Written by Michelle Kretzer
Who runs the world? Vegan girls!
They certainly run the 11-day Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert. Forty-two-year-old vegan Briton Fiona Oakes ran 151 miles—more than a marathon every 24 hours—in the world's toughest foot race.
Official U.S. Navy Imagery | cc by 2.0
Oakes joins an elite club of vegan and vegetarian athletes, including nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, Ultraman triathlete Rich Roll, ultramarathoner Scott Jurek, and record-breaking 100-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh, who know that a great performance starts with healthy food.
Ready to get your own motor running?
Written by PETA
PETA U.K. supporter Fauja Singh ran into the record books on Sunday when he completed the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and became the oldest person ever to do so, at 100 years old. The "Turbaned Torpedo" credits his vegetarian diet, among other factors, with giving him the incredible stamina that propelled him into the Guinness World Records. This may be the best inspiration ever to get us off the couch and into some running shoes and is also living proof of why it's never too late to incorporate healthy, plant-based foods into your diet.
© Corin Jeavons
Even if you don't plan to break any world records, a plant-based diet is a veritable fountain of youth: Vegetarians and vegans live an average of six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters do.
To follow in Singh's footsteps, take the 30-day vegan pledge today and urge others you know—of all ages—to do the same.
Written by Heather Faraid Drennan
What has 1,200 legs, lives in several countries, and runs, swims, and bikes to stop animal abuse? It's the 2011 PETA Pack team, a group of committed individuals who were able to wildly surpass their fundraising goal and raise $120,000 for PETA's Investigations & Rescue Fund! On behalf of the PETA Pack, a special thank-you goes out to this year's team sponsor, Nasoya, as well as to all the donors who contributed.
PETA Pack members receive 14 weeks of valuable coaching tips from team leaders to help them meet their running goals, whether they are beginning runners or experienced triathletes. Each member ultimately participates in a race of his or her choice in early autumn. Top fundraisers receive great prizes, in addition to the satisfaction of getting into shape while helping animals.
To join the PETA Pack and make next year's team another resounding success, e-mail PETAPack@peta.org.
Congratulations to the 2011 PETA Pack team!
Lindsay and Nicole, a couple of die-hard anti-KFC campaigners, completed the Louisville Half-Marathon in KFC’s hometown yesterday. So what, you ask? Well, they did the whole thing with “Boycott KFC” and the like written on their bodies, and the pair reported that they got tons of support from the crowd and even talked to several Yum (KFC’s parent company) employees along the way, including one particularly chatty woman who wanted to debate around mile six. Of course, she couldn’t defend KFC, since you can’t really defend a company that refuses to take even the smallest steps towards improving the miserable lives and deaths of the animals killed for its products, despite the fact that its own animal welfare advisory board recommends the changes, and other industry giants like McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy’s, and scores of others, have already taken similar action.
Congrats Lindsay and Nicole!
And on a totally unrelated note, Wu Tang Clan member RZA walked away with the crown in the Hip Hop Chess Federation’s first annual Chess Kings Invitational. Lucky for RZA that I didn’t know about it in time to enter!
We got an e-mail the other week from a student named Christopher Leeman, who had taken the time to create these unique web banners to help promote our wool, fur, and leather campaigns. I liked them so much that I figured I'd post them on the blog (with Christopher's generous permission) for anyone who's looking to spice up their website or myspace page with some artistic, anti-fur bling. Feel free to use the code provided to post these on your site, and if web banners is your thing, there are a bunch more at http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/banners-clothing.asp.
Of course, if you don't have your own website, blog, or myspace page, these aren't going to be much practical use to you beyond maybe providing a bit of inspiration, but they're pretty to look at. Thanks, Christopher!
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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