Plant‑Powered Veteran Runner Anabelle Broadbent Smashes Two More National Records

Two Records, Two Distances, One Incredible Athlete

At the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street 10‑Mile, Anabelle clocked 1:13:26, breaking her own Puerto Rican record for the F55–59 category. She followed it up with a blistering performance at the Memorial Main Street Mile, setting another national record for the same age group.

Both performances achieved USA national‑class age‑graded status and were part of the 2026 USATF Mid‑Atlantic Grand Prix Series.

Racing Through Injury—and Still Winning

The intense racing schedule came with a cost. “Last week, I started experiencing discomfort in my left leg and discovered that I had a medial collateral ligament strain,” she explained.

Most athletes would have stepped back. Anabelle did the opposite.

She lined up for the final race of the Bucks 5K Series, won it, and in doing so completed a clean sweep—seven races, seven age‑group victories.

The very next day, she competed in the Bucks County Senior Games, entering four track events and taking home four Gold medals.

The Training Behind the Triumphs

Anabelle’s success is no accident. She emphasises consistency, gradual progress, and a strength‑focused programme built on:

• Heavy lifting
• Plyometric jumps
• Stability and mobility work
• Core strength training

It’s a holistic approach that keeps her fast, resilient, and competitive across multiple disciplines.

Fuelled by a Whole‑Food, Plant‑Based Diet

Born in Puerto Rico—where traditional diets are heavily meat‑based—Anabelle’s career as a food scientist led her to a different conclusion.

She went fully vegan.

“I eat a 100% whole‑food‑plant‑based diet,” she says. Her staples include, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, lentils, beans, peas, tofu, tempeh, hummus, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices and plenty of leafy greens and colourful, phytonutrient‑rich produce.

“A whole‑food‑plant‑based diet is an anti‑inflammatory diet. Food is powerful—it provides my body with the nutrients it needs to recover and rebuild. Stronger and faster.”

She pairs her nutrition with the other pillars of long‑term performance: sleep, stress management, and positive social connections.

A Model of What Plant‑Powered Athletics Can Achieve

With two new national records, a perfect 5K series, and a haul of Senior Games gold medals—all while managing an injury—Anabelle Broadbent continues to demonstrate what disciplined training and plant‑based nutrition can deliver.

And judging by her momentum, she’s nowhere near done.