Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 22

What to Eat Before a Race: Best Carbs for Performance and Digestion

One of the biggest questions runners have when increasing is what to eat before a race. Whether it’s before, during, or after a run there are a lot of factors to consider and IT’S IMPORTANT!

And we just can’t deny the fact that the most important meal you’ll have when it comes to performing well in a race, is your pre-race meal. The right fuel can prevent the dreaded heavy legs or moments of getting too friendly with the neighbor’s bushes!

Today in combination with Laura –  a Coach with a focus...

May “We Tried It” Gear Testing | Light and Bright

April testing brings May gear reviews. Or something like that.

We’re back with another gear round-up, and there are all kinds of fun things on this month’s list! We’re excited for you to see what our team of testers thought, and you may even find yourself hitting add to cart.

Let’s take a look at some fun spring and summer-inspired picks.

Feetures T-shirt

You read that right! Your favorite running socks have started making apperal and their first swing out of the gates was a hit in our testing (...

Brooks Ghost 17 Review | Reliable Over Flashy

If you’ve worn Brooks running shoes, chances are you’ve laced up a pair or two of the Ghost. It’s been one of the most popular daily trainers for years. The Brooks Ghost 17 kept things pretty familiar with just a few small tweaks.

There was a time when I ran almost exclusively in the Ghost. So when I slipped on the 17s for a few test runs, I was equal parts curious and a little cautious to see how they held up.

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we don’t shy away from keeping it r...

15 Running Workouts to Improve Speed and Stamina

Few of you are coming to me with a focus on your one mile pace, so we’re looking at running workouts that are going to test your speed and improve your endurance.

There are tons of ways to incorporate speed training and I hope these ideas will help to bring a little fun to your training, along with improvements.

If you’re wondering why you should incorporate different types of running workouts, or which ones are the most common out there, don’t worry I’ve got you covered!

I’ll be discussing tha...

Best Running Movies: 10 To Help Find that Mojo

Running motivation is always going to have peaks and valleys. Our job is to find tools that will help us through the rough patches. Luckily, these running movies might be just the ticket to get you moving again!! These are particularly great for pre-race hype.

Some of you will begrudgingly find yourselves on the treadmill this winter due to travel, ice or just bad luck. Others of us will be loving wearing our shorts and watching tv while running!

Luckily, there’s nothing like a good show about r...

Zero Drop Running Shoes: What Are They + Pros and Cons

Over a decade ago now, runners became obsessed with a “new” trend of running barefoot, which lead to a huge spike in Achilles, calf, knee and foot injuries. Whoops. Luckily we now have a happy medium with zero drop running shoes.

One of the first to hit the market was Altra running shoes. started when founder Golden Harper ran a 3:08 marathon at age 10.

Yup, you read that correctly!

It should come as no surprise that a boy who runs that fast was raised in a family that owned a running shoe stor...

17 Running Games for Kids: How to Get Kids Running for Fun

Kids running is something that always gets me so excited. They start off with so MUCH ENERGY. And when it’s all about play like running games that energy stays high. However, on race day I’ve seen a few spectacular mid-way meltdowns and generally thought “I feel ya kid“.

image from @josefineswarm

So what can we do as running coaches and parents to cultivate the love of running without pushing too far?

A few times each year, I get questions from parents who have a child that just loves to run. Th...

10K Training Plans: A Complete Guide to Achieving Your Race Goals

Ready to tackle the exhilarating challenge of a 10K race? Feel completely overwhelmed at what should be in a 10K training plan? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

As a long-time running coach, I’ve dedicated my expertise to help runners of all paces unlock their full potential and conquer the 6.2-mile journey with confidence.

Whether you’re a beginner venturing into your first 10K race or a seasoned runner aiming to set a new personal record, this guide is designed to provide you with pract...

10 Best Half Marathons Around the World

Do you have any racecations on your calendar? If not, after reading this you might have several in the works! The best half marathons around the world are an incredible excuse to travel!! So, you’re welcome.

The half marathon is one of my favorite race distances, especially to pair with a trip. The training requires commitment, but isn’t as demanding as prepping for a marathon. If you’ve never done long distance races, it’s also not as daunting going from 10ks and 10-milers to the half marathon...

How Do You Carry Water While Running? Our Top Recommendations As Coaches

Whether you’re just starting out as a runner or you’ve got a few marathons under your belt, staying hydrated during your run is important for optimizing performance. The question becomes how to carry water while running and we’re here to help simplify that for you today!

How Carry Water On Your Run

Researchers, runners, and USA Track and Field all agree that carrying water with you is worth it for many reasons and you must be learning that’s true as you’re now here.

While some people stash wate...