Brendan Brazier

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Brendan Brazier

Brendan Brazier is one of only a few professional athletes in the world who is vegan. He’s a professional Ironman triathlete, bestselling author on performance nutrition, and the creator of an award-winning meal replacement and energy bar formula called VEGA. He is also the 2003 and 2006 Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion.

Brendan’s professional athletic career began in 1998. Over the course of only a few years, his performance steadily climbed to the upper ranks of professional Ironman triathlon racing. In 1999 he finished 21st, the following year he placed 14th, then 11th, followed up by an 8th place finish in 2002. In 2003 Brendan won the National 50km Ultra Marathon Championships. Other results include 3rd place at the National Long-Course Triathlon Championships and both 3rd and 2nd in consecutive years in the Royal Victoria Marathon.

Toward the end of 2003 Brendan was hit by a car while cycling and, as a result, could not race in 2004. He took advantage of the extra time on his hands and wrote a book that outlined the successful vegan diet that had helped him improve his athletic performance at an above-average rate. THRIVE: A Guide to Optimal Health and Performance Through Plant-Based Whole Foods became a Canadian bestseller within five months. Brendan then partnered with a sport nutrition company and produced a commercial replica of his blended drink formula that had helped him achieve athletic success. He called it VEGA.

VEGA launched in Canada in late 2004 and became one of the best selling health food products on the Canadian market. It received the prestigious Nutrition Business Journal merit award. In 2005 Brendan launched his 100 percent raw whole food energy bar, again a commercial replica of what he made to support his intense training. Now in over 1,200 Canadian health food stores, VEGA launched in the U.S. in March 2006. It is now available in most major U.S. cities. In January 2006 Brendan was nominated for a Manning Innovation award, one of Canada’s most prestigious awards, for his innovative formulation.

Brendan’s latest book is called the Thrive Diet. Published in March 2007 by Penguin, it includes over 75 plant-based whole food recipes. Additionally, it has a sport-specific section, with recipes for sport drinks, energy gels, and post-workout smoothies.

www.brendanbrazier.com
www.thrivediet.com