Vegan Marathoner Wins North Pole Race

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On 9 April, vegan amateur athlete, Fiona Oakes, 43, from Asheldham in Essex, won the women’s race in the North Pole Marathon in -28°C.

Not only did she win the women’s marathon but she also smashed the 2008 course record for women by 44 minutes – completing the race in just 4 hours and 53 minutes – despite the conditions that were described as the worst in the marathon’s eight year history.

Fiona was beaten by only two male marathoners. The second placed woman was 55 minutes behind Fiona’s time. On her Facebook page after the race Fiona wrote:

“Back in Spitsbergen. Job done! It is so cold and brutal in the Arctic I cannot explain. Marathon + Arctic conditions = TOUGH! I knew it was going to be bad but just how bad I couldn't possibly have prepared for. Not just the consequences of running at -30 with a wind chill but for half the course through deep snow. I haven't got the longest legs in the world and kept falling it was so deep as when you put your foot on it you didn't know if it was frozen enough to take your weight. On one occasion I sank up to my groin, on another I fell on my hand and now have a suspected fractured thumb. […] Never mind, job done, win in the women's race, new course record and 3rd overall. Can't ask for any more.”

The Vegan Society (UK)