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

Should You Follow a Race Pace Group?

For months, you’ve diligently followed a training to help you crack your newest race goal. As the race approaches, you start seeing notes about the provided race pace group and…

Ideas for Switching Up Your Exercise At Home For Max Benefits

Yet another blast of fridged air has pushed you to the treadmill or a crying baby is keeping you on your toes with an indoor ride. You’re a champ, you’ll…

Timex Ironman GPS Watch Reviews

12 years ago I walked in to Wal-Mart as a poor college student looking for a watch to wear as I started running. I found a Timex Ironman watch that…

Ultimate Running Knee Pain Treatment and Prevention Guide

When I took up running in 2002, the first thing I heard was “it’s bad for your knees“. At the time, I didn’t have any information to dispute that, but…

31 New Marathon Race Signs: Ideas for All The Funny You Need

In part one I gave you 50 ideas from hilarious to motivational, but I’m hearing that you need more because everyone is stealing your ideas…so um here are some more…

5 Reasons to do an Adventure Race (Time for a New Running Challange)

Long before there were Spartan Races and Tougher Mudders, there was adventure racing. It’s a world that has fascinated me for many years, but not one I’ve truly dove in…

9 Lies Runners Love Telling

Running is a mental sport, which means some days we have to play some mind games with ourselves. Other days we have to play mind games with our non-running friends…

Nike Epic React Review: Softest Run Ever

This post sponsored by Nike, all content and opinions expressed here are my own. How do you choose new running shoes? What about when you want to order the same…

20 Best Meal Planning Tips

If you’ve ever tried meal planning but failed at it, don’t worry! These meal planning tips will help you learn exactly what to do and not do to make the…

Run To Eat: National Pizza Day

Say what you want about not out running a bad diet, for a slice of pizza I’ll do my best! We are definitely not foodies in this house. I’m fine…

Running After Knee Surgery 5 Month Update

Since my first update was just two months post surgery, I thought I’d hop back on to give you the official 5 month update! If you are looking at knee…

Practical Winter Running Tips: Running Layers, Shoes and More

Over the last few months, I’ve tried to convince you to find ways to embrace winter running. First I told you how it burns more body fat. Then I showed…

How to Reboot Your Metabolism When It’s no Longer Working For You

Last year, I found myself wondering what this whole “macro” thing was about. I’ve been maintaining my 35lb weight loss pretty easily for almost 10 years, maybe this would be…

The Best Worst Year: The Injury Episode

“Nothing seems to go right for me, what am I doing wrong?!” I sobbed these nonsensical words as we hiked passed towering cacti under the Phoenix sun in February. The…

Underwear Runs: The Next Big Trend

Spartan races, mud runs, color runs…is this the year of the underwear runs? I’ve gotten a LOT of emails lately asking me what I think will be the big, hot,…

Luck vs Hard Work: Are You Giving Away Your Power?

The eyes downcast. A slight shrug of the shoulders. “Ahh I’m just really lucky it came together.” My standard response when someone looks at me with wide wondering eyes at…

Epson ProSense 307 Review: GPS Multisport Watch

Following is a detailed Epson ProSense 307 review, including features and my own experience using the watch for a few months of training and daily tracking. Hopefully, this will provide…

Running Stress Fracture Nutrition Guide for Prevention and Healing

A running stress fracture is an all too common occurrence which can be avoided with some specific nutritional changes (and of course smart running). Even if you're dairy free, we've…

12 Top Running Community Facebook Pages and Groups

Ever feel like your friends my be tuning out the details of your recent epic long run, which hello involved passing a random lost shoe, slipping on some ice and…

No Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie (A non-traditional pie you’ll love!)

For years I’ve said I just don’t really care for pumpkin pie, pumpkin ravioli or pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin anything really, vegan or not. Which leaves me feeling like…

Crockpot Turkey Dinner (Easy Thanksgiving Recipe)

If you're looking for a quick and easy yet crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving dinner, you need to give this crockpot turkey dinner recipe a shot!

