Films / Movies / Stories of Transformation

Running For Good, The Fiona Oakes Documentary

by Jennie Richards · Published December 10, 2018 · Updated December 14, 2018

Running For Good is the feature-length documentary about world-record vegan runner Fiona Oakes, by award-winning filmmaker Keegan Kuhn (What The Health and Cowspiracy) and Executive Producer James Cromwell. The film follows world-record marathon runner Fiona Oakes in her attempt not only to set a new global record in endurance racing, but to compete in the “toughest footrace on Earth,” the Marathon Des Sables, a 250 kilometer foot race through the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

Fiona Oakes is exceptional in every way. She became a vegan at 6 years old, after becoming a vegetarian at 3 years old, as soon as she was able to make a “conscious decision.” As a teenager at age 14, she experienced difficulty walking and had to undergo over 17 radical knee surgeries. She was told she may never walk again or do sports again. Following her surgeries, she had her entire right kneecap removed in order to save her knee. Her healing was excruciatingly painful, her rehab slow and agonizing, but despite the odds, Fiona has gone on to achieve incredible feats of speed and human endurance in running, motivated by a deep desire and passion to raise awareness for the plight of animals today. In 2013, Fiona broke three marathon world records – all certified by Guinness as the fastest female to run a marathon on each continent—something she achieved in less than 24 hours. She also won the North Pole marathon and the Antarctic Ice marathon in 2013—both with new race course records.

In addition to setting numerous world records as a runner and marathoner, including running marathons on all seven continents including Antarctica—she still considers her greatest achievement to be caring for her animal sanctuary every day and rescuing farm animals that have experienced severe neglect, abandonment, exploitation, and cruelty—or would otherwise end up in the slaughterhouse. Fiona cares for over 400+ rescued animals at Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary in Asheldham, United Kingdom.

The film chronicles Fiona’s preparation for and running in the 6-day extreme Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) across the Sahara Desert in Morocco. This extreme event is the equivalent of running six marathons back to back in six days across the hot, windy desert. It is considered the hardest footrace in the world, and one of the most grueling sporting events in the world, and one in which many runners have died trying to complete the race. But as the challenges arise over the 6-day event, Fiona reminds herself why she is running—“Running is something I do for the animals, for my sanctuary,” Fiona says. Her inspiration always comes back to the animals.

Film Length: 1 Hour, 14 Minutes

Film Premier: October 2018

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Fiona Oakes Signature Cross-Running Official Shoe

“Renowned shoe designer, Will’s Vegan Shoes and Accessories Company of London, has developed the world’s first carbon neutral, ethically made, intentionally vegan trail shoe for elite running.”

30% of every ‘Oakes Cross Trainer‘ sold goes directly to support Fiona’s sanctuary!

Quotes from the Film

“Running is something I do for the animals, for my sanctuary.”

“We started our sanctuary in 1993, we both worked in different industries, and that paid for the animals. Everything we have got or that we make, goes into the sanctuary.”

“There’s a list of jobs as long as your arm, the thought of doing all that work, then having to run 25 miles after, then come back and start the evening jobs – even though we’ve lived together for 24 years, I have no idea how anyone can fit all that in.”

“She runs this animal sanctuary with some 400 animals, then runs some 400 miles a week, she doesn’t do it for her—she does it for the animals, and she’s very into sustainability.”

“Running—I have no desire for, it’s just something physical I thought I could do for the animals.”

“…. The little lamb, Brian, died the day before I left to run the Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands). I have been sick the past two weeks, my mother is ill, I’m on antibiotics for two weeks, and I have a blinding headache – ‘but if you don’t try, you won’t ever know.’”

“The reason I’m doing this, is for all those that aren’t free, they aren’t free – that’s what I’m going to think of today.”

“When you’ve told that you’re not going to walk again as a teenager, to be out there doing that, it’s never going to be easy, I just want to show people it’s doable – but we’ll see.”

“But those animals in the cattle truck, they don’t have a choice – they are suffering. My mind always wanders off in that direction when I’m running. I always think about the animals.”

“I wanted to do the North Pole Marathon. It was minus 30 at the coldest part, you couldn’t get good footing. Fiona won the North Pole 2013 Marathon. She broke the race course record.”

“Live on BBC the reporters asked: Why did you run the marathon at the North Pole? “I’m a lifelong vegan, and a patriot of the vegan society and it’s their 70^thanniversary next year, and I just thought what’s the most extreme thing I can do? I’ve done a lot of other marathons, and prove you can do it on a vegan diet, and I have an animal sanctuary – and it helps the animals as well.”

“If Fiona can do what she does, and she’s been vegan for 40 years, surely a vegan diet is enough – you don’t need all that meat and dairy crap.”

“I’m doing it for the animals, I’m not doing it for me.”

“Ultra-marathoner Scott Jurek – The biggest benefit of a plant-based diet is that ability to fuel our bodies with the best fuel possible, but it’s also the best fuel that will fuel my recovery and healing.”

“Fiona ran seven continents consecutively, she ran a marathon on each continent one after the other – She got 1st place in the North Pole, 1^stplace in Asia, 1^stplace in Europe, 3^rdplace in Australia, 1^stplace in North America, 7^thplace in Africa.”

“Day Four of MDS is running two marathons back to back in one day.”

“I look at her in awe, she is so compassionate, feeling and loving, that she has to push herself to these tremendous lengths, so that she has a platform so she can speak for those who have no voice.”

“I abhor cruelty to humans and animals alike. I can’t turn a blind eye. It’s not in me to do that.”