Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 25

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...

Altra Experience Flow 2 Review | Low Drop, Low Weight, High Times

If you’re not ready to fully commit to a zero-drop running shoe, the Altra Experience Flow 2 is the perfect in-between. It’s okay to get distracted by how stylish this shoe looks because, spoiler alert, it feels good underfoot too!

Altra built its reputation on zero-drop shoes, but last year, it shook things up with its first-ever ‘low drop’ model, featuring a 4mm heel-toe drop.

The Altra Experience Flow 2 went through some dramatic updates in hopes of making this a shoe that more runners are gr...

Saucony Triumph 23 Real-World Testing of Max Cushion

This is now the 4th iteration of the Triumph for my foot and we continue to be a very happy match. Let’s talk about what’s new for the Saucony Triumph  23 and why it’s a great daily trainer for so many.It’s a rare thing to love a shoe over many years and many iterations. The Saucony Triumph has seen some changes since I first felt the pure joy of it’s cushion in the 20th model.

While I enjoyed the Triumph 22, I noticed that as the year progressed I didn’t reach for it as often as other max cushi...

I Didn’t Expect This Much from a Sustainable Shoe | Hylo Athletics Impact Review

If you’re looking for a shoe that combines some cushion with responsiveness to protect your joints on less-than-ideal surfaces (apartment treadmills, anyone?) – the Hylo Athletics Impact deserves some consideration.

The Hylo Athletics Impact represents the brand’s effort to create daily trainers with a sustainability focus that doesn’t compromise on performance.

40% of the shoe is composed of bio-based material: the upper, the laces, midsole, outsole, and insole all contain varying degrees of su...