Vegan Fitness Runner Laura Briggs

Ahead of her Highland Fling Ultra and looking forward to another Backyard Ultra Challenge, I chat to Kayleigh Webster, author of The Happy Diet cookbook.

We discuss her five-hour daily runs, and how she fuels with "real food", she's got a penchant for porridge and poke bowls, and makes recipes that don't use fancy ingredients like pomegranate molasses!

Running with her Labrador and having the freedom to move around in her campervan, Kayleigh is lucky to be able to explore what beautiful Scotland has in store from an ultrarunnering perspective.

A member of the Green Runners, she's conscious of her footprint, and has a wealth of information for people like me trying to make food with enough calories to get us round the trails.

Kayleigh published her first cookery book, The Happy Diet, to give people the chance to create affordable and simple meals that still taste amazing, and she puts her plant-based diet down to the reason she's now the happiest and healthiest she's ever been.

You can find more about Kayleigh's The Happy Diet cook book at https://thehappydiet.co.uk

And you can follow her on Instagram account at @the_happydiet

She's made history as the first woman to ever complete the notorious Barkley Marathons. In Frozen Lake State Park, Tennessee, Jasmin Paris completed the 100-mile course with just 99 seconds to spare, and saw supporters quite literally on the edge of their seats willing her to reach the yellow gate at the finish line.

Jasmin is the co-founder of The Green Runners, and she uses her platform to speak out on green issues and help other runners make more sustainable choices, with the races they might choose, or how they train for runs.

We talk about things that helped her complete the Barkleys, including how she trained, what she ate, what kind of support she received and how she mentally prepared.
We cover what it was that helped her complete this year's race over and above other years.

She tells me how she always believed it was possible - and she did it to prove it to herself, but also to show that it could be completed by a woman. We also talk about her biggest moment of doubt.

Although she eats a healthy diet at home, we talk about the kind of calories needed to get through the miles, and Jasmin talks me through what a typical training week might look like.

We talk about how nostalgic Jasmin is now about her training and looking forward to getting back into it ready for new things ahead.

Jasmin touches on the changes race directors could consider to encourage more female participation, including pregnancy deferral and better facilities generally.

Taking action on green issues is something that Jasmin is passionate about, and we talk about her platform and how she has to combat her anxiety about social media to promote what she believes deeply about.

Pledging to fly less, reuse kit, eat less dairy and speak out, we talk about what The Green Runners represents. Jasmin has turned down opportunities to races in Australia and Mexico due to her pledge not to fly.

We discuss how policy change at a higher level is crucial, and although individual responsibility is important, collective change is crucial.

She's ready for her next challenges and May brings more races for Jasmin.
If you're interested in fell running, Jasmin gives her advice on how to get started too.

Listen in to hear first hand from a record breaker and all-round superwoman!

Find out more about The Green Runners at www.thegreenrunners.com
Follow Jasmin on X @JasminKParis

Dr Minil Patel is not only a doctor, but a vegan bodybuilder, member of Plant-Based Health Professionals, ambassador for Climate Games and Running On Plants, and a runner!

If there's one thing that Minil proves, it's that being vegan does not make you weak.
Owning the term "soy boy", he shows that getting ripped is entirely possible by living on plants alone.

We talk about how education on food and nutrition is key to getting fit on a plant-based diet, and how transitioning to plant-based milk cured his digestive issues.

Vegan for the animals, the health and fitness benefits were a happy side-effect to Minil's vegan diet.

Trying to keep snacks and packaged foods out of the house, he tells me that planning is key for him to stay healthy and having prepped food is a really great idea.

We talk about ignoring the trolls, and how the word "soy boy" is used to try and emasculate vegan men, Minil is reclaiming the term and reminds us that vegan women outnumber men by at least double, and that trolls try and equate eating meat with masculinity and often send homophobic and racist comments to him and other vegans.

As a doctor people tend to take Minil more seriously where his veganism is concerned, and his bodybuilding success shows how shredded you can get on a plant-based diet.

He tells me that a beetroot juice needs to be made with cooked beets, not raw ones - that can get messy!!

Minil only started running last June with the Running On Plants 5K Challenge, and he quickly caught the bug. He'll be doing it again this June to see if he can beat his PB.

We talk about whether the strength training can complement running, and Minil gives us a run down of what a typical day might look like for someone so busy, who manages to fit in his strength and running.

Minil is on Instagram - @drironjunkie and on Facebook, he's also an ambassador for Running On Plants

He's an ambassador for Climate Games

 Minil is also on the Plant-Based Health Professionals Network

Paul Youd: Octogenarian, animal activist, and ultra runner.

At age 86, Paul is currently on a mission to complete a million push-ups between the age of 80-90, Paul is up for a challenge and uses his fitness to promote veganism and stand up for the animals.

When we recorded, Paul had briefly put a halt on running as he was healing from a broken leg – now I’m pleased to report he’s back running again.
Since becoming a vegan Paul has reversed the symptoms of his osteoarthritis and takes on challenges now to fundraise for local animal shelters, and Viva! charity.
Inspired by the likes of Rich Roll,  David Goggins, Dr Michael Gregor, he can knock out 1,000 press ups in one hour, and claims he is so full of energy that sometimes he just skips along the canal path because he feels so well. 
A member of Vegan Runners, Paul says that activism for animal rights is now his default position and that his motivation is to be fit enough to play with his grandchildren.

Paul is an ambassador for Running On Plants - www.runningonplants.org
Find out more about Vegan Runners at www.veganrunners.org.uk

He fundraises regularly for Viva! www.viva.org.uk

You can follow Paul on Instagram @youdpaul and on Facebook.

Read his blog at https: www.nobreadisanisland.blogspot.com
 
 

Filmmaker Tom Pickering is founder of the Running On Plants initiative, which encourages people to move while maintaining a plant-based diet - the idea is to promote a compassionate and cruelty-free lifestyle, which also benefits our own health.
As a lifelong vegetarian and vegan, Tom has never eaten meat, and in his latest film I Could Never Go Vegan, which premiers this spring (2024), he explores the reasons behind people's reluctance to go vegan. He talks to some of the most influential vegans and athletes, and goes undercover to witness the truth behind where our meat comes from.
It will be the longest cinema run of any vegan film as far as Tom is aware, with dates to be announced shortly.
The Running On Plants Campaign holds monthly challenges to motivate people to get moving, and you can get free resources, recipes and training plans through www.runningonplants.org and on socials Instagram and Facebook, while also joining the Running on Plants Strava Group.
You can find out more about I Could Never Go Vegan at https://icouldnevergovegan.co.uk/

Content creator, runner, vegan and mum, Fiona Brennan celebrates being a "slow" runner and we talk about life at the back of the pack.
We discuss how a DNA test revealed that she is built more for endurance than speed and how that revelation has completely changed her outlook.
From the community of Park Run, to finding a run that suits your style, we talk about how running can be an escape from the day to day drudgery, or a place to just have a laugh with friends.
We also talk about how since becoming a vegan Fiona has never felt healthier, and how she has her sights set on a marathon in France where drinking wine is obligatory.
Main message from Fiona - anyone who wants to try running should get out there and try it.