“Everything I do, I think I’m doing for the animals, and that’s the greatest motivator and inspirer.” – Fiona Oakes

For some of us, choosing to become vegan is something that happens as a choice for health. However, for others, it’s an innate part of who we are, and we make that choice very early in life.

Beginning at the age of six, Fiona made the decision to practice a vegan lifestyle based strictly upon the principle of not eating meat or harming animals. Her love and devotion to animals are deeply rooted in her soul, and she outpours her activism for them through the act of running.

While maintaining a large animal sanctuary where herd animals can roam and graze in peace, she began much like anyone else who chooses to start running. After she had worked her way to 10K distances and been told by coaches that she wouldn’t be able to run marathons due to the lack of protein in her vegan diet, Fiona made the decision to demonstrate that a vegan lifestyle is not a barrier to long-distance and competitive running.

She became her own coach and underwent rigorous training for her first marathon, where she learned a valuable lesson about managing the pain that comes with running. She moved into bigger running events and longer training days, but even when her days became rushed, her animals always came first, and her running came second.

After multiple surgeries in her teenage years that led to the removal of her right knee cap, Fiona refused to accept the news that she would likely have difficulty walking, yet alone running. Since 2004, she has been using her running to advocate for animals and promote veganism resulting in her becoming the first vegan woman to complete the Marathon Des Sables, a brutal ultramarathon in the Sahara desert.

Tune in to this episode to hear about Fiona’s love for animals and the holistic lifestyle that she promotes through running in hopes of saving the lives of animals everywhere.