Vegan Masters Runner Lisa Blasts Through Personal Bests Across Europe

At 44 she's still recording all-time personal bests while collecting international medals.

1 April 2026

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.

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.