Héroes que corren: Dra. Karen Sutton

For every virtual race in 2020, NYRR is highlighting frontline and essential workers in our Heroes on the Run series. Running is a source of strength, especially over these last several months, and we are grateful for the everyday heroes who keep our community safe and keep us running—sometimes while running themselves. These runners inspire us with their bravery, dedication, and selflessness and it is our privilege to recognize them. 

This week with the Virtual NYRR Staten Island Half, we honor Dr. Karen Sutton from Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) as our Hero on the Run.

Dr. Sutton, based in Connecticut, is an orthopedic surgeon with HSS and a member of the Sports Medicine Institute and Women’s Sports Medicine Center.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, HSS converted several of its orthopedic floors in its Manhattan hospitals to COVID-19 units to treat intensive care patients. HSS quickly constructed ICU beds and ventilatory areas to take patients. During that time, many orthopedic surgeons, including Karen, volunteered to come to the hospitals in Manhattan to help. They put on full PPE and would help assess how critical new patients were when they first arrived.

In addition to this, Karen, a mother of four, started her own Stay at Home challenge on social media during the pandemic to keep those in her community active with their children; she's pictured below working out with one of her children. She has also been working with U.S. Lacrosse and the Aspen Institute to help draft national return to play guidelines for sports. As if that is not enough, she has also continued her work as the chief medical officer for World Lacrosse and the team physician for U.S. Ski and Snowboard.

Karen has continued running as an outlet to keep her mental health in check. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, running has given me the ability to immerse myself in nature and focus on my breathing and movement, thus limiting the challenging distractions of our new normal,” Karen said. “My children have gained more interest in it, running one mile every day. Also, I keep in touch with my friends through Strava, which motivates us to keep pushing.”

Karen ran the 2018 and 2019 TCS New York City Marathons as part of Team HSS and will be running the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon this year as well, using the Virtual NYRR Staten Island Half as a training run.

Follow #HeroesOnTheRun to join us in celebrating Karen and all of our everyday heroes. NYRR will feature a runner who is serving or served on the front lines of the pandemic as our Hero on the Run for each of our remaining virtual races in 2020. Learn more and complete our survey if you'd like to be considered as a Hero on the Run.