Vegan Athletes Cross the Finish Line

Posted by on November 19, 2012 | Permalink

Meet PETA supporter and endurance runner Brynjar. After learning about the abuse of animals on factory farms, Brynjar dropped meat, eggs and dairy products from his diet. And how did the switch to a vegan diet affect his athletic abilities? Well, the proof, as they say, is in the (soya) pudding!

No longer bogged down with all the saturated fat and cholesterol found in meat, Brynjar has never been faster than on a vegan diet. For the first time, he was able to complete a half-marathon in less than 95 minutes – now that’s speedy. He’s also found that a vegan diet has given him more energy and allowed him to recover quicker from injuries. Aided by his favourite pre-race meal of Weetabix with almond milk, Brynjar has gone on to complete two marathons, each in less than 3 hours and 45 minutes – while injured! What advice does he give to other athletes curious about a vegan diet? Get plenty of iron, protein, and vitamin B12. He swears by a fruit-and-veggie smoothie with hemp protein powder, pumpkin seeds and a vitamin C source to absorb the protein and recommends grabbing products fortified with the vitamin, like cereals, tofu and soya milk.

Of course, Brynjar isn’t the only vegan endurance racer leaving his competitors to eat his dust. He’s joined by Rich Roll (an Ultraman and one of Men’s Fitness magazine’s “25 Fittest Guys in the World”), Brendan Brazier (a top professional tri-athlete), Dace Scott (a six-time winner of the Ironman triathlon) and Scott Jurek (a leading ultramarathon runner), who all prove that a plant-based diet is the best diet for optimal health and performance.

If you, too, want to make it to the finish line and feel good about yourself, order our free vegetarian/vegan starter kit packed full of great recipes and health information. What are you waiting for?