What It Means To Be a Plant-Based Runner

-

All opinions are our own and never influenced by brands. If you buy through links, we may earn a commission.

We are plant-based runners. But what is ‘plant-based’? This post explains what it means to be a plant-based runner, why you may want to eat a plant-based diet, how a plant-based diet can help athletic performance as a runner, as well as general wellbeing, and why eating a plant-based diet is important to us.

Are you a vegetarian? Are you vegan? These are commonly asked questions when we tell people we are plant-based runners, which means we eat a ‘plant-based diet’ and we find that the way we eat is an excellent way to fuel our running training, racing and recovery as well as to help us live a healthy everyday lifestyle.

The word ‘diet’ has come to mean almost exclusively, the way someone eats and drinks with the goal of losing weight and being healthy. However, the word ‘diet’ should really mean, quite simply, what you eat and how you eat it. In this post we cover what a plant-based diet means to us, what foods we eat and do not eat, and why it is not a ‘diet’ in the marketing sense of the word, but in fact a lifestyle which is catching on… and could well be the way everyone in the world should be eating in the future.

This post isn’t intended to persuade or ‘influence’ anyone else to eat the way we eat, however seeing as it is a commonly-asked question and many people are curious about the plant-based diet and why, specifically as a runner, you’d choose to eat a plant-based diet and how it benefits you, I’m answering those questions here.

What is a ‘Plant-Based Diet’?

The meaning of a plant-based diet to us is quite simply that the overwhelming majority of the food we eat comes from plants. Whether that’s vegetables, fruit, or grains, we restrict our consumption of animal products and artificial ingredients, focusing on whole foods and plant derivatives for our nutritional needs.

What is the difference between a Plant-Based Diet and Vegan or Vegetarian?

Let’s be very clear – a Plant-Based Diet is NOT Vegan, and it is not strictly vegetarian, either. Many people have come to refer to the plant-based diet as being the same as being vegan, however our interpretation of this is not the same.

The main difference between eating a plant-based diet and being vegan is that while we restrict how much and how frequently we eat animal products, we haven’t eliminated them from our diet. Examples of what we eat, that strict vegans do not, include eggs and honey. Additionally, we occasionally eat some meat – which is generally either sustainably-sourced fish or poultry.

Why eat a plant-based diet?

Quite simply, we believe that a whole-food, plant-based diet is the most natural and healthy way to eat, and is doing the environment a favor. I won’t go into the animal and environmental ethics discussion in this post, but sufficed to say, not driving demand for the agricultural production and processing of large quantities of meat and the crops needed to feet those animals is good for the planet and our collective future.

From a health perspective, and specifically athletic performance perspective, I can tell you that since changing how we eat to following a plant-based diet, our running performance and recovery speed has improved, and we both feel healthier and more well-balanced as a result of reducing the amount of processed foods and meat we consume.

A major advantage of eating a plant-based diet is that it is easier to know more about the provenance of the food you are consuming. We want to know that what we are putting in our bodies is of high quality and what it is – a real crop and not a list of unpronounceable ingredients on a packet. There is enough evidence out there that eating too much meat, animal fats and processed food is, for many people, at least one of the underlying causes of some major and deadly medical conditions.

Benefits we’ve seen from this dietary change include:

  • No uncomfortable ‘over-full’ feeling after a meal – easier digestion
  • More energy on a daily basis
  • Feeling lighter and more agile when on the run
  • Clearer skin
  • Simpler food choices – in restaurants and the supermarket
  • Lower food shop bills, despite buying top quality produce

If you would like to learn more about the reasons many people (including us) choose to a plant-based diet, including more on the environmental and animal welfare reasonings, then I encourage you to watch the documentaries listed in this post, do your own research and form your own opinion. 

What It Means To Be Plant-Based Runners

Our choice of food is a fundamental influencer of how we behave. In a fitness context it is also important to reflect this in how we structure our nutrition plans for running and fitness activities, to ensure we are getting the right balance of nutrients and portions to fuel our runs, races, workouts and adventures. For more on this topic, read this post: ‘Benefits of a plant-based diet for athletes’.

We’re inspired by other endurance athletes who have already been living this way for years – the most famous including ultra endurance athletes and runners Scott Jurek, Rich Roll, Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg.

On our blog we write about being plant-based runners, as well as reviewing plant-based nutrition including plant-based protein, green juices, supplements and CBD products that we have used to support our training, racing and lifestyle in general. Click the button below to check out all of our plant-based nutrition content on this site.

Helen
Helenhttps://www.trailandkale.com/
One of Trail & Kale's co-founders, a mom, and guardian of our resident trail dog, Kepler, Helen can be found trail running with Kepler and enjoying road runs with her mini in a jogging stroller, all while testing out the latest running gear for our readers.

