Description
Introduction
Vegan Runners UK (VRUK) was launched at the London Vegan Festival on 4 July 2004 for vegans of all running abilities to raise awareness of veganism throughout the UK and provide a focus group for current vegans with an interest in running. Members participate in open events of their own choice as advertised in the athletics / running magazines. A separate organisation The Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club (VC&AC founded in 1888) was the only choice for vegan runners prior to the formation of the VRUK. Vegetarians reading this leaflet are encouraged to join the VC&AC, for information click on Vegetarian C&AC.
Membership
VRUK membership is currently increasing annually by 10-20% and was up to 120 by the end of 2010. If you would like to join VRUK, please click here. You can join on-line by e-mailing the completed form back and paying on-line. A contacts list is also maintained for people who would like to keep in contact without making a commitment to joining, supporters are most welcome. Please e-mail Protected email address if you wish to be added to the contacts list.
Activities & Events
You can keep up-to-date with the Club's activities via our blog veganrunnersuk.blogspot.com/, website and Facebook with less frequent contact by e-mail depending on location. Members are encouraged to enter events of their own choice or the Club's regionally targeted events. A diary of events is maintained on the blog. It is up to members to keep the Club's Diary Secretary informed of their planned running activities.
Events could be of any distance or surface type chosen by the promoter eg between 5 kilometres and the marathon. Participation in track & field events, off-road, on the fells / hills, walking and multi-sport events are encouraged. Members will be responsible for entering their chosen events and paying the appropriate fees. The events are advertised in various magazines on sale in the main newsagents or on subscription through the post as well as on-line e.g. www.runnersworld.co.uk . Lookout for the following magazines: Runner's World, Running Fitness and Athletics Weekly and other on-line running organisations providing lists of forthcoming events.
VRUK encourages vegans of all abilities to participate. In most open events there are runners with a wide range of abilities and levels of fitness. VRUK will promote the cause best with vegans finishing over a wide range of times. Obviously the fast runners will achieve much needed publicity from their performances otherwise, all other vegans play a significant role in awareness raising and at the same time enjoying a health-promoting activity.
Fitness & Training
Given that members generally live far apart, opportunities for group training sessions are limited. Currently VRUK has a monthly training session in London, held at a different venue each month and less frequently in Birmingham otherwise, VRUK encourages vegans in the same area to make local arrangements for training sessions and would like to appoint more local contacts for their area/region otherwise, if in need of further motivation, suggest that you join your local club for this purpose. If you are using your local club for training but competing for VRUK, please make it clear to the local club that you are joining as a second claim member. If you are a paid-up first claim member of VRUK including registration with England Athletics, the club name on any entry form should be "Vegan Runners UK".
Club Affiliation
VRUK is affiliated to UK Athletics via England Athletics. First claim members of VRUK are entitled to pay the discounted entry fee for events in England if they also register with England Athletics via the Club. Members registered with England Athletics who enter events in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may still have to pay the unattached fee at some events as the Club can only affiliate to one UK country. Members based in Scotland can individually affiliate to the Scottish Athletics (SAA) governing body and Scottish Hillrunners in order to obtain local discounts and in the case of SAA select VRUK as their registered UK Athletics club. The Welsh Athletics governing body now has a registration system similar to England Athletics that only accepts members of a Welsh registered club. It is therefore recommended that the Wales-based member who is not a member of a Welsh registered club should join VRUK as 1st claim for benefits. Other VRUK contacts who are not a member of an affiliated club must pay the fee for unattached / unaffiliated club runners.
Results / Feedback
Members are encouraged to report back to VRUK after their events. Keeping track of activity is very important for VRUK, its members, recruiting of further members and the vegan cause. Given time, if you are mobile, the chance of meeting other members especially at events of popular choice is higher. Viewing the club diary on the blog can help you plan your events to meet other club members.
Club Kit
The Club running kit is supplied by Fastrax based in Yorkshire and is a polyester design known in the trade as Aquaduct. The colours of the running vest & top are black with emerald green chest band with Club name front and back in white, for examples see photos in the news, gallery & blog. Shorts are also available in emerald green. Typical vest sizes include: 30", 32", 34", 36", 38",...,46" with separate vests for male, female and some junior sizes. Crop tops are available by special order from Wasp Sports. The standard unisex running tops (short & long-sleeve) are available in sizes:S/M/L/XL and lighter weight short-sleeve tops in sizes: 32", 34", 36",...,42". The clothing is discounted for paid-up members, for further details please click here otherwise, contact the Protected email address.
Volunteers / Committee
To help develop and run the Club, it is essential to have a number of Club volunteers for various tasks. If you have any skills that you would like to use for the Club's benefit please contact the Protected email address.