Brendan Brazier is one of only a few professional athletes in the world whose diet is 100 percent plant-based. He’s a professional Ironman triathlete, bestselling author on performance nutrition, and the creator of an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products called VEGA. He is also a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion.
Brendan’s professional athletic career began in 1998. Over the course of only a few years, his performance quickly climbed, improving each year in Ironman triathlon racing. At Ironman Canada, in 1999 he finished 21st, the following year he placed 14th, then 11th, followed up by an 8th place finish in 2002 in Ironman Utah. In 2003 and 2006 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.
Towards the end of 2003 Brendan was hit by a car while cycling, 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 diet that had helped him improve his athletic performance at an above-average rate. The Thrive Diet 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 he had been making for himself for 15 years, one of the reasons for his quick improvements. He called it VEGA.
VEGA launched in Canada in late 2004 and became one of the bestselling health food products on the Canadian market. It received the prestigious Nutrition Business Journal merit award. Presented for the first time ever to a product not yet on the US market, VEGA became known in the United States. In 2005 Brendan then launched his 100% raw whole food energy bar, again a commercial replica of what he made to support his intense training. Now in over 1200 Canadian health food stores, VEGA launched in the US in March of 2006, winning the “best in show” award from VegNews Magazine
Nominated in 2006 for the Manning Innovation Award, Canada’s most prestigious award for innovation, Brendan was shortlisted for the formulation of Vega. In 2006, Brendan also was invited to address US Congress on Capitol Hill, where he spoke of the significant social and economic benefits that could be achieved by improving personal health through better diet. The focus of his speech was to draw attention to the role that food plays in the prevention of most chronic diseases currently plaguing North Americans.
In 2007 Brendan returned to Capital Hill to lobby against the Farm Bill and was named one of the most 25 Fascinating Vegetarians by VegNews magazine. Brendan has become a renowned speaker and sought-after presenter throughout North America, helping individuals and businesses thrive by sharing his dietary stress-busting program, The Thrive Diet.
Brendan will be answering questions LIVE at the Rock Star Triathlete Academy, tonight (Wednesday) at 6pm. Keep reading for the full call details (call will be available for download later for members who can’t make it to the live session)!