After international success as a track and cross-country runner, Kate Avery has her sights set on a career as a trail runner
No stranger to the podium, Kate Avery is a twice European cross-country silver medallist as well as a gold medallist as part of the GB team. The 32-year-old was the first British woman to win the NCAA cross-country title in the United States and finished fourth on the track over 10,000 at the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
After a career on the track and country that many would be satisfied with, Avery looked for new challenges and seeking something away from what she describes as an ‘intense’ atmosphere of track racing.
“I have been a New Balance athlete for the past eight years in events from track, cross and country,” she says, “so when I heard the brand was forming a new trail and mountain running focused team, I immediately agreed to be part of it.”
New Balance trail
Now, splitting her year between Melbourne, Australia and the UK means she can make the most of the UTMB World Series.
“For the time being, I’m racing on the trails and in the mountains at any distance from 10 to 50km, but that may increase in the future,” she explains.
With 10 podium finishes already in UTMB events, Avery is already climbing the UTMB Index, a ranking table for athletes competing in events around the world.
“Being able to spend half the year in Australia and half in the UK means both continents races are within reach throughout the year,” she says. “My favourite race of the series so far would have to be an event that took part in the Blue Mountains in Australia. The route through the mountains is simply spectacular and it really does make covering the 50km so much more manageable.”
With a wide range of footwear options available from her sponsors, New Balance, she tends to use three trail models specifically for her off-road running.
New Balance Hierro
“The Fresh Foam X midsole gives a great blend of cushioning and comfort and makes this my daily training model for off-road running,” says Avery.
“The Vibram outsole gives plenty of grip and on the trails where I mainly run, it’s a versatile feel so I can go virtually anywhere in this shoe. I think I’ve been wearing these since the first or second version of the model, so it’s become my go-to shoe for everyday miles.”
Find the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 here
New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail
“The day after an interval session or harder hill session, the More is perfect for recovery miles,” she says. “That super-deep stack of cushioning simply soaks up the impact and helps my legs recover.
“It’s got to be one of the most cushioned shoes around and the Fresh Foam X foam just lets my feet and legs recover from tough days.
“It’s a lower drop too, so despite the high stack of cushioning, the feet stay more balanced on the ground and that’s great on the trails”
Find the New Balance Fresh Foam X Trail More v3 here
New Balance SC Trail
“For racing, the SuperComp Trail is my favourite. Like the fastest road shoes, this model has a carbon plate and here it’s made specifically for the trails, so it provides great stability and the much sought-after propulsion.
“The cushioning is great, even for the long events and the plate really does make a difference,” Avery adds. “Of course, it has a Vibram sole, so the grip is excellent in any conditions. It’s a shoe I can rely on in any race I’ve been to.”
Find the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trail here
For the next year or two, Avery’s focus will be on events of around 50km, but in the future, she tells us she may go a little further.
“Of course, the UTMB would be the ultimate aim, but for the time being I think building a base and gaining more and more experience on the trails is the aim,” says Avery. “The UTMB in Chamonix is the big one, so most trail runners would see that as the ultimate prize, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
We spoke to Kate Avery exclusively at a New Balance trail running event held in the UK home of the brand, Cumbria. This item contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you purchase using these links.
Photographer: Charlie Watts
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