Vegan Masters Runner Lisa Blasts Through Personal Bests Across Europe

Earlier in the year Lisa Gawthorne took Silver at the Scottish Masters Championships 1500m and also set an indoor mile PB.  Over the last few weeks have come a flurry of successes with almost no time between.

Lisa ran in the London Masters International 3000 metres.  Finishing in 10:49 won her age category and overall.  It was her first overall win and she was proud to do it in a Vegan Runners UK vest.

A week later Lisa ran at the Athlone International Arena at the Irish Masters Championships.  Running the 1500 metres in 5:04 was a personal best and an age group Gold.

Just days later she took on a much longer distance, running the Pulford 10k.  Lisa took 12 seconds off her personal best and broke 37 minutes. “It’s blowing my mind that at age 44 (45 in under 8 weeks) I am running all time PBs!” she said afterwards.

Just days later she lined up at the European Masters Indoor Championships, where Lisa ran in the 3000 metres and registered a massive 10 second personal best – her second of the week.   “I was just super focused on trying to go sub 10:44 which was the previous PB I actually set two years ago indoors in the same arena at the 2024 European champs!” she said.  Lisa zipped past that with 36:56.

Then the European Masters 5k Championships on a chilly Polish course, where Lisa was thrilled to take Bronze.  She also helped team GB to a team bronze.

Days later Lisa set a new 3 second personal best for 1500m in the final race at the European masters champs.  She finished in 5:01 to finish 4th in the race.

Vegan

Lisa has been vegan since age 21, and stopped eating meat aged 6.

“I remember reading a leaflet that came through the door about farming and battery farming, even at that young age. Then I made the connection that meat was actually of animal origin and felt it was wrong to carry on eating any meat for that reason.”

She runs a vegan confectionary business and is recognised in a range of sports including duathlon, cross country, road running and track athletics.