Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 29

Best Running Sunglasses: Find Out How They Impact the Quality of Your Run

Running sunglasses aren’t just about blocking out light, they absolutely impact your run! Did you know they can eliminate stress and help you run better?! Let’s talk about the best ones on the market right now from fit, features and price point.

In 2011, I had my first real experience in the “influencer” world. I stepped deep in to the world of running gear to see exactly how it’s made, tested and WHY.

I was intrigued. Then I was blown away. Then I learned an insane amount about the best sunglas...

Hoka Mafate X Review | Going The Distance

If one of the top female finishers of a 100 mile race finds the Hoka Mafate X to have enough cushion, plus pop…well who am I to disagree? Actually I’m a shoe reviewer with a lot of opinions, but on this one I have to say we’re aligned.

A few months ago I saw the outsole of this shoe at an event and well…it was love at first site. They dropped in some Easter eggs with the lugs being shaped like pizza and tacos. As you’ll see below the tacos look like they have smiley faces, but that wasn’t really...

Here’s How Long Your Body Needs To Recover After Running A Marathon

You’ve run your first marathon and now you’re itching to start training again.

It’s understandable. Many of us worry that taking too much time off will result in losing all those fitness gains, but the opposite is actually true. Pushing your body to get back into the game sooner than it’s ready could have unhealthy consequences and make it harder to get back to your previous fitness levels.

So the most important question you need to ask yourself is how long should I rest and recover after runnin...

Walking 2 Miles a Day: Tips How to Get Started

Walking 2 miles a day is a great goal that’s easy enough to aim for yet offers a wide range of health benefits. Walking is an excellent way to increase fitness and activity levels, whether your goal is to lose weight, improve your health, or recover from an injury.

Aiming to walk 2 miles per day is a healthy and achievable target, even if you don’t currently exercise regularly. And if you are already currently walking one mile per day, it is quite simple to increase your time on feet.

If you’re...

Running a Marathon in the Rain – Tips for Your Best Performance

Running a marathon in the rain doesn’t have to suck if you have the right gear and mindset. Who remembers the 2018 Boston Marathon when we all were glued to the TV watching Des Linden (and many other runners) grinding it out in the pouring rain?

image from @sportsworldrunningclub

It didn’t matter what they were wearing, they had a mindset of moving forward.

Marathons happen rain or shine. It’s why we run coaches are always saying it’s important to practice running in all weather conditions. You’...

TOPO MTN Racer 4 Review | More of a Good Thing

I have loved Topo’s shoes since my first pair three years ago. Since then, I’ve almost exclusively used Topo because they offer high-performing shoes in a natural foot shape. That could have made me biased when testing out the Topo MTN Racer 4, but we all know every shoe hits a little different.
Last year, I completed multiple trail runs and races, including a 50k, in the Topo MTN Racer 3. I also used it as a hiking shoe to explore Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Vermont’s Green Moun...

Topo Phantom 4 Review | Consistently Good Feel

Since its inception in 2019 the Phantom has become one of Topo Athletic’s top-selling road trainers. The Phantom 4 looks to be enough of an update to lure in curious new runners, while not so much an overhaul that it will turn away dedicated fans of the shoe.

The Phantom 4 is a high stack daily trainer with the ability to go long. Its foot-shaped toe box and softer midsole also make it a capable recovery run option.

With the Specter 2 becoming Topo’s tempo trainer and the introduction of the ma...

Suunto Vs Polar | Comparing Features and Models

Finding the right GPS watch is worth a little research time because it’s a high ticket piece of gear and you want it meet your needs! Let’s look at Suunto vs Polar fitness watches to see how they stack up.

A few key differences in Suunto vs Polar:

Suunto feels like it wants to be the for rugged gritty individual. Google integrations make it more Android like.Polar is focused on enhancing the details of your training – most accurate HR, GPS.

If you’re looking to purchase your first GPS watch ...

Wahoo KICKR Run Treadmill Review | Advanced Training for Everyone

Can a treadmill really stand out at this point? We’ve got decline and workouts and screens, but is that all we really want from a treadmill? The Wahoo KICKR Run is turning everything on it’s head with some seriously futuristic features.

In fact, some of what you’re used to has been striped away, like that massive screen and console with built in fans or quick touch buttons.

The KICKR Run is designed to help you focus more on your run and less on all the buttons. But HOW?? I’m so glad you asked b...

Nike Vaporfly 4 Review | Narrowly Faster

Historically the RTTF team has been a fan of the Vaporfly. In fact, it’s become Coach Amanda’s go to 10K race day shoe…though we’ve also had some issues with durability. Time to find out how the Nike Vaporfly 4 fairs in our testing.

The Nike Vaporfly 4 surprised me. I don’t always wear Nike shoes, but the Vaporfly felt incredible right out of the box—like they were made for my feet. They fit like a glove, felt super light, and delivered instant responsiveness with every step. After my first inte...