Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 31

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...

Hoka Clifton Vs Bondi and Other Models: Hoka Running Shoes Review

Since I started wearing HOKA’s frequently over the years, many of you have asked “what do you think?” or “I’ve been considering them, should I?” “Can you explain the difference in Hoka Bondi vs Clifton??” Having run in TONS of different models since 2012, I have plenty to say about how these shoes fit and feel!

Each year, we test out the new Hoka models and put in enough miles to have solid feedback on feel, fit and whether I’ll be shelling out money for another pair.

Originally this was a strai...

6 Best Under Desk Treadmills

Looking to get more movement in your day? If you’re someone who has a sedentary job, you may struggle feeling like despite your best effort, you can’t get enough movement into your day to counteract the time you spend sitting. Which leads to wondering about the best under desk treadmills!

Working from home it’s far to easy to move less and we know that our movement throughout the day matters more for our weight than just those few minutes in the gym.

example from @melodygilliam_

Maybe you alread...

BodyBio Review | Wellness at the Cellular Level

One of the unexpected side effects of running is looking more at your total health. Knowing that if you feel better you can run better, leads us down the path of investigating all kinds of ideas. That led us to being curious about BodyBio and their focus on the cell.

Some things like creatine for runners took a while to catch on, but now we all see the science. Meanwhile other things like electrolytes we know are helpful but might still fall short.

BodyBio is looking at ways to improve health st...

15 Fitness Gifts for Mom (Budget to splurge)

For whatever occasion you’re celebrating, we’ve put together a list of running gifts for Mom. From accessories to running shoes and everything in between, we think you’ll find something that will put a smile on her face.

15 Running Gifts Mom Will Love

If you’re looking for a special gift to show your the Motherrunner in your life how special she is, we think you’ll find something from our list below.

It was so hard to narrow this list down because we have so many things that our team is loving ...

Free 60 Minute 10K Training Plan – Running Under An Hour!

If you’re looking for how to run a 10k in a hour, you’ve found yourself in the right place. As long time running coaches we’ve put together thousands of custom plans. Which means we do our best to create free options as well that you can utilize when coaching isn’t an option.

Training for a 10k is about finding that sweet spot. You’re not pushing for an all out effort like the 5k, and you’re not spending a long time on your feet like with the half marathon.

There’s that perfect blend of speed, ...