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Brian Lafleur

@theblf

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Raina’s dad.
Cyclist. Runner. Triathlete.
@curegabaa advocate.

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Thanksgiving Mission 2013.

We had barely moved into our new home. First time owning a home. The place was full of boxes that needed unpacking but we had committed to this fundraising adventure (sometimes it takes a bit of convincing but @mightytinytuna always comes around).

387km relay style run from Popeye’s Supplements on Merivale rd to Julia’s parents’ place, where we always went for Thanksgiving weekend. It was an opportunity to fundraise for the Ottawa Mission and the many, many meals they served at Thanksgiving. It took us 3 and a half days. We went as long as we could each day, leapfrogging each other with the Popeye’s mobile. We both knew the route and we had walkie talkies just in case (which did come in handy). Each night we’d find a random place to park and pass out in the back. Each morning we’d find we’re stinkier and more sore, but each morning we knew we were that much closer to Thanksgiving dinner at the lake.

In the end we made it with minutes to spare before dinner was served. And in the end we raised $3700 for the Ottawa Mission.

These are the adventures that, even though we didn’t know it at the time, were preparing us to be Raina’s parents. 💙 by @theblf

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6 days ago

Muskoka 70.3 2027 will be my 9th. For a guy that doesn’t so much enjoy climbing, this is still my favourite race ever. 1 loop everything. Epic scenery. Epic challenge. Free accommodation at the in-laws. Racing with Marco, racing together since we were in the 18-24AG.

2008 (its first edition)
2014
2016
2017
2018
2019
2024
2025 taken in Huntsville, Ontario by @theblf

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2 months ago

‘A’ Goal Race of the Season. MASSIVE PB

🏊‍♂️ 1:17:05
T1: 5:15
🚴‍♂️ 5:04:57
T2: 5:14
🏃‍♂️ 3:45:01
🏁 𝟭𝟬:𝟭𝟳:𝟯𝟭

Weather was less than ideal.

𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺 was wetsuit optional, I wore mine. Great swim for me. I give myself an A

𝗧𝟭: way faster than last year. Power / lights in the change tent went out while I was in there. I give myself an A

𝗕𝗶𝗸𝗲 was a challenge. Weather was okay for the most part. I just had a sore stomach and legs felt a bit like trash. I took in only about half my intended calories / hydration. I give myself a C+

𝗧𝟮: Faster than last year by a bit. Tried to be intentional and not waste time. I give myself a B

𝗥𝘂𝗻 was a solid challenge too. This is where the rain came down hard at times. Feet drenched. Felt really cooked at the start but slowly came around and stomach actually settled at about halfway. Kept the pacing fairly even. I give myself an A-

Ironmans are tough. Conditions were extra tough. What kept running through my mind was that, as tough as it was and as bad as I felt at times, it doesn’t come close to what Raina deals with every single day. On the run, in heavy rain, I was looking around and thinking “These people think this is hard, this isn’t hard. We chose this suffering, Raina’s suffering wasn’t chosen and yet she shows up and endures her life challenges every day, usually with a smile.”

10:17:31 a 32 minute PB for Ironman. Also means sub 10 hours is on the table next year as a M45-49. 👀 taken in Ottawa, Ontario by @theblf

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2 months ago

Donate today to CURE GABA-A | CUREGABAA.ORG/donate by @theblf

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3 months ago

CURE GABA-A | Ironman Ottawa

Tomorrow, follow Bib #140

https://sportstats.one/event/ironman-canada-ottawa/leaderboard/145933

Brian will swim, bike and run 140.6 miles for his daughter, Raina, his wife Julia, and all the gain of function kids out there counting on this CURE GABA-A treatment.

And as parents, waiting is the hardest part.

The science is moving. The treatment is being tested by Grann Pharmaceuticals & Neucyte. We are closer than we have ever been. But without funding, the research cannot keep moving.

So tomorrow, Brian is giving everything he has for 140.6 miles in the hope that we will rally behind him.

Follow Bib #140. Donate for Raina. Donate for every child still waiting.

Brian will do the miles.

