Sponsored by Zappos and Brooks

Racing undoubtedly looks different this year, but it will return. If you’ve got a runner on your gifting list, a pair of sneakers is the perfect gift. It’s an essential piece of any running journey! I’ve shared in the past some of the ways to ensure a good fit (ensuring the sizing makes sense is huge) but of course, Brooks is a brand that specializes in sneakers for movement, so they’ve got you covered. It’s one of the only brands to have such a wide variety of colors and designs which I love!

Since it’s chilly in the northeast, I’m spending a lot more time indoors and enjoying my apartment gym while I’ve got access. To get in a good workout, you honestly don’t need much, and I usually jump rope, do a few quick strength circuits, and run because I love the challenge. One of my favorite ways to end a workout is to do one quick mile, and it’s a great way to test new running sneakers as well. I loved these as a classic black running shoe that’s not too heavy but still supportive. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 are a great shoe to invest in as a starter running shoe in my opinion because they’re neither too cushiony nor too heavy, which a lot of more specialized running shoes can be. They go with any workout outfit, which I secretly love, but if you love a more fun colorful shoe, then Brooks has options too.

One of my favorite ways to test a running sneaker is on rolling hills using the treadmill. I’ll usually start off with a 5-minute warm up at a jog/light run pace and then kick it up every minute with another point of incline. I start at 1 and try to get up to 8 or 9 percent incline and then take it off minute by minute. Depending on how long I’m running for, I’ll do 30 seconds instead of a minute, and sometimes it’s fun to also play with speed. It’s a good way to see if a sneaker will work well outside when it’s freezing and you’re working out a lot more indoors.

These Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 are from Zappos, and I love their quick easy shipping plus seamless return policy so if you try the shoes and don’t love them, you can easily return them. As the holidays approach, if you’re buying for someone else and they’re not the best fit or the right size, you can easily return or exchange.