Running for Good

Running for Good is an intensely captivating and inspiring documentary film that follows the story of Fiona Oakes, a British marathon runner, vegan, and animal sanctuary owner. The film, directed by Keegan Kuhn, the co-director of the renowned documentaries Cowspiracy and What the Health, beautifully captures myriad aspects of Oakes’s life, showing her not just as an elite runner but as an ardent animal rights activist and a profoundly tenacious woman overcoming incredible personal challenges and odds.

Running for Good punctuates the remarkable abilities of Fiona Oakes, an extraordinary sportswoman who holds four world records for marathon running. Remarkably, Oakes hasn't been running her entire life and what makes her achievements more astonishing is she runs despite losing a kneecap at the tender age of 17, stemming from bone cancer. As the title suggests, Fiona runs for the goodness of it – further exploring it unfolds her passion for using the platform of marathons to advocate animal welfare and plant-based lifestyles grounded in her belief about individual abilities to affect positive change.

One of the intriguing aspects of the film is how it chronicles Oakes's participation in one of the most grueling foot races on Earth, the Marathon Des Sables. This six-day, 251 km ultramarathon, often referred to as the toughest foot race on earth, in the blistering heat of the Sahara Desert, becomes the filming ground to unfold Oakes's incredible resolve and determination. Fiona’s resilience and mental fortitude to compete in such an unforgiving event whilst raising awareness for the causes closest to her heart, is genuinely inspiring.

Her journey to becoming a marathon runner wasn’t easy or straightforward, and the film unveils this complex path through a series of interviews with Oakes and her loved ones. These testimonies provide an intimate insight into her world, lining up with inspiring footage of her relentless dedication to maintaining the sanctuary she founded in 1993—the Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary. Lastly, the film reminds us of Oakes’s courage and passion to always push her limits to benefit those that cannot fight for themselves.

Running for Good subtly communicates and explores the theme of veganism, laying out Fiona Oakes as a poised ambassador of the lifestyle, which echoes throughout her ardent advocacy for animal rights. Supported by her actions, the film captures her determination to counter claims about the perceived weakness of vegans. Her accomplishments suggest something very different, making a compelling case for the power and courage associated with a plant-based lifestyle, reinforcing the belief that choosing not to consume animal products does not lead to nutritional deficiencies or diminished athleticism in any way.

Overall, Running for Good is not simply about Fiona Oakes, the athlete. It is also about Fiona Oakes, the courageous survivor of cruel health odds, the fearless runner braving each path in the world’s most grueling races, and the devoted caregiver of hundreds of abandoned and abused animals. The documentary takes its audience on a raw, real, and inspiring journey through Oakes's life. It shines a light on her determination and resilience, most eloquently mirrored in her words, "Athleticism is just a byproduct of what I do, it's not the reason I do it."

Different at heart from traditional sports documentaries, Running for Good's pulse lies in the passion, determination, and the sheer will of a single woman that drives her to push herself to the absolute limits of human endurance. It showcases her commitment to racing in the world's toughest marathons while managing a full-time animal sanctuary, highlighting her determination to prove that one can lead an extraordinary life without compromise when determination, resilience, and passion intertwine. It is a visually stunning narrative, a genuine celebration of resilience, compassion, and the human spirit that moves every viewer and awe-inspires them to champion their own cause with unwavering dedication.