Rancho La Puerta Mexico: Freedom, Friendships and Frijoles

Welcome to Part 2 of discovering Rancho La Puerta in Mexico! There was simply too much to share to contain it to one post! Find all the details on trails…

50% of Guests Have Been Before: The Secret of Rancho La Puerta

A visit to Rancho La Puerta is like drinking the wellness Kool-aid, except it’s fresh brewed organic hibiscus tea. Don’t believe me? Over 50% of their weekly guests have been…

The Good Old Running Days Sucked

It’s always fun to look back with longing at days gone by and imagine it as rosy, less complicated by technology, easier to connect with your community and all the…

How I Returned to Running after Knee Surgery

“Don’t worry, you’ll run again, just be patient”. I can’t count the number of times someone said this to me and I had to bite my very blunt tongue because…

Dear New Runner, You Can’t Imagine What’s Ahead

You’re not too slow. You are a real runner. You don’t need the fancy watch. You do need the fancy shoes. If I could wind back the clock, look my…

Is the Scale Broken? What Happens when the Numbers Don’t Budge.

**Update on 2014 post with some additional information and my own personal update.** 12 weeks. 84 days. 100+ snacks. 252 meals. Not 1 pound lost. %$&*#(*@@@ <<< In keeping this…

Comical Look at the Secret to Decoding Race Course Descriptions

I’ve made two repeated mistakes over the last 15 years of racing…. I don’t bother to read the course description at all. Leaving me with a stomach in knots the…

12 Weird Thoughts Every Runner Has at the Start Line

You’ve made it to race day. No surprises there, you woke up 322 times to watch the blinking red dots on your clock and ensure you didn’t over sleep. Of…

Why We Have Fitness Imposter Syndrome? Owning our Flaws is Better

In college, as I started my weight loss journey, running became one of the best tools ever. It took me from thinking just about a number on the scale to…

Hearty, Healthy and Easy Ground Turkey Veggie Soup

Calling all my one pot dinner fans! I shared this in progress on Instagram Stories and had so many questions about it that I figured it deserved it’s own post.…

Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice

Grab your coffee and settle in, you’ll find that there are many posts here about Iceland and you won’t want to miss a single one if you are planning a…

Forget Running for Weight Loss, Try This Instead

Today, I’m going to share with you the secret to weight loss, health and fitness no one talks about. Yes, it’s the plan that covers alllllll of those and is…

Best Running & Fitness Hashtags on Instagram to Grow Your Following

After sharing tips for breaking free of your selfie posting habit to get better photos and some great fitness accounts to follow for inspiration, in came the questions on “what…

The Split Long Run: Is It As Effective?

Sunday – 4:00AM AKA – Zero dark o’clock and time to get up for a marathon training run What if I just sleep a few more minutes? And an hour…

The Secret Power of Beginning Runners (And We’re All Beginners)

We spend a lot of time focusing on the end result, on being better, on performing like the top of the pack. But beginning runners have a some incredible benefits.…

I’m Not Grateful For This Injury and Other Post Knee Surgery Musings

I’m not grateful for this 8 month journey of pain and frustration. I know that’s not the kosher thing to say. I’m supposed to tell you how it’s made me…

Ireland Active Vacation: Hikes, Bikes, and More

Planning an Ireland active vacation is simple - from biking to hiking to even dancing there are tons of options! Here's what you should try.

Rock N Roll Dublin Race Report and Review

May your heart be light and happy, may your smile be big and wide, and may your pockets always have a coin or two inside. – Irish Saying I’ve got…

Beyond Pace and Distance: Real Stories of How Miles Change You

Every runner has a story. I’m fascinated with learning them. Digging in to that unique moment that made someone decide to lace up and do something that the rest of…

Healthy Summer Slow Cooker Meals: Back To School Light and Easy Recipes

One of the few downsides to summer is that I want to spend even less time in the kitchen, and I feel like all of my crockpot meals are geared…

You’re Injured. 7 Step Program for Mental Recovery

Is it possible to run without injury, absolutely. Do most of us do all the things that would require (daily PT, stretching, never pushing beyond our limits, avoiding misplaced man…