Please help us fund the science. 💙 by @theblf

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3 months ago

Musselman 70.3
🕰️ 4:43:31
🏆 6/117 in AG

Another huge PB over the distance.

Everything came together and the weather was near ideal.

Swam 38:47 - best in years. Went out hard and settled in. Hung onto feet whenever possible but made sure I swam the shortest line possible. Had to stop about halfway to unfog goggles. Lost a contact lens.

Rode 2:22:02 - a PB and exactly what AI estimated based on my rides on ROUVY. I rode hard. Didn’t always feel incredible but stayed on top of hydration and fuelling and was always in it, mentally.

Ran 1:37:22 - Most proud of this. Mostly flat route except for one long grindy climb we do twice. Hot and exposed though and no breeze to speak of. Stayed on plan with fuelling and hydration. Aid station to aid station, water, ice, hydration, repeat at the next. Nothing keeps the core temp down like a cup full of ice sitting in the crotch of your tri suit. 🥶

Finished strong.
Run was an even split (1 second slower on second half)
Bike was paced appropriately.

Hardest part of any race I do is having to do them alone. I don’t have a cheer squad on site at the race. For so many years, @mightytinytuna was there to support. Carry my things, cheer me on, stand in the heat and sun for hours to maybe (unlikely) get a decent photo as I went by. That’s not possible anymore. Raina’s needs come first and she can’t travel to these things which means Julia stays home to care for her. That’s our reality. When I suffer in a race now, it’s all in perspective. I have a body capable of doing this really hard thing. I’m so grateful for that. Raina, at 4 and and a half years old still struggles to hold her head up and control it. Every aspect of her life is just hard. And so she’s my inspiration, always. @curegabaa remains our greatest opportunity to find answers and support for Raina so that she can have a chance at living some sort of life, where all day every day isn’t a struggle. Link in bio. 💙 taken in Geneva, New York by @theblf

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3 months ago

28C, feels like 30C. These are the days I dream of from about mid Sept through mid June. I love riding in the heat and sunshine. And riding the road bike reminds why I love riding bikes so much. 🥰 taken in Merrickville, Ontario by @theblf

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4 months ago

2 weeks to Musselman and another attempt to PR the Half Ironman distance. 🫡 by @theblf

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4 months ago

Ten days before Tremblant my back was absolutely shot. Nerve pain shooting into my glute, barely sleeping, stressed to the max, and I’m driving up to the start line honestly not sure I’d be able to run a single step. Figured I’d just survive the swim and bike and see what happened.

Then the day kind of just... went.

Swim came out at 39:28 — faster than anything I did all of last year, which I did not see coming. Got on the bike and just started passing people, hammered the whole way, somehow held over 36 km/h on that hilly course. And the run, the part I was dreading most? Back never said a word. Just clicked into a rhythm, water and ice and electrolyte at every aid station, kept reeling guys in the whole way.

Crossed in 4:53. Took me a minute to even believe it — way better than I had any right to expect off a week where my body was basically held together with tape.

Eleven years since my last Tremblant 70.3 and somehow this is the one I’m proudest of. Some days you just show up, give it your best crack, and the day gives it back to you.

Not a moment I wasn’t also thinking of Raina. See, when you have a child who’s medically fragile and has very complex medical needs, everything is put in perspective real quick. I’ve always liked the part of a triathlon when things get tough and you’re struggling and need to just keep pushing to the next aid station or next km marker or eventually to the finish, but that’s chosen suffering. In fact, we literally pay good money for it. But for Raina, she has to fight every day. Every part of every day for her is hard. All of it. And she somehow usually smiles through it. She is and will always be my inspiration. 💙

I always race in support of @curegabaa (Link In Bio) taken in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec by @theblf

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4 months ago

by @theblf

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5 months ago

☀️ 🚴‍♂️ 😃 taken in Merrickville, Ontario by @theblf

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5 months ago

Moderate sunshine and 14C. I’ll take what I can get. Still figuring out how to get more aero and better position.

#racing4raina taken in Merrickville, Ontario by @theblf

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5 months ago