Fiona Oakes: Pioneering Vegan Runner Breaks Records and Barriers in Her Athletic Journey

Photo by Kirsten Kortebein

Fiona Oakes, a world-renowned British marathon runner, has achieved the remarkable feat of completing marathons on every continent and has set four world records throughout her career. More than just an athlete, Oakes is a passionate advocate for plant-based eating, using her platform to inspire others to embrace a vegan lifestyle. In an interview with Forks Over Knives, she discussed her early dietary changes, her breakthrough into marathon running, and how her commitment to animal welfare influences her athletic journey.

Fiona Oakes: My journey into veganism began at a very young age. I stopped eating meat at just three years old and transitioned to a vegan diet by the age of six. Back then, the concept of veganism was nearly unheard of, yet my commitment to a cruelty-free lifestyle was inherently strong. While my mother supported my choice, other family members had difficulty understanding. After undergoing orthopedic knee surgery in my teens, medical professionals wrongly equated my veganism to an eating disorder, leading to accusations against my mother for child abuse. She staunchly defended my right to choose a lifestyle aligned with my beliefs, and her unwavering support has made all the difference in my life.

FO: I started running in 2002, following nearly a decade of dedicating myself to Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary, which I founded in 1993 to care for around 500 rescued animals. I realized, however, that to truly spread the message of veganism, I needed to reach broader audiences. The word “marathon” became prevalent after Paula Radcliffe’s astounding performance in London’s 2002 marathon. I decided that completing a marathon could showcase that vegans not only survive but also excel in extreme endurance situations. Despite initial doubts due to my knee conditions, I remarkably qualified to run alongside Radcliffe in the London Marathon just two years later.

FO: One of my proudest achievements is co-founding the Vegan Runners Club in 2004. This initiative emerged from my desire to promote veganism through running, and I’ve been able to leverage the high visibility of races to advocate for plant-based living. The club has evolved into a global community of dedicated animal advocates who share a passion for fitness and compassion.

FO: I aim to continue running for as long as I can, demonstrating the possibilities of a plant-based lifestyle. I hope that through my achievements, even if just one person is motivated to adopt a plant-based diet, that would be the highest accomplishment I could achieve in my career.

Despite a challenging start, including losing her right kneecap to a tumor in her teenage years, Oakes has scaled impressive heights in the world of distance running. Her career timeline is a testament to her resilience and commitment:

• 2002: Takes up running.
• 2007: Sets course records for the Halstead Marathon and Ruska Marathon.
• 2011: Sets a course record for the Dartmoor Vale Marathon.
• 2012: Completes the 150-mile ultra-marathon Marathon des Sables.
• 2013: Wins the Antarctic Ice Marathon, setting a course record, and the North Pole Marathon, completing a marathon on every continent and earning three Guinness World Records.
• 2014: Completes the Marathon des Sables for a second time.
• 2015: Undertakes a personal challenge of running a marathon a day for seven consecutive days across seven continents, completing six.
• 2017: Completes her third Marathon des Sables.
• 2018: Sets a Guinness World Record for the fastest half-marathon in an animal costume during the Midnight Sun Marathon.
• 2020: Runs the 150-mile distance of the Marathon des Sables at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more about adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet, visit our Plant-Based Primer. For personalized meal-planning guidance, check out Forks Meal Planner, an easy-to-use tool to stay on a healthy plant-based path.