Amanda Brooks's Blog, page 33

Craft Nordlite Tempo Review | Plateless Speed

For runners looking for a road shoe that blends cushion and responsiveness, without feeling heavy, the Craft Nordlite Tempo is a great contender.

I was surprised when I first put the shoes on, noticing how light, spacious, and breathable the upper felt. I felt supported without feeling constrained through the heel and midfoot, with enough room in the toe box for a natural spreading of the toes and forefoot.

Once I started running, I immediately noticed how smooth and responsive they were. There...

Thirteen Vegetables for Runners to Recover Faster And Stay Healthy

Running is an amazing way to improve your overall health, from increased muscle to bone density to a healthier heart. But of course, if you’re going to do it regularly, it’s extra important to feed your body the right vitamins and macronutrients that allow it to recover.

That’s why we’ve put together thirteen vegetables that should be on every runner’s grocery list. Sports dietitians have said these will all help you to have enough energy and feel strong to get back out there for your next run.

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Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx Review | Performance and Comfort

The Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx is a huge addition to Merrell’s trail footwear family. Combining advanced materials like Kevlar, FloatPro™ Foam cushioning, and a Vibram® Megagrip® outsole, this shoe provides a balance of durability, comfort, and traction. Whether you’re running trails or mixed terrain, it’s designed to handle it all—let’s dive into what makes it so impressive.

Who Is It Good For:

Who is the Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx good for? Let’s break it down with some common categories.

Wide F...

Skechers Go Walk 7 Slip ins Review | Cooling Comfort

If you’re anything like me, there’s no such thing as too many shoes. The Skechers Go Walk 7 Slip-ins might just be the easy, comfy, everyday shoes your closet’s been missing.

I never thought I’d find myself in a pair of Skechers, but Amanda always has such great things to say about their shoes, so why not give them a try?

A sneaker with no laces that is meant to easily slip on is an immediate yes for me. If you’re running errands or even walking around the house, you just want something super e...

Half Marathon Checklist: Everything You Need to Pack and Prep

Ever wonder what you really need to cover 13.1 miles? Half marathon gear isn’t crazy, but having the right things can make a difference.

The new gizmos, running gadgets, shoes, shirts and such that pop up online make it easy to overinvest. Though my list is now longer than when I first started running, only some of it is truly necessary.

In the week leading up to the race, taper brain can take over giving you too much time to think and yet not really getting any specific planning completed!

Cli...

10 Best Low Drop Running Shoes

We say it so much that we feel like a broken record- how a shoe fits and feels can completely change your run. If you’re on the hunt for the best low drop running shoes, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve tested oodles of running shoes and have narrowed it down to some of our favorites.

Low drop can refer to any running shoe heel-to-toe drop between 1mm and 5mm. In other words, we’re not looking for a zero drop shoe and we’re not aiming for the middle with the 8mm shoe, but things in that ge...

50 All Time Best Running Puns

I think it’s really important to keep running fun, and part of that is finding ways to laugh about this crazy sport we’ve chosen, from quotes to great running puns!

I’ve heard some really awful running jokes over the years. And some that really made me chuckle. And a few that got a big old guffaw (usually the great running memes)! In general, I find puns to land in the Dad joke category of a good chuckle.

Running puns can come in quite handy to help with pre-race jitters, cheer up a friend, or ...

10 Best Ways to Build Endurance and Stamina

How to increase endurance running is a common running goal that can be achieved by ANY runner willing to follow a few simple guidelines.

Becoming a better runner is often far less complicated than we like to make it: easy runs, strength, mental training, eating enough…patience.

Challenges never end with running and that’s part of what keeps us coming back.

Why can you crush 5 miles, but not 6?

Why do you fly through 10 miles, but need two weeks to recover from 13? This is the weird world of lea...

What to Do After Couch to 5k Training

You just finished your Couch to 5k and are wondering, now what? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and honestly, that feeling is super normal. You’ve got a ton of options, so here’s how we as coaches help our runners decide what to do next.

photo from @magicallymeighan

Crossing that finish line of your 5k was a pretty big deal, and there’s no rush to move on to the next thing.

Some runners get excited about building up to longer distances, maybe eyeing a 10K, half marathon or even dreaming of 26.2 m...

Flux Adapt Runner Review

For fans of zero drop or those looking to ease into it, the Flux Adapt Runner is a good pick for a daily trainer. The Adapt Runner boasts a wide, natural toe box and a unique AdaptSol™ insole that feels like a nice massage on the go.

This shoe was a surprise for me. I tried the Adapt Runners on the road and the treadmill, testing them on easy and long runs and even some tempo runs. I expected to prefer them for shorter runs, but despite the weight, I started choosing these for longer runs of 8+...