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

Diary of a Juice Cleanse – Day 2 Benefits

In an ideal world, we would all eat in response to true hunger. But the truth is we get in to habits of eating because of time of day, response…

Diary of a Juice Cleanse Day 1: What and How

You know I love my green smoothies. You know I’m all about high nutrient foods for recovery. You know I’m not a fan of fads or diets or lose weight…

Travel the World while staying Fit: Fitness Spotlight

How to stay active while traveling? How to eat clean while traveling? How to come home without needing to unbutton your jeans? Questions like this are definitely among the most…

The man BESIDE RunToTheFinish

It’s cliché to call him my best friend or the love of my life, but I think that’s because words sometimes fail to explain what it means when you find…

NYC Marathon – Beyond the clock

As noted yesterday, I did eek out a 1 minute PR for which I am absolutely grateful. I appreciate all the congrats and all your words of “any PR should…

Officially a 1:04 PR – NYC

At my current rate of race PR’s, it’s fantastic that I love this sport and view it has something to do for a lifetime because I’m going to need another…

No NYC race countdown here

You may notice that you’ve never seen a race countdown clock on my site. I don’t post each week how many days are left and when people ask the date…

The Last Ironman Finisher

Three minutes before the 17 hour cut off 78-year-old Harriett Anderson crossed the finish line as the oldest official finisher, the winner of her age group and the last official…

The Story of an Original Ironman

It’s a story as old as time…one man dares another in a bar and the next thing you know it’s a world wide event. Well something like than anyhow. Prior…

Ironman Kona 2013 Race Day

Some lessons you need to learn through experience and this weekend, I learned what it really means to be an Ironman. Spectating this event in person was so much more…

Timex Sports Behind the Ironman Journey

Tomorrow I want to share with you the story of one of the original 1978 Ironman finishers {15 entered, 12 finished}…then more of what we saw throughout the 2013 Ironman…

Three 20 Mile Weekends in a Row

Peak training is here and right now I feel SOLID!!! The last three weekends have all be 20 milers, but with extremely different conditions and times giving me a big…

Kona Lesson 2: Let it all hang out – Underpants Run

I don’t run in a sports bra…ever. I have talked before on the blog about me “abs” goal and my lack of having defined abs. I also recognize that eating…

From NFL to Ironman: Hines Ward

Can you imagine going out for your first run and doing a run/walk for just 20 minutes…knowing that you are already signed up for the Ironman World Championship race in…

Kona Lesson 1: Find Your Tribe

While marathons and triathlons are performed as individuals, it takes a team to make it happen. One of the recurring themes I heard on day one in Kona with Timex from a…

Chicken Quinoa Soup – A Classic Made Better

Mother Nature does a lot of things right…particularly sunrises which I shared a few of this week because I really believe they’re moments that allow us all to pause and…

Colorado Lovin: A Vacation Every Weekend

I confess that during my visit to San Diego I swore I was moving there…then during my visit to Boulder I swore I was moving there. In fairness, I’ve been…

Crossing off a Bucket List Experience

A few years ago, after being asked yet again “where do you want to be in 5 years?” I pulled out a sheet of paper and started thinking more about…

Mind Over Medicine: Can you heal yourself?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Have you ever heard stories about people who were misdiagnosed with terminal illness and died only months later? Or someone who refused treatment and by…

Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup

It’s a feels like of at least 90 degrees every single day, so why I’m craving soup I can’t particularly say. I think my digestion wants something super easy after…

Jacksonville Beach Weekend, Leg Pain and the Garmin: Accountability Monday

A few weeks ago, I asked David to wake up at the gorgeous hour of 4AM so I could do my long run on the beach. This weekend he was…

What is this Sony Club?

Monday I shared with you some behind the scenes from my time with Sony at the Del Mar Racetrack and of course last week a lot of photos with #sonyclub.…

Polar RC3 integrated GPS watch Review

Runners are not known for being open to change. We find a pair of running shoes that work and head out to buy them in mass, lest they change the…

Aging Up Feels Great

Do you remember as a kid when someone asked how old you were and you ALWAYS aimed for the higher age: “6 and 1/2”, “almost 8”, “I’ll be 18 next…

Runners Exemplify Relief in Action

I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by Advil®, as part of the Advil® Relief in Action campaign. I received compensation for this post. While all opinions stated are…

Running with the Kenyans

Have you ever wondered why Kenyans seem to dominate the marathon? If you’ve watched any of the major races in recent years, surely you have as the numbers are staggering……

Gin, Hats and History

Stetson. What comes to mind when you hear that name? Perhaps Stetson hats makes you think of cowboys or maybe you are a coinsurer of fine liquor in which case…

Spicy Red Lentil Dip: A Hummus Alternative

Continuing with my goal of eating more anti-inflammatory foods and changing up my food rotation I decided to put to use some red lentils that have been staring at me…

Exploring Park City, Utah

While I told you all about enjoying our long run in Park City {even with the altitude}, I wanted to also spend a little time telling you more about the…

Eat and Run – Scott Jurek: Accountability Monday

I love a good book and a good book that can make me fall in love with running all over again is hard to find and greatly cherished. Hence the…

WSSC Conference Review

After attending World Spinning and Sports Conditioning Conference last weekend in Miami, I’m now thinking there aren’t enough hours in the day because I want to do more Pilates and…

Best Breathing Technique for Runners

A few months ago I reviewed the book Running on Air from Budd Coates. Many of you saw an article about it in either Runner’s World or Men’s Health and…

Puerto Rico Half Marathon – David’s Debut

David declared he was “one and done” at the finish line. I however have other plans for him, as in working with me so we can both hit a great…

Slow Cooker BBQ Tofu and Slaw: Ugly, but good

I have yet to find a way at home to get the same deep flavor of the tofu I often pick up from the Whole Foods buffet…which incidentally is one…

Runner Spotlight: CrossFit to Marathon

I am so excited to bring you another great runner spotlight! Previously you heard from a runner who did a first marathon in 3:20 and a runner maintaining a 63lb…

Running on Air

It’s no secret that I love to read and my nightstand is usually overflowing with at least one running book, one spiritual or informational book and one book that allows…

Oven Baked Zucchini Fries – DF, EF

Have you ever noticed that as soon as something is off limits you are drawn to it like a moth to a flame?? I love making sweet potato fries, but…

Digestion impacts how we look, feel, think and act

If you had told me a year ago that my hair falling out, my brittle nails, my sickness after eating, my fatigue, my sadness ok yes the complete malfunction of…

One Dish Protein Trail Bars

Leading up to ING Miami this weekend, I am focusing a little more on carbo loading than I have in the past. It’s easy to think carbo loading means daily…

Kale and Butternut Squash Soup

Before leaving on our trip to Kansas City, I tossed a bag of kale in the freezer because I couldn’t imagine simply tossing it in the trash! On the flight…

Vegetable Au Gratin: A Dairy Free Version of a Classic

Vegetables are usually relegated to an afterthought as a side dish to the main meal, but once I started focusing on eating the ideal 7-9 servings of fruits and veggies…

1458.5 Miles and yes that .5 matters

I love numbers. I love seeing my miles add up and crossing days off the calendar with a note that I ran. Which means it’s no surprise that it’s time…