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

Oregon Dirt and Vert: My First Trail Race

You never forget your first. Clichés sound trite, but only because they ring true with such simplicity. In 2002, I ran my first race ever. I can’t say I loved…

Unlike Any: Women Stand Alone and NYC Running

Earlier this week, I took off with my Under Armour Women family for a quick trip to NYC to celebrate the launch of a new campaign that I’m so excited…

Wanderlust 108: A Mindful Triathlon 5K, Yoga and Meditation

I’ve always wanted to do a triathlon. I mean I have all the required skills to swim, bike, run. What I lacked was the interest in racing, I’d prefer to…

Understanding Your Fitness Personality for Lasting Workout Motivation

I like eating cereal without milk. I adore cuddling with my cats, but only where I can quickly clean up their fur. I hate seams anywhere near my toes, making…

Beginners Guide: Dairy Free Alternatives

Welcome to part two of this dairy free series! First we chatted about why people are going dairy free and the ever important calcium, today we’re touching on some of…

Should You Go Dairy Free? Benefits, Tips and Calcium Sources

My love for veggies is widely known thanks to my frequent usage of the term freggies and my weight loss tips to aim for 7-9 servings. This has lead to…

Decoding Expensive Workout Gear Jargon and How to Make it Last

Over the last 10 years of blogging, I’ve tested out a lot of different gear. Some good…some bad…some excellent. None the less, even after all that testing and meeting with…

5 Secrets to Simplify Your Training (and get back to your life)

Each time I talk with another runner, I come away with new training ideas. It’s both a blessing and a curse! How many things can I actually do? What will…

Biggest Runner Pet Peeves: Read It. Remember It. Stop Doing It.

It’s happening, you’re sliding in to the zone, the world is fading away and you’re now one with your running shoes. Who knows, maybe you’ll just run for days, maybe…

Why We Run Through Pain? The Injured Runner’s Mindset

You need to just rest, take time off. Don’t run through pain. It’s a well meaning statement from a logical non-runner. We duck our heads with a little grin and…

Curing an Emotional Hangover: What Happens When the Big Event is Done

A few days ago you crushed your PR. You wore that medal proudly all day around town. You didn’t even mind the ache of your calves as you devoured the…

Podcasts with Run To The Finish: Where I’m Talking Business and Running

If you feel that reading here every day is simply not enough of my fabulosity then I’ve got some good news…a few fantastic people have invited me to share more…

7 Habits of Highly Fit People that You Can Easily Do

Creating healthy habits — SNORE. It just sounds so BORING, nothing like the sparkle and pizazz of “10 minute abs” or “lose 5lbs overnight”, so our eyes glaze over just…

An Open Letter to the Middle of the Pack: Embracing the Average Runner

Lungs searing, legs aching for relief, she lunges forward finding the finish line respite, where she can finally stop hands on knees heaving with fatigue and accomplishment. She didn’t make…

15 Active Fitness Camp Vacations & Adventure Retreats

Ready to escape the daily grind, but you want to come home feeling more alive and possibly more healthy? These active vacations are a win.

DNF: Colorado Half Marathon Recap and Race Review

Everyday we’re faced with a myriad of decisions. Most of which have such a tiny impact, we won’t even notice for years that we opted to add that extra squirt…

Why Running a 5K Could Result in a Marathon PR

Endurance or speed that seems to be the option for most runners. I fully admit to running distance because I’m not a speedster! But what if we would improve in…

Peanut Butter Addiction Support Group

WARNING THIS IS NOT AN ANONYMOUS GROUP…join at your own risk. You might be an addict if… you feel like crying when the jar is empty. You might be an…

An Running Knee MRI Mess: 12 Tips for Running Without Drugs

Oh my God, I can’t be that person who starts saying “I used to run, but now my knees are bad.” I’m sure it’s wrong that this was my first…

High Fat Diet for Endurance Athletes: Why Keto Is Gaining Traction

When I originally began sharing research about high fat diets for endurance athletes in 2014, it was still a bizarre concept that left most saying, no, no no. {myself included}…

Xango Juice Review and Free Samples

The Mayo Clinic is using Xango Juice in a current study to determine the long-term benefits…Drew Brees drinks it and the infamous heal your body Dr. Oz says it’s one…

