Now my plant-based diet is working really well for me. I’ve figured this out after consulting with many health professionals, and I’ve seen a lot of interesting stories around the world in this regard.
- Around the world: vegetables and high energy
“In 2004, I was the only vegan in the village,” says Fiona Oakes, a multi-world-record-breaking marathon runner. “But now you see vegan runners everywhere.” An animal lover who set up her own animal sanctuary, Oakes started a running club called Vegan Runners in 2004.
The idea came about after she saw the long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe on TV and spotted an opportunity.
Oakes was a good runner and thought that, if she got faster, she could end up alongside Radcliffe at the start line of the London marathon, on national television, with the words “Vegan Runners” emblazoned across her vest.
“It was a way of showcasing the cause,” she says. “I’d been vegan since I was six years old. I’d lost my kneecap from an illness when I was 17 and been told I would never run again. If I could do this as a vegan, it showed that anything was possible.” Back then, she was a lone crusader, trying to introduce people to the word “vegan” positively. “Rather than cause disruption and be in people’s faces, by running, I was leading by example and generating interest positively,” she says.
She went on to twice finish in the top 20 in major marathons, with a personal best of two hours 38 minutes, and also won the North Pole marathon.
Oakes’ powerful example has seen the Vegan Runners steadily increase their numbers over the years.
But with the interest in veganism growing, partly in response to the global climate crisis, the club’s numbers have swelled exponentially in the past three years; there are almost 4,000 today, with more than 40 local groups across the country, their distinctive tops unmissable at races.
- A new community:
Lisa joined Vegan Runners in 2018. She says it is great to be surrounded by like-minded people and that the club forms “a really kind and compassionate running community”. “I think it’s important to bounce off people who are going through similar things to you and to share experiences,” she says. “This may include tips on nutrition or the best vegan running shoes. It all helps.”
Most running shoes that don’t use leather or suede are vegan, but sometimes the glues used in shoes can be made from animal products.
The Vegan Runners’ website has a helpful guide to which brands are fully vegan.
Lisa has been vegan for 16 years and is an international roadrunner and duathlon athlete.
She believes being vegan has helped her to perform at such a high level. “It improves recovery time, is better for the digestive system, and promotes better sleep,” she says. “I have never had as much energy as I have since moving from a vegetarian to a vegan diet.”
“Different cultures around the world suggest that a plant-based diet is good for your health.”
