Episode 17: Fiona Oakes - Promoting Veganism through Running

Today’s guest is Fiona Oakes. Probably best described on the Fiona Oakes Foundation website, Fiona is outreach in action. A pioneer for vegan athletes, Fiona somehow finds the time to be both an elite marathon runner and a caretaker of over 400 animals at the Sanctuary she founded in 1996 called the Towerhill Stables Animal Sanctuary. Her typical day (which has changed a bit due to the Pandemic) usually starts with her waking up around 3am every morning to take care of the animals and also working in her training (which could often look like a 20+ mile run) before it’s back to taking care of the animals. She finds the energy to do all of this with just one meal a day, completely vegan. Some of her running accomplishments include: In 2012 being the first vegan woman to complete the grueling Marathon Des Sables, a six-day, 251 kilometer ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert; In 2013 winning the North Pole Marathon (that’s right, at the North Pole!); and being the fastest woman to run a Marathon on every continent. Fiona's successes are even more impressive when one learns she lost a kneecap as a teenager, causing her to experience constant pain when running. She does all of this to promote veganism and raise awareness for her Sanctuary!

Timestamps

00:03:17 Unique love of animals and athletics growing up

00:09:13 Problems with her knee

00:14:38 Recovery process after knee surgeries

00:20:15 What brought her to running

00:24:37 Why marathon running

00:33:24 Start of Vegan Runners Club

00:44:55 Doing Marathon Des Sables for the first time with fractured toes

00:48:00 Pushing through the pain when running

00:53:48 Importance of knowing why you want it

01:03:02 Her exercise outside of running

01:09:30 Does she enjoy running?

01:16:50 Her vegan diet

01:20:04 On fitness wearables

01:35:52 The animal sanctuary

01:47:20 Her driving force

01:50:03 Advice to people thinking about doing their first long-distance race