About Amanda Brooks: RunToTheFinish
Hi I’m Amanda!
I created RunToTheFinish as a place to support the middle of the pack in enjoying the run regardless of the clock. Running is about so much more than our pace, like injury prevention, connecting to the running community and eating well to feel better!
You’re not an elite runner able to dedicate all your time to training, reading the new research and figuring out what will ACTUALLY work.
That’s why I’m here!
I do the research, I got the personal training certification, I test out the new gizmos, so you can spend your time enjoying the miles.
MY MISSION
I want us all to think beyond the clock.
To love the run for what it gives us.
To love our bodies for what they can achieve.
To take the extra few moments to keep us running injury free and happy.
I know what it’s like to fake knee pain to get out of running or hear someone say they crave vegetables and think “they’re batty”!
That’s why I’m sharing my story, clean eating recipes, workout ideas, running tips, motivation, expert interviews, travel, adventure, joy and LIFE all of which is geared to help:
– Understand clean eating for runners {not dieting}
– Enjoy the fitness habit
– Realizing that each small step matters
– Finding your inner GRIT when motivation wanes
– Enjoying crazy running opportunities like Israel
In the beginning of my healthy living journey, I knew only that running made me joyful so I just kept doing it. In the years that followed, I expanded my horizons and realized that active living in general makes my life full and fantastic.
Which means now I do yoga, kick boxing, swimming, biking, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, meditation, healthy cooking and any other activity I can find! I am always ready to try new things and share them here…sweaty, goofy details and all.
RunToTheFinish Media Features
Contributing Writer: Runners World Magazine, MapMyRun.com, MyFitnessPal.com, MindBodyGreen.com, CraveLocal.com, TheActiveTimes.com, BiteSizeWellness.com
Featured on: Under Armour Women’s team, Greatist’s Top Fitness Bloggers, Women’s Health Magazine, featured in Self Magazine, Women’s Running Magazine Blogger on the Run, Fitness Magazine The Fit Stop
I’ve also appeared on a number of podcasts which you can find here.
Speaker:Find Your Influence, Food Entrepreneur Summit, Social Media tips at Travel Conferences, Fitbloggin, Healthy Living Summit, Puerto Rico Marathon Expo, New Media Expo
AMANDA C BROOKS BIO
An only child raised in Kansas City, I played every sport under the sun, but was frequently told I stunk at running and even in to college people commented on my “baby fat”.
Once I realized I wanted to FEEL differently about my body, I began to make small changes that I could maintain for life and as a result my body and mind started to change.
{Read about my 35 lb weight loss to fitness journey.}
Running was an integral part of my weight loss journey, but not simply because it involved burning calories! After my very first race {a half marathon in 2002}, I found within myself a new deep sense of pride and I wanted to feel that every day.I’ve never been terribly interested in racing because that creates a pressure around running.
I simply run 40-50 mile weeks because I can and I want to…that’s not to say that I haven’t raced and enjoyed many of these experiences!! You can read all of my race reports and find out which one’s I really loved on my Race Reports page.
I graduated from Mizzou in 2003 with a degree in Journalism which was fueled by my desire to follow my passion of writing {which I’m lucky to now use as a travel writer!}. Instead after college I found an amazing job with a company that allowed me to spend 9 years developing my analytical thinking skills by providing online consulting services to Fortune 500 companies around the US.
Then in 2012, I decided to make a change for my health and pursue blogging full time.Shortly after graduation, I also met my husband. We were married in the world’s weirdest weather horrifying ceremony on March 29, 2008 and as with everything in our marriage he taught me how to roll with the punches and keep on laughing.
I helped him start traveling around the world per my passion and his job moved us right out of KC to Miami Beach in 2008! Then we moved on to Orlando and finally we’ve jumped to Denver, we hope for a long haul. The best part is making new friends in cities all over the country.
Coaching Credentials
Beyond over 20,000 miles of running and years of using my Journalism degree to research every aspect of running for in depth articles, I also have a Personal Training Certification from ACE. I’ve reviewed a number of run coaching certifications, but in truth found that none offered more than the over 200 running books I’ve read and the thousands of runners I have met with over the years of blogging and running.
I believe that every runner is different and requires a program designed around their life, their body and their goals!
My Goals
I have so many goals and so many hopes for life, but more often now you’ll see that I’m chasing a feeling over a time on the clock. My primary life goal is to continue growing every day in to a better person and as Oprah would say “live my best life”.
During different points you may see goals to hit a certain time or complete a certain race, but those are secondary to enjoying each moment, traveling the world, loving my husband, being a great daughter, being good at my job and laughing…lots of laughing.
CONTACT AMANDA
I love hearing from you so please reach out at any time: contact Amanda Brooks — sorry yes it’s a form, I get so many spam emails that’s the only way to keep my sanity.
You should join me on Instagram here
You should follow me on Twitter here
You should follow me on Facebook here
You can connect with me on Google+ here
You can also watch me on YouTube