A Little bit about me.
From being a high performing athlete to starting my own business and becoming a mum of four – my journey through life drives my passion in helping others achieve the goals they set themselves.
I have 10 years’ experience working with runners developing their physical ability but importantly their mental fortitude. I’ve combined this knowledge and experience with my own extensive racing experience to create a solid set of training principles that empowers people to achieve their wildest dreams.
I thrive on helping people with a passion, dream, or goal. It's my belief that we all have so much more within us. Regardless of age, sex, ability and history, the crucial thing is the desire to change, to find a way, to strive for more. With this we can all realise dreams we previously thought impossible.
It's here that you'll find out all about me, my qualifications and achievements as well as press coverage.
Click here if you are keen to read a bit more about my life so far!
MY QUALIFICATIONS
-
UK Athletics Leader in Run Fitness
-
Co-Active Fundamentals Empowerment Coach
-
UKSCA Foundation in Strength & Conditioning Coach
-
Supporting coach with Team Bath Talent Development program Strength and Conditioning.
-
Peri and Post Menopause in Athletes Coach
-
Running biomechanics workshops co-host with Shane Benzie
MY COACHING CLIENTS HAVE
-
Gone from couch to 5km
-
Set marathon PBs
-
Gone from a non-runner to ultrarunner in 6 months
-
Recovered from cancer to run an ultramarathon
-
Completed the SAS Fan Dance
-
Multiple finishers of the Marathon des Sables
-
Raced in multi-day events in jungles, deserts and mountains
-
Set parkrun PBs
-
Completed 100 mile ultramarathons
-
Gone from running 10k to 50k
-
Gained running strength well into their 70s
-
Developed their self-confidence and love of running
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
1992
- British University rowing championship - winners
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Mixed 8 Commonwealth Cup (Rowing): Winners
2012
- Marathon des Sables (250km, 6 stages): 257th
2013
- Cotswold Way multi-stage ultra: 2nd female
- Jungle Ultra (230km, 5 stages): 2nd Female
2014
- Grim Reaper 40 mile ultra: 1st female
- Thames Path (100 miles): 3rd female
- 3 Marathons 3 days: 1st female
- Everest Trail Race (150km, 6 stages): 2nd female
2015
- Chilly 10km: 1st female vet
- UK trail championships (86 miles): 4th female
2016
- John O’Groats to Lands End World Record: Mixed Team
2017
- Conti 24hr race: 1st female
- CCC (100km)
2018
- Lost island Ultra Fiji (130km, 5 stages): 1st female
2019
- Green Man Ultra: 1st female
- 24 hour track race: 187km non-stop
2020
- Montane Spine Race: DNF at 160mi in 72hrs
Lockdown personal fun challenges:
- 4 x 4 x 48 running challenge
- 5 hour continuous treadmill challenge
2021
- Ultra Great Britain (215miles non-stop) 84 hours
2022
- Marathon des Sables paired with my son. 283rd His first ultra!
IN THE PRESS
A selection of stories from the past few years.
Click on the links to view
Women's Running
Embodied (book contribution)
Indefatigable: How I manage to beat the desire to stop
Lunges and Lycra
How to train for an ultramarathon
33Fuel Podcast
Conquer fear with ultra runner and coach Kerry Sutton
Tribeathlon Podcast
Taming The Ultras with Kerry Sutton
MY STORY - THE LONGER VERSION!
I was brought up in an active family and have always loved sport. I played as much as possible at school and loved the camaraderie of being part of a team. It all became more serious at university when I discovered rowing. Through rowing I uncovered a part of me that thrived on competition – not necessarily with others, but with myself: a thirst to improve and challenge myself. Rowing became my primary sport and I loved it.
Moving to Sydney with two babies in tow and then after the arrival of my next two children, my sporty pursuits had to take a back seat for a short while. Though I kept dabbling in the rowing scene and loved the early morning outings on Sunday harbour. However it wasn't long before my attention was peaked by an ultra event. I singed up, threw my littlest on my back and began to train. After two 100km charity walks I set about getting to the bottom of the sport I felt I hated and wasn't good at: running.
I decided to 'break the elephant down into manageable chunks' and started by running for three minutes and walking for two. Confidence grew with my fitness and I soon began entering 5 and 10km runs. These led to sprint triathlons until suddenly I realised that the sport I used to hate had become a source of fulfilment and freedom for me: the perfect antidote to the routine of domestic life.
When we moved back from Sydney I began to look around for something different. And in a clichéd turn of fate it was then that I watched a program about ultrarunning – the classic story of the Marathon des Sables. I entered the MDS on the spot and was hooked. Having never run a marathon or a half marathon for that matter, it shows what you can do with a passion and dogged determination to reach the end.
I now find myself setting the most ridiculous challenges, and loving the thrill of seeing just how far I can go. I’ve completed self-supported multiday races in jungles, deserts and mountains around the world. I’ve run 24-hour, 100-mile, 50-mile and back-to-back marathons and was part of the team that set the Land’s End to John O’Groats mixed foot record.
The challenge still remains of how to balance work, life and all the commitments I have with my running. Not easy, but I’ve found ways to make it work: one of which is involving the family so that they too learn, share and celebrate my passion.
It is getting people into the sport that excites me most. I have coached countless runners and athletes - from complete beginners to elite - from every walk of life and thrive on helping them get the best from themselves. Let me help you take the next step, whether that be competing on the ultra-circuit or simply starting running in the first place.
Read about my Coaching and Motivational Speaking