Vegan runner breaks two national records at Masters Champs

Vegan runner Anabelle Broadbent shatters two national records at World Masters Athletics Championships

Vegan runner Anabelle Broadbent has once again demonstrated her exceptional talent, adding to her impressive collection of national records at the prestigious World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships (WMAIC) held in Florida. Competing against a strong international field of 3300 athletes from 98 nations, Broadbent, a dedicated vegan runner, achieved remarkable feats across multiple distances.

Already holding seven national records in the 50-54 age group and six in the 55-59 category, spanning from the 800m to the half marathon, the Puerto Rican-born runner set her sights on challenging existing records in the 55-59 age bracket. Entering five events, she made a significant impact in two.

In the 3000 metres, Broadbent aimed to break a long-standing 15-year-old record of 13:23:87. She not only broke it but smashed it, finishing in an incredible 12:57:37.

“Boom! Not bad considering this isn’t even my main event!” exclaimed Broadbent. “I was still feeling the effects of a long journey the day before and was quite nervous. I know I’m capable of running the 3000m even faster!”

Despite her intentions, a change in schedule unfortunately forced Broadbent to withdraw from the 1500 metres due to a pre-booked flight conflict.

However, she returned to the track to contest the 10k record (46:49), a record she herself set in 2022. Despite what she described as a “terrible, not record-setting course” featuring a bridge crossed four times and eight hairpin turns, Broadbent still managed to improve on her previous best, finishing in 46:06.

Broadbent emphasised the importance of her holistic preparation, which includes a positive mindset, meditation, sufficient sleep, and, crucially, her vegan nutrition.

“Eating wisely with a wide variety of plants is key!” she stated. “I’ve been consciously increasing the diversity of plants in my diet and experimenting with delicious new vegan recipes. For the humid 10K race in Florida, precise hydration was essential. I fuel my body with the best possible plant-based fuel for peak performance, paying close attention to both macronutrients and micronutrients. Loading up on antioxidants and phytonutrients aids my recovery, allowing me to train at a high level and compete in multiple events within the same week.”

Powered by Plants: Anabelle’s Vegan Journey

Broadbent has been committed to a vegan lifestyle since 2010, a decision partly influenced by her professional background as a food scientist.

“Having seen behind the scenes of the food industry, I understand where our food comes from,” she explained. “I’ve witnessed animal agriculture and highly processed food production firsthand and am aware of the significant negative environmental impacts.”

With impressive world rankings and an outstanding collection of national records, Anabelle Broadbent’s athletic journey is far from over.

“I am determined to return to the World Masters Athletics Championships and achieve my goal of becoming a World Champion,” she declared. “Next stop: Daegu, South Korea in 2026!”

Content sourced and adapted, with permission, from Great Vegan Athletes.