After international success as a track and field runner, Kate Avery set her sights on a career as a runner.
Kate Avery is no stranger to the podium, a two-time European silver medalist as well as a gold medalist for Team GB. The 32-year-old was the first British woman to win an NCAA title in the United States and finished fourth in the over 10,000 at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
After a track and country career that many would have been content with, Avery was looking for new challenges and what he describes as an “intense” racing atmosphere.
“I’ve been a New Balance athlete for the past eight years from track, cross country, and cross country,” he says, “so when I heard the brand was forming a new trail and mountain focused team, I jumped right in. from that.”
Track the new balance
Now, splitting his year between Melbourne, Australia and the UK means he can make the most of the UTMB World Series.
“For now, I run anywhere from 10km to 50km on trails and in the mountains, but that may increase in the future,” he explains.
With 10 podium finishes in UTMB events, Avery is already climbing the UTMB Index, a ranking of athletes competing in events around the world.
“Spending half the year in Australia and half in the UK means that races on both continents are available all year round,” he says. “My favorite race of the series so far has to be the event in the Blue Mountains in Australia. The route through the mountains is simply spectacular and it really makes the 50km more manageable.”
With a wide variety of shoes available from his sponsors, New Balance, he tends to use three trail models specifically for his off-road running.
New Balance Hierro
“The Fresh Foam X midsole provides a great blend of cushioning and comfort and makes this my go-to training shoe for off-road running,” says Avery.
“The Vibram outsole has plenty of grip, and on the trails I mostly run on, it has a versatile feel, so I can go pretty much anywhere in this shoe. I think I’ve been wearing them 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
“After an interval session or a harder hill session, More is perfect for recovery miles,” he says. “That super-deep pile of cushioning just soaks up the impact and helps my feet recover.
“It’s got to be one of the most cushioned shoes out there, and the Fresh Foam X foam just allows my feet and legs to recover from hard days.
“It’s also a lower drop, so despite the high cushioning pile, 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 favorite. Like the fastest road shoes, this model has a carbon plate, and here it is made specifically for the trails, so it provides great stability and a much sought-after drivetrain.
“The grip is great, even for long events, and the plate really makes a difference,” adds Avery. “Of course, it has a Vibram sole, so the grip is excellent in all conditions. It’s a shoe I can count on for any race I’ve been in.”
Find the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trail here
For the next year or two, Avery’s focus will be on events around 50km, but in the future he tells us he might go a bit further.
“Of course UTMB will be the ultimate goal, but for now I think the goal is to build a base and get more and more experience on the trails,” Avery says. “The UTMB is the biggest in Chamonix, so most runners will see it as the ultimate prize, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
We spoke to Kate Avery exclusively at the New Balance trail running event at the brand’s UK home in Cumbria. This item contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through these links.
Photographer: Charlie Watts
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