that I tend to say is technology. Looking back…

Confessions of a Fitness Blogger

When a lot of your friends are food and fitness bloggers, or gahhh healthy living bloggers, it’s easy to feel a little like the black sheep for not spending more…

10 Everyday GPS Watch Tips and Tricks Every Runner Should Know

If you’re going to splurge on a great GPS watch for running, then you might as well make the most of it! Just like when you get a new phone,…

What is Parkrun? Why This Free Event Is Worth Your Time

Have you heard people talking about Parkrun USA? Or maybe during a morning run you found yourself passing some flags and people in neon vests, wondering if it was a…

Holiday Weight Gain: Avoiding the Stress

For 6 years, from November to January 1, I hosted a free Holiday Challenge designed to keep us all moving and maybe just a bit more aware of our food…

Greenwashing Beauty Labels

I mean it sounds like a fun term… greenwashing. We’re probably talking about eco-friendly packaging or getting back to nature. But not exactly. When it comes to choosing safer products,…

10 Thoughts Runners Have All Had At Least Once

Why is it that when you’re in a bad mood, people love to tell you to smile?! Something about that makes me angry and prone to punching, but that my…

Tips to Boost Immune System: Preventing Flu Without a Shot or Drugs

You’ve finished the race, you’ve crossed 26.2 off your bucket list, you’re flying high…until the ache, the cough, the unbearable runny nose! Acccchhooooooooo. Boost your immune system with the right…

Posture Corrector Exercises: Improve Everything About Your Run

Ever felt like you couldn’t quit get a deep breath on your run? Feeling sluggish and a little unmotivated? Have a sore neck or stiff back? It could all come…

Bad Weather Running: Tips and A Hilarious Look at Our Badassery

If we weren’t runners, I swear we might be meteorologists. Running in bad weather seems to be one of our favorite things to do…I mean those Instagram photos are worth…

Running After Pregnancy: 5 Tips for New Mother Runners

I am not a mother runner, which means no matter how many books I read on running (all of them) or how many friends I have go through the experience,…