Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 16

Mount To Coast T1: Proof That Sustainable Trail Shoes Don’t Have to Suck

If you haven’t heard of Mount to Coast in the last year, then I dare say you’re not on Instagram. They have been partnering with influencers left, right, up and down. Which we admit, always leaves us a bit skeptical and yet we’ve had a lot of good things to say about the R1 and S1. Now they’ve released their first trail show with the Mount to Coast T1.

The brand is determined to be seen as a go to ultra running shoe. Or more aptly a shoe that’s going to last far longer than the standard 300-500 ...

The Best On Cloud Shoes for Walking & Standing

I’ve done a bunch of reviews running in On Cloud sneakers, but there were a lot of questions about On Cloud walking shoes. Let’s take a look at exactly which models are best for being on your feet for a workout or a long day.

One thing many folks may not realize is that I take walks every single day too!

It’s such a great way to break up a day of sitting on the computer and just ensures I get outside to get some fresh air! So not only am I now an avid run shoe tester, but walking shoe tester.

On...

New Balance Rebel v5 Review | Have they Gone Soft on Us?

The New Balance Rebel was an announcement to the rest of the running world that New Balance had arrived as a player in the modern performance category. The NB Rebel V5 is ready to push that narrative again.
At a time when running shoe brands were dropping new shoes with fat stacks of innovative foams, often featuring stabilizing plates, New Balance dropped a lightweight, low-to-the-ground fast trainer with a nitrogen-infused EVA/TPU foam that stood apart from the crowd.

The first Rebel was a big...

Don’t Sleep on Redding California Marathon Race Vacation

Are you looking for a great winter marathon? Are you thinking about how to turn it in to a vacation for the whole family? I know you are because this is the game we runners play to get everyone excited about our training. Enter a trip to Redding, California the sunniest place in Cali.As I’m not one to recommend anything to our athletes without doing some research, we took a long weekend to discover the area and run parts of the course.

Good news, it’s fabulous.

Better news, there are trails galo...

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Review | Built for Breakthroughs

What if I told you there’s a racing shoe out there that could shave over 4 minutes off your marathon time—would you be in? I thought so. Allow me to introduce the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 (Which we’ll shorten to Puma Fast-R 3). 

Let’s face it, it’s a great time to be a runner (though, hasn’t it always been?), with the explosion of shoe technology and seemingly every new release promising to be THE one to help us run faster and more comfortably. Puma’s kicking down the door, calling this their f...

Nike Terra Kiger 10 Review | Lacking Versatility, But Not Speed

A lightweight trail racing shoe with a Vibram outsole is what the Nike Terra Kiger 10 is designed as, it’s upfront branded on the sidewall – Nike Trail Racing.  Which right off the bat feels like this is a specific use shoe.  

Nike made some changes from the Kiger 9 to the Terra Kiger 10.  The outsole has been upgraded from a grippy rubber to the Vibram megagrip along with changing to the Cushlon 3.0 foam for this model.  

I was interested to try a unisex shoe, are they made differently, would I...

Altra Vs Brooks Running Shoes | How Running Shoes Compare

Unlike many of the running shoe comparisons we’ve done around here through lots of mileage, these two brands are indeed fairly different. Altra Vs Brooks is usually a discussion when someone is starting to consider zero drop shoes or hears about these wide toe boxes. But Brooks offers some wider shoes, so let’s look at how the models compare.

Both brands offer high quality shoes with a variety of cushioning options, but a lot of the similarities stop right there.

I first tested Altra after a few...

Is It Ok To Run in Carbon Plated Shoes Every Day?

Carbon plated shoes are everywhere now, not just in super fast race day shoes. But is it okay to run in carbon plated shoes every day? Are there benefits to your recovery or are you actually abusing your legs? We did the research to help you make the most of your choices.
There’s no denying that carbon plated running shoes are some of the flashiest and fastest out there. They’re the ones we see on the feet of elites as they break records and chase after strong finishes.

And of course now, we hav...

Mizuno Wave Rider 28 Review | Traditional Trainer that Lives On

Mizuno describes the Wave Rider 28 as “the ultimate daily trainer.” With no shortage of high quality daily trainers on the market today, that’s a pretty bold statement. Does it live up to it? Let’s find out.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Anyone who knows me, knows I’ve been a long-time Brooks fan. It’s been a long time since I can remember wearing anything but, and I can honestly say Mizuno was never on my radar to try. However, I’m not so stuck in my ways that I’m not game to t...

Pre Workout Snack Ideas (Easy, Foolproof Snacks to Try!)

Figuring out whether you should eat before a run and what exactly to eat can feel like you’re going down a rabbit hole of conflicting advice.

Over the years, I’ve had plenty of chats with registered dietitians to cut through the noise and get to what really matters: helping you feel good and run strong. This guide is here to make things simpler, not more stressful, so you can confidently fuel in a way that works for your body.

You’ll also see tips from our friend and trusted RD, Cortney Berling...