8 COMMENTS

    • That’s funny because when I read that Mr Noakes recommends athletes eat low-carb diets, avoid eating fruit and focus instead on a fat-rich diet the two words ‘faux science’ do indeed spring to mind. Good luck with your training and health!

  1. Keep up the plant based living, team – your body, the environment and our beautiful animal friends will thank you for it. Mr. Reeves (and Dr Noakes) are delusional.

  2. Hi from Switzerland!
    I stumbled upon your website searching for On Cloudventure reviews (thanks BTW, I might try them, On is my brand on choice for roadrunning since they came on the market)
    Vegan since 2011, vegetarian since 2006. 42 this year and I never felt stronger. I ran 9 ultratrails last year (ranging from 48K to 120K), and 30 races in total. I eat 100% plant based, for me fresh and dry fruit is the best fuel during races (especially raisins, yum!).
    My main motivation for being vegan is my love and compassion for the animals. I know I could never kill an animal with my own hands to eat it unless my survival literally depended on it… which never happens in normal day to day life 😉 And plenty of animals have to lead terrible lives and face horrible deaths because of the egg and dairy industry as well. And then there’s the whole environmental aspect, which you’re already aware of 😉

    • Hi Barbara, thanks for reading, and for the message! You are a great example of a strong plant-based athlete 🙂 30 races in a year is good-going! I will have to turn to raisins to fuel my long runs – I have been loving dried bananas and apricots but raisins would be great for small bite-size morsels.

      As you can probably tell, we are big fans of On Running. The Cloudventures are great for buff trails (like some of those gorgeous Swiss Alps trails) and are surprisingly good in the mud. I was out in the rain with mine yesterday 🙂

      Helen

  3. Hi – Thank you so much for your website and sharing your knowledge and journey(s)! I am a WFPB runner of many decades. Looking for advice on the dreaded runner’s diarrhea. It happens and I’m finally getting sick of it. Searching the internet has all the usual recommendations of eating less fiber. I don’t want to give up my daily green salads, but I am at a point in my life where I don’t want the annoyance of “holding it in” while “looking for the nearest bathroom” either. Do you have any advice? And thank you again! i look forward to your news letter. *If you wrote about this, I’m sorry I haven’t come across it yet – there’s so much great information on here! I love it. thanks again!

    • Hi Kay, that’s the worst! I am planning to write a post on this topic at some point. I’ve found that it depends what time of day you run, as it depends where your body is in its daily digestive cycle. So if I run in the morning, I have to make sure I’ve been to the bathroom before I run, because it’s inevitable that I’ll need to go, and if I run straight out then i’ll need to go when I’m on my run. So I suggest drinking water and, if you can, coffee, first thing, and waiting for your body to wake up and use the bathroom before a run. Then there should be less chance of needing to go while you’re out!

      I hope this ends up helping and that you enjoy reading some of the other blog posts 🙂

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The Latest

The 6 Best Greens Powder Supplements...

This Best Greens Powder Supplements guide will help you find the best superfood powder to boost your immune system & wellness this year.

Stio Second Light Windshell Review: A...

Helen's review of the Stio Second Light windshell; a jacket well suited to runners needing to keep wind and rain at bay, and packs down super small when not being worn.

New Shoe Reviews
Fresh drops from our reviewers

On Cloudmonster Hyper Review: The MONSTER IS...

Breaking down the On Cloudmonster Hyper; the good, the bad, and the comfortable. An in-depth review by Trail & Kale's On expert.

Altra Torin 7 Review: A Cushioned Foot...

Helen shares her thoughts on the Altra Torin 7, a zero drop daily trainer offering a spacious toe box, secure fit for running easy miles.

Arc’teryx Sylan Review: $200, But Worth It,...

Alastair shares his detailed insights into this trail running shoe that blends innovation and durability for technical trails; find out if it's worth the hefty $200 price tag.
Trail & Kale Running Co logo Email Newsletter

Don't Drop Behind
Subscribe to stay up to date!

'Best Of' Guides
Top performing gear

The Best Running Shoes [2024]

The best running shoes rated and shortlisted, and advice to ensure you buy the most comfortable, high-performing shoes that work for YOU.

The Best Trail Running Shoes [2024]

The best trail running shoes this year ranked & reviewed + top advice so you buy the most comfortable, high-performing shoes for you

Best On Running Shoes of 2024...

Welcome to the ULTIMATE On Running shoes buyer's guide, complete with reviews + rankings of the best On running shoes available | YES, I've reviewed them all!

Best HOKA Running Shoes of 2024...

ULTIMATE HOKA Running shoes buyer's guide, complete with reviews + rankings of the best HOKA running shoes. YES, I've reviewed them all!

Best Brooks Running Shoes of 2024...

Welcome to the ULTIMATE Brooks Running shoes buyer's guide, complete with reviews + rankings of the best Brooks shoes | YES, I've reviewed them all!

Training Plans
5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultramarathons