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

A Runner Goes Snowboarding and Lives to Tell About It

I put on my first pair of skis at age 16 for a whopping 3 hours….and then I proceeded to never ski again. I remember having fun, but the opportunity…

12 Healthy Foods You’re Overeating on Accident

Too much of a good thing, it really is possible. Too much sun = red lobster looking tan lines and lots of aloe Too much birthday cake = stomach ache…

Wellfit Malibu Fitness Retreat Review

Was one of your New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight? But you find yourself so bogged down with daily life that you haven’t been able to quite make the changes…

10 Trail Running Tips and Tricks to Avoid Big Issues

Over the last few years in Colorado, I’ve found myself on more trails than the previous 30 of my life! There is so much I wish I’d known before starting,…

Running Without Racing: A Success Story

Is there a point to running with no races on the calendar? For many people, the answer would be a resounding no, but my 2015 looked exactly like that. The…

Get A Head Start on 2016 with Top Running Articles of 2015

It’s nearly time to close our 2015, but many of the articles this year provide tips, tricks and insights that will set you up for your best (or possibly first!)…

Shoulding Yourself? How to Stop the Madness and Get Results

We’re all friends here right? So I can be totally honest with you… I’ve had a case of the “shoulding yourself” lately, which has caused my productivity to dry up…

Resolution Run 2016

Walk it. Run it. Skip it. Hula hoop it. Whatever floats your boat, let’s getting moving on January 1 to set the tone for a year of healthy living. For…

10 minute Legs and Abs Workout

Working your core in different ways is key to hitting all the different muscles and one way we often neglect, but works instantly is BALANCE. Not only will it force…

Finally, Our BIG News

It’s a big day around the Brooks-McLatchie household, not only are we celebrating David’s birthday with a few more gray hairs, but as this post goes live we are being…

Jawbone Up 3 Review: More than Step Tracking

As runners we have an unfortunate habit of thinking that our workout means we can sit the rest of the day…not true!! We need to move more, it’s part of…

10 Tips to Conquer the Mental Blocks in Training

Have you ever stumbled across someone on social media and instantly fallen in love with them? Their personality makes you wish you were friends, their photos make you wish you…

Enchanted Prague Walking Tour

Ancient towers with Baroque statues, the click of your heels on the cobblestones, lovely old squares lined with charming facades… welcome to Prague, where strolling the city’s streets are akin…

Iceland Volcano Hike to Fimmvörðuháls: As Awesome as it Sounds

Iceland is made for active travelers. For nature lovers. For those who don’t need big cities, bright lights (Northern Lights being an exception) and taxis. Of course you can enjoy…

Iceland Photo Tour Part One

Last week I poured my driven workaholic heart out to you about the need to remember to LOVE what I’m doing, put people first and stop with the never ending…

Outside Reykjavik: The Sites You Won’t Find in Guidebooks

The Golden Circle is a go-to for most tourists in Reykjavik, and with good reason — the tour features some of the area’s most impressive sights. But if you’ve already…

Driving the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park

I’ve already linked this up and committed myself to getting in written…so if you’ve found it today, bear with me as the details continue to roll forth from my brain.…

Driving the Golden Circle and Snowmobiling in Iceland

After a solid night of sleep and another super star buffet breakfast, we started driving the Golden Circle. Some people do this in just one day, but we of course…

Blue Lagoon of Iceland

If  I can make one recommendation for your trip to Iceland, it’s to hit the Blue Lagoon as soon as you exit the plane! After an overnight flight, nothing has…

Couples in The Kitchen: Do You Cook Together?

When we lived in Kansas City, our lives felt so much more traditional. We owned a home {ok still do}. We spent weekends mowing, pulling weeds, painting things! We shopped…

Bioluminescent Florida Kayak Tour: Glowing Water and Sky Adventure

Lightning. Downpour. Kayaking. One  of these things does not belong and yet we managed to pull all three together in another adventure this weekend. As you know, it was birthday…

Where can running shoes take you?: The Video Shoot Story

Running shoes are for sweat. They’re also for darting through the lush green back roads of Ireland with a boisterous team of other endorphin chasers. For eyes spilling tears after…

Healthy, yet manly, Recipes for Father’s Day

I don’t know why healthy food is often considered unmanly…maybe because a “real man” eats a steak with his bare hands while chugging a beer before crushing it on his…

Daily Burn Black Fire Review with Bob Harper

After committing to cross training this Spring, I was thrilled to find myself actually hitting a weekly goal of multiple strength workouts.Of course, while I enjoy the repittion of running,…

Slow Cooker Oatmeal: Apple Cinnamon

I love all the tips on how to make  meal planning doable and while I am definitely a batch cooker, I don’t always plan out my whole week. I keep…

Chicago Spring Half Marathon Race Review

Are you ready for this… I didn’t PR. WHEW now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about why this race was still an absolutely awesome day.…

Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries–Dairy Free Summer Snack

This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine. Every time an article tells me to use fruit for dessert, I find my eyes involuntarily rolling…

Is Decision Fatigue Limiting your Results?

Been there, ate that. I’m a nibbler, especially when it comes to foods that I think I shouldn’t be eating. Instead of just having a cookie, I’ll break it in…

Meb For Mortals Book Review

What is it that they do differently? Besides devoting their entire day to training, recovering and eating…ok well that actually pretty much answers what they do differently. However, we all…

How to run a PR on a bad day?

Does that sound like a trick question? Yeah it basically is. But if you run a new race distance…tada automatic PR!! I haven’t done anything shorter than a half marathon…

5 Running Moments for a Smile

“What’s your favorite race?” “Do you have a favorite workout?” I know people are supposed to have favorites…like oh the color yellow or Twizzlers or almond butter over peanut butter,…

What is Your Why? 7 Steps to Figure It Out and Why It Matters

Why is your why? Have you ever asked yourself that? Understanding your why can make the biggest difference. Here's how to find it and why.

You are cordially invited to Delurk

Last year I did something that was either going to be a success or a big fat flop {take that fear}. Luckily it turned out to be one of my…

Clean Eating Meal Plan from A Whisk and Two Wands

Continuing with this new fun series this week I’m featuring a week of meals from on of my favorite clean eating recipe makers on Instagram. Her food always makes me…

15 Ways to Stay Motivated (Even After Reaching Your Goal)

How to stay motivated after reaching your goal? These 15 tips will help you reframe your mind and keep the momentum going!

High Protein Veggie Bites – Gluten Free, Dairy Free

I’m kind of on a kick lately with bite sized foods. I’m a snacker, so it’s no surprise I continually look for ways to ensure those snacks are more healthy…

Best Damn Race Orlando Review and Half Marathon Race Recap

No knee pain!!! Really that’s about the only thing you need to know about this race. However, I am happy to tell you more because it was indeed a good…

Healthy Brownie Bites – Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar

How big is one brownie? Feels like a trick question right?! The box mix usually says something like 16 servings, but it lasts approximately two days in our house…with 2…

SUP with a Twist: Core Workouts to Mimic the Board

New workouts are not only fun, but a great reminder of how much I need to cross train! During the Oakley retreat they said we would be doing SUP (stand…

General Mills Test Kitche Experience

As I mentioned when my parents visited, I am going to start sharing more about travels and such because I now realize how much I think I’ll remember that I…

A weekend in the Bahamas

“Would you like to take a two day cruise to the Bahamas?” Before the words were nearly out of my mouth, David was fist pumping and shouting “wohooo all you…

Coconutty Butternut Squash and Kale Soup

Does anyone else go through phases with food? There will be weeks where I want nothing but green smoothies, then eggs, then sandwiches. Lately I’ve been on a soup kick,…

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!