Run Mindful Retreat: What Happens on a Running Retreat

Initially I was going to break this down by day, but do you need to know every second?! No. What you want to know is what were the runs like,…

A Trail Running Retreat for Every Runner

Is a trail running retreat right for you? What should you expect? Will everyone be pro’s and is it only for experienced trail runners? All things that were running through…

LHR Training Results: Maffetone Method Half Marathon

I’ve talked a great deal about why Low Heart Rate training has worked so well for my body and how it lead to a 4 minute half marathon PR. But…

True Life: I’m Married to a Runner

It’s 5AM on Saturday, you roll over to discover nothing but a dent in the pillow next to you, do you know where your spouse is? If they’re a runner…

The Colorado Fit Life

It’s Saturday morning, the clock blinks 4:55 and though you don’t need to get up yet, you can’t stay in bed. There’s a sky filled with pink swirls coming soon,…

Running Skin Care: Banish Blisters, Chaffing, Burns and More

We frequently caution about areas like improving your form, strengthening your hips and of course finding the perfect running shoe. Dissecting every minute detail of how to improve our run…

Cacti, Mountains, Sun and Fun: 4 Phoenix Hiking Trails

Brown, dry, brittle, sandy….that’s Colorado currently and what I envisioned we’d encounter in Phoenix. Once again, I was pleasantly wrong. Instead of lying around our hotel pool for three days…

Love Bites: Hazelnut Banana Protein Muffins

The calendar doesn’t lie, Valentine’s Day is approaching whether we’re ready or not. Browsing the aisles, nothing really seems interesting. Does your husband really want a wooden Love sign? Do…

Are You Limiting Your Success with Your Thoughts?

Dreaming big isn’t the issue when it comes to how to achieve goals. You’ve visualized yourself crossing that finish line, arms thrown up in the air triumphant smile or looking…

Are You Picking the Right Race for Your Goals?

When it comes to enjoying race day, nothing matters more than picking one which truly aligns with your goals! Maybe you want to run somewhere exciting, fresh, new? Maybe you…

Heal Your Knee, Hip and IT Band through the Gut: Crazy, But Scientific

You know I like talking digestion right? It’s the unsung hero of healthy bodies!! I was reminded of that again in Costa Rica chatting with so many who had found…

Life Lessons Running Over 20,000 Miles Has Taught Me

Question…why does every year have to be bigger and better than the last? Personally, I’ll admit that if 2017 stayed on par with the fun, love and miles I enjoyed…

A Runner Walks in to a Gym

Stop me if you’ve heard this one… A runner walks in to a gym, buys a membership, scopes out the weight room and then heads outside for a run, never…

Costa Rica Adventure Challenge: Climbing, Rappelling and SUPing

If you’re jumping in here, part 1 talks about this retreat and the hikes, along with links to more photos! This running retreat was about so much more than one…

Costa Rica Adventure Challenge: The Trails

Bear with me friends as I find my footing around this story. It’s not as simple as I went to Costa Rica. Beautiful. Fun. The end. It’s complex with emotions…

Embrace the New Year’s Gym Rush: Beginner’s Need Support

I’ve been saying this for years, but you know they say you have to repeat things at least 3 times for them to sink in so I figured why not…

You’re Never Too Slow, Old or Fat

“Sorry I’m so slow.” “I don’t know if you want to go with me, I’m slow.” “Just a warning, I might slow down.” Like an ear worm of a song…

Top 5 Running Books to Skyrocket Your Motivation

It’s darker, it’s colder and I don’t know about you, but that’s when I pull out a good book to boost my motivation. I know reading is sooooo old school.…

Acorn Squash Fries: All the Flavor Sans the Fryer

I had a really insightful post on running today, but can I be honest…comfort food sounded much better after the emotions of the last 24 hours. Instead of eating our…

TomTom Spark 3 Review

We know that I’m a huge fan of a good GPS watch and also SUPER PICKY. I’ve tested so many different watches now, pitting Suunto vs Polar vs Garmin, but…

Slow Cooker Harvest Chicken: Housewarming Hostess Hacks

For everything there is a season… Sure I could mean the crisp air, the bold leaves, the pending snow, but I don’t! In my early 20’s it was bridal showers,…