Kate Hewitt is a coach and certified nutritionist and the founder of two coaching businesses, KateKoaching and r.u.n.coaching. Also a student on the Certificate in Strength and Conditioning at Setanta, Kate provides an insight into the role sport and fitness plays in her life, her coaching journey, and her goals for the future.

Background

Kate was involved in sports and fitness from a young age where she explored various sports. “Growing up, I had a deep passion for horse riding, which was my main sport and one I pursued competitively for many years. I also explored athletics and rugby, both of which broadened my love for staying active and challenged me in different ways.”  

Kate discovered the gym when she was 16 years old, and it quickly became an important part of her life. “Since then, my enthusiasm for fitness has only grown, and the gym has become not just a hobby but a true passion. Staying active has always been an integral part of who I am. In 2023, I embarked on a journey to train for my first marathon in Sydney, Australia.  Since then, I’ve completed the L.A. Marathon and several half marathons, including one with my run club, which I founded in Sydney.” 

Kate’s running club is a place where people of all ages and abilities can come together as a community each week. Kate returned to Ireland in 2024 where she set up a 2nd run club in Limerick. “Together, we’ve taken the run club to new heights, including travelling from Ireland to Rome to complete a half marathon there in October.”

“Fitness has always been a cornerstone of my life, helping me navigate and overcome personal challenges, including my journey through an eating disorder. Running, in particular, has been my outlet over the past few years, offering not only physical benefits but also countless life lessons that have shaped my resilience and perspective,” Kate reflected.

KateKoaching

Having gained a personal training qualification, Kate set up KateKoaching, her online coaching business in 2021 where she works with a “diverse range of clients, from those seeking lifestyle changes and fat loss to marathon runners, HYROX athletes, and field sports players.”

KateKoaching focuses on helping clients to build a balanced lifestyle that they can maintain in the long run. “We specialise in helping clients build a healthy, balanced lifestyle that is not only effective but also maintainable long-term. Whether it’s training for a specific goal or improving overall well-being, we are committed to guiding each client towards their best version of health and fitness,” Kate explained. 

Coaching Philosophy

“My coaching style is very personal. I get people on a consultation call before they begin coaching to see if we are a good fit and that they feel comfortable with my coaching style. I believe that when someone reaches out for coaching, they’ve already taken the first step towards change, which is incredibly powerful.” 

Kate’s coaching philosophy includes “believing in clients even when they struggle to believe in themselves and always prioritising integrity. At KateKoaching, we value recognising our scope of practice and referring out when necessary to ensure clients receive the best possible support. Upholding this standard is crucial to maintaining our reputation for compassion and professionalism.” 

For Kate, the most rewarding part of being a coach and helping people achieve their goals is seeing clients achieve something they never thought was possible. “For some this could look like being able to have food freedom and not count calories in their head, to be able to go out and enjoy meals guilt-free, or Christmas guilt-free without worrying about calories or overeating. For others, it could be re-gaining their menstrual cycle (one of my clients recovered her menstrual cycle with me after 10 years of not having it and now she is pregnant!!!)” Kate shared. “For others, it’s seeing them run their first race whether it is 5km or a marathon. Seeing clients win county finals, Hyrox races and also just seeing clients achieve their goals and what they never thought possible!” 

Studying with Setanta

Having heard “great things through colleagues and friends” and with a desire to expand her coaching knowledge even further Kate enrolled with Setanta. Highlighting the importance of continuing education for coaches Kate shared, “It is absolutely crucial, the day I stop learning is the day I stop coaching! You can never know enough.”

Currently studying the Certificate in Strength & Conditioning Kate has already seen the benefits of her studies, “I have found it so helpful when it comes to programming for field athletes and for my running athletes in particular!” she stated. 

Looking to the Future

From a business perspective, Kate has goals to “own my own fitness app with multiple coaches/resources on it. I would love that to be a brand with branches off of the brand whether that is in clothing or something to do with our R.U.N. community. I would love to eventually collaborate with Gymshark,” Kate shared. 

Some of her personal goals include a Personal Best in the L.A. Marathon taking place this year. Kate also aspires to “continue bringing the run club community around the world competing in races and hopefully raise money for charities in different countries if we can get the funding behind us!” 

Learn more about the Diploma in Personal Training and S&C here. 

Learn more about the Certificate in Strength & Conditioning here.