Vegan runner Lisa Gawthorne can’t be stopped

It seems like Lisa Gawthorne just can’t stay off of the podium – despite struggling with an injury earlier in the year. Lisa took second at the British Masters 3000m championships in July, and she’s just competed in the British Masters 5000m Championships – running only her second track race at the distance.

The 43 year-old vegan was competing in the 40+ age bracket and not only did she win the race in her age group, but she also beat all other competitors between the ages of 35 and 75, crossing the line in 18 minutes and 29 seconds – a 13 seconds improvement on her personal best (PB).

On her Instagram, Lisa reflected on the race:

“Today was the British Masters 5000m Champs and so many amazing things happened. It’s only my second ever time I’ve ran 5000m on the track and I bagged a 13” PB (18:29) and I didn’t just become British Champion in my age category but I won the whole race which has all age categories in it. I went out with focus and maintained robotic clockwork pacing for most laps and led the race from start to finish. It wasn’t easy by any means, the wind levels were tough for part of the track but I just dug in and tried to maintain consistency.”

Lisa’s been vegan since  the age of 21, after 15 years as a vegetarian. She was initially inspired to change because of the horrors of factory farming, although she also feels a vegan diet has nutritional advantages. She told Great Vegan Athletes:

“I really think that the increasing amount of professional athletes that are going vegan have proved to the wider world that it shouldn’t be thought of as a handicap, instead it can be quite the opposite – it really can deliver benefits and advantages that will help people soar above their goals and objectives in sport.”

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