Elisabet Barnes, Ultra-Endurance Coach

I am an ultra-distance runner and coach with over 30 years in endurance sport and more than a decade working professionally with individuals preparing for demanding, complex goals.

I began running marathons in 2002 and ultras in 2011. Since then, I have competed — and won — in some of the world’s most challenging multi-stage races, including two victories at Marathon des Sables The Legendary as well as events across deserts, mountains, and remote environments worldwide.

I understand firsthand what extreme conditions demand — physically, mentally, and logistically. More importantly, I understand what sustained preparation requires when life outside of training is already full.

Beyond Training Plans

Before becoming a full-time coach, I spent over ten years in management consulting and entrepreneurship. I know what it means to balance ambition with responsibility — and how easily high-performing people default to push without reflection.

Training does not exist in isolation. Performance is shaped by sleep, stress, identity, relationships, and the expectations you carry. When someone prepares for an ultra-marathon, they are rarely only preparing for a race.

Anyone can write a programme. Fewer can help you integrate meaningful challenge into a life that already asks a great deal of you.

That is where my work sits.

An Individual-Centred Approach

I work with individuals who want their preparation to be thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned — not performative or reactive.

My approach is bespoke and adaptive. Physical capacity, psychological resilience, and long-term health are not competing priorities; they are interdependent.

Progress is built through intelligent structure, honest communication, and respect for the realities of your life — not through volume alone.

A Broader Lens on Endurance

Alongside my work in endurance sport, my academic research has focused on conditioning, power, and agency — and how these shape the way we relate to limits.

Endurance challenges are not only physiological. They are shaped by the stories we carry about who we are allowed to be, what we are capable of, and whether we are permitted to prioritise ourselves.

This perspective informs my coaching.

Values and Standards

I work internationally and coach in English and Swedish.

I value evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and continued development. I invest in my own learning and expect thoughtful engagement from those I work with.

I believe people perform best when they are supported in being themselves — not moulded into someone else’s template.

If you are looking for coaching that respects both your ambition and your reality, we may work well together.

This is one part of my work. If you are interested in the broader lens through which I approach leadership, agency, and identity, you can explore that work here.