Vegetarian Runners Club vegetarian runners It is the fastest growing in the UK. Founded in 2004 by marathon runner Fiona Oakes, the club now has approximately 4,500 members. Since November 2022, nearly 1,400 runners have joined the club.
“Thank you to all the amazing runners who choose to go vegan and help make this world a better place,” says Lina Ambruleviciute of Vegan Runners.
“Vegetarian Runners is a gym full of compassionate runners of all skill levels. We encourage a healthy lifestyle that ensures better performance and is cruelty-free.”
The non-profit club also serves the purpose of helping runners who want to transition to vegetarianism and vegans who want to become runners.
“We organize local meetups for training, social activities and races and support good causes. Vegan Runners is a family that shares a bond of love with each other, our animal companions and our beautiful planet.”
The club emerged with the express aim of promoting vegetarianism in the context of sport. “Membership is open to any vegetarian with an interest in working in a friendly and supportive environment.”
Today Vegan Runners is the largest parkrun club in the UK. “Being the biggest club also sends a strong message to the world and society,” assesses Lina Ambruleviciute.
Who is Fiona Oakes?
In 2018, Fiona Oakes starred in the documentary “Running for Good” by Keegan Con (from “Cowspiracy” and “What the Health”) and the product James Cromwell (In Brazil, he is best known for his characters in the films “Babe” and “Waiting for a Miracle”). Accompany the athlete in the so-called “toughest race on earth”, the Marathon de Sables, 250 kilometers in the desert.
I have run marathons on all continents. The documentary highlights her amazing accomplishments because at the age of 14 she was told she would never walk properly again, let alone run. She has had over 17 minimally invasive knee surgeries, which resulted in the removal of the entire right knee. The operation was painful, and the rehabilitation is even worse, according to the movie.
Fiona’s biggest motivation for running is the desire to raise awareness of animal exploitation. Thanks to the awards she has won in the marathons, she also funds her sanctuary, which is home to more than 450 animals of different species.
Fiona Oakes, who holds several marathon records, is the fastest woman to complete a half marathon while wearing a costume. She achieved this record by completing the Tromso Half Marathon in Norway in 2018 in 1 hour 32 minutes.
The record came as a surprise because the race was hampered by rain and winds of up to 32 kilometers per hour. Fiona still carries the weight of the icy wet fantasy. “It was very unpleasant, but not as bad as it is for many animals, human and non-human, who suffer every day from their terrible existence,” he argues.
