Fiona Oakes

Fiona Oakes is a record-breaking British long distance runner, author and founder of Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary. 

In 2012, Oakes completed the Marathon des Sables: a 154 mile race across the Sahara desert. The next year she became the fastest female to complete a marathon on each continent, the fastest female to complete a marathon on each continent and the North Pole, and the fastest female in elapsed time to complete a marathon on each continent and the North Pole. In 2018 Oakes broke her 4th Guinness World record by becoming the fastest female to run a half marathon in an animal costume in Tromso, Norway – she was dressed as a cow.

In 2018, Oakes was the subject of Keegan Kuhn’s (co-director of Cowspiracy) film Running for Good.

Why Fiona Oakes is vegan

Fiona Oakes is vegan for the animals.

Fiona has been vegan since she was six years old after going vegetarian at the early age of three or four, as soon as she was able to make a conscious decision about her food. She described going vegan as the “natural progression” from vegetarianism.¹vivalavegan.com. 2012. 155 Miles On A Vegans Diet: Meet Fiona Oakes. Available: https://vivalavegan.net/interview-with-fiona-oakes-vegan-marathon-runner/ [Accessed 14 September 2026].

In 1993, driven by “injustice in the extreme towards our fellow creatures,”²richroll.com. 2018. Podcast. Available: https://richroll.com/podcast/fiona-oakes-keegan-kuhn-397/ [Accessed 14 September 2026]. Fiona founded Tower Stables Animal Sanctuary, which is now home to over 450 rescued animals.Fiona uses all the prize and sponsorship money she makes from her running to keep her sanctuary running.

“The health benefits of being vegan are written in stone but I honestly believe the most benefit to me being vegan is that I do not carry the burden of guilt that I would have to endure knowing that I abused others for my own ‘benefit’.”³vivalavegan.com. 2012. 155 Miles On A Vegans Diet: Meet Fiona Oakes. Available: https://vivalavegan.net/interview-with-fiona-oakes-vegan-marathon-runner/ [Accessed 14 September 2026].

Viva! Interviews Vegan Runner Fiona Oakes