The Royal Sutton Fun Run is one of the biggest and most iconic running events in Sutton Coldfield, bringing thousands of runners into Sutton Park every year.
Whether you’re aiming to complete your first race, run with friends, or push for a personal best, preparing properly makes race day far more enjoyable.
My name is Jonny Carter, I’m a 6-time Royal Sutton Fun Run winner, an England International runner, and a personal trainer and running coach in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. I’ve raced and trained in Sutton Park for years, and I now help runners of all abilities prepare safely and confidently for events like the Sutton Fun Run.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to train for the Royal Sutton Fun Run 2026 using the same principles I’ve used both in competition and with my clients across Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham.
🗺️ Get to Know the Sutton Fun Run Course
The Royal Sutton Fun Run takes place in Sutton Coldfield, with a large proportion of the course in Sutton Park, one of the best running venues in the Midlands. The course includes:
- Tarmac paths
- Rolling hills
- Fast flat stretches
Because the terrain changes, your training shouldn’t just be steady jogging. You need a blend of:
- Easy aerobic runs
- Strength work
- Speed sessions
- Hill training
If you want more detail about the event itself, including further training tips, you can also read my other Sutton Fun Run blogs here:
👉 Running The 2025 Royal Sutton Fun Run? Here are 6 Fantastic Training Tips!
👉 Several Fantastic Tips For The Sutton Fun Run From 5-Time Winner Jonny Carter
🏃 Build a Strong Running Base
One of the biggest mistakes I see runners in Sutton Coldfield make is doing too much too soon.
For most people training for the Royal Sutton Fun Run, the goal is:
- 3 runs per week
- One easy run
- One longer steady run
- One quality session (tempo, hills or intervals)
Your long run gradually teaches your body to handle the distance so you don’t fade halfway through Sutton Park.
If you want a personalised plan based on your current fitness, my personal training in Sutton Coldfield includes fully structured running programmes:
👉 Personal Trainer
💪 Strength Training for Sutton Park Running
Even as an England International runner, strength work has always been part of my training — and it’s just as important for Fun Run runners.
Strength training helps with:
- Injury prevention
- Running efficiency
- Power on hills
- Better posture late in the race
Key areas to train:
- Glutes
- Hamstrings
- Quads
- Core
- Calves and ankles
Just two short sessions per week can transform how strong you feel on the rolling paths of Sutton Park.
All my Sutton Coldfield personal training programmes combine running with strength so you’re not just fitter, but more resilient:
👉 Personal Trainer Sutton Coldfield
🍽️ Nutrition for the Royal Sutton Fun Run 2026
You can’t out-train poor nutrition.
To perform well at the Royal Sutton Fun Run you need:
- Enough carbohydrates for fuel
- Quality protein for recovery
- Healthy fats for hormones and joints
- Good hydration and electrolytes
Many runners in Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield struggle with low energy, sore legs, bloating, or slow recovery during training.
That’s why I also offer specialist nutrition support in Sutton Coldfield for runners and active people:
👉 Nutritional Consultant
Getting your nutrition right will help you train harder, recover faster and feel confident on the start line.
You can also combine Personal Training with Nutritional Therapy: 👉 Nutritional Therapy and PT
⚡ Add Speed and Hills to Your Training
Sutton Park isn’t flat, so your training shouldn’t be either.
Include:
- Hill repeats
- Tempo efforts
- Short faster intervals
These sessions improve:
- Leg strength
- Pacing
- Confidence
- Finish speed
You don’t need to suffer every run, but one quality session per week prepares you properly for the Sutton Fun Run course.
🎥 Training in Sutton Park with ITV Central
Sutton Park isn’t just where the race happens — it’s where I coach runners week in, week out.
I even trained a presenter from ITV Central right here in Sutton Park, which was shown as a feature on ITV Central. You can watch that session and read about it here: 👉 A Number 1 Marathon Training Plan For ITV’s Hannah Betchelet!
It’s a great example of how effective local, park-based training can be for events like the Royal Sutton Fun Run.
😴 Recovery Is Where Progress Happens
Training isn’t only about running more.
Make sure you prioritise:
- Sleep
- Easy runs
- Mobility
- Refuelling after sessions
As a coach, I often see runners in Sutton Coldfield improve most when they stop over-training and start recovering properly.
👟 Join My FREE Weekly Running Club in Sutton Coldfield
If you’re training for the Royal Sutton Fun Run 2026 and want motivation, structure and support, I run a FREE weekly running club in Sutton Coldfield.
It’s ideal if you want:
- Friendly group sessions
- Coaching tips from a 6-time Sutton Fun Run winner
- Confidence running in Sutton Park
- Support from local runners
👉 Find out more here: Brand New Free Running Club in Sutton Coldfield
It’s a great way to train locally, meet people, and enjoy the build-up to the Sutton Fun Run.
📍 Train Locally With a Sutton Coldfield Running Coach
Whether you want structured coaching, nutrition support, or accountability, I help runners across Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham prepare for events like the Royal Sutton Fun Run.
👉 Personal Training in Sutton Coldfield: Personal Trainer Sutton Coldfield
👉 Nutrition Support in Sutton Coldfield: Nutritional Consultant
🏁 Final Thoughts
The Royal Sutton Fun Run is about more than just turning up on race day.
With the right mix of:
- Smart running structure
- Strength training
- Proper nutrition
- Recovery
- Local coaching
You’ll feel stronger, faster and more confident when you line up in Sutton Coldfield at the end of May.
And if you’d like help along the way, join my FREE weekly running club in Sutton Coldfield and start training with guidance from a 6-time Sutton Fun Run winner and England International runner.
