Vegan runner convincing winner in mountain ultramarathon

Alberto Pelaez Serrano has taken his 18th Ultramarathon victory with a convincing triumph at the 74 km 10.000 del Soplao.

The 46 mile race took in a mountainous 3600 metres of height gain and is suitable only for the fittest and most determined of runners. 250 runners started the epic through the Cantabria mountains.

This year raid and mud added to the soaring hills and technical trails.

Alberto crossed the line in 8 hours, 43 minutes and 37 seconds. He was over half an hour ahead of second place, and only three runners were home within 11 hours. It was another 3 hours and 12 minutes until the second placed runner in Alberto’s category came in.

“During the race I thought that my suffering was nothing like what animals suffer every day in farms, slaughterhouses and laboratories”

The Spanish vegan has had a challenging but successful last year with wins in this race and in the Rioja ultra. With this victory he crossed the line with his mother who has been a massive support in sport and last year beat a serious life-threatening illness.

Alberto has been vegan since 2011.

“Everything changed after visiting a small town in China as I witnessed the dog meat trade and how the animals were treated. From that moment I realized that what I was doing in consuming other animals, was exactly the same as what was occurring to the dogs in that place.”

Alberto’s understanding of veganism helps drive him on through the pain of events like these.

“When I had a bad time during the race I thought that my suffering was nothing like what animals suffer every day in farms, slaughterhouses and laboratories” he told Great Vegan Athletes. “If I endured my little suffering and reached the finish line I could show the message of I Don’t Eat Animals on my t-shirt and indirectly help those animals by helping to raise awareness.”

Alberto has also written a book with the same title (‘No Como Animales’) which tells the story of his incredible to rise to elite status as a runner.