Brian Maxwell facts for kids

Brian Leigh Maxwell (March 14, 1953 – March 19, 2004) was a Canadian track and field athlete. He was a runner, a coach, and a successful businessman. Brian is best known for starting PowerBar, a company that makes energy and nutrition products for athletes. Even though he had a heart condition from birth, he worked hard to become a top marathon runner. He was ranked third among all marathoners in 1977. Brian passed away at 51 years old.

Brian Maxwell: A Life of Running and Innovation

Early Life and School Days

Brian Maxwell grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He went to Victoria Park Secondary School. There, he joined the Victoria Park Track Club. His coach was Dave Steen, a gold medalist in shot put. Brian was excellent in both school and sports. He even won the Arnold Trophy for his achievements.

In 1975, Brian graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned a degree in architecture. While at Berkeley, he was part of the Golden Bears track team. He was a great student-athlete and won the Brutus Hamilton Award. This award is named after the university's long-time coach.

Becoming a Top Runner

After college, Brian often ran for Canada as a long-distance runner. He won his first marathon in Canada in 1975. He also competed in the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Brian was the top Canadian runner for the 1980 Olympic marathon team. However, the team did not go to the games in Moscow. This was because of a boycott led by the U.S.

His fastest marathon time was 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 43 seconds in 1977. That same year, he won the Ottawa National Capital Marathon. He also won the Enschede, Netherlands marathon. Brian later coached cross country and distance running at UC Berkeley. He helped many team members become top college athletes.

The PowerBar Story

Brian Maxwell started the PowerBar company with his girlfriend, Jennifer Biddulph. Jennifer was a nutritionist. She later became his wife. Brian got the idea for an energy bar during a marathon. He felt very tired around the 21-mile mark. This part of a marathon is often called "The Wall." It's when runners' bodies run out of energy.

In their kitchen in Berkeley, California, they started making snack bar recipes. They wanted to create a bar with both quick and lasting energy. This is how PowerBar, a famous energy product for athletes, was born.

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Brian Maxwell did more than just run and create PowerBar. He also helped many fitness events. He sponsored many athletes. Brian and his wife, Jennifer, gave a lot of money to UC Berkeley. Both of them had graduated from there.

Because of their donations, Kleeberger Field was renamed Maxwell Family Field. This field is used for hockey, football, and lacrosse. Jennifer Maxwell also created a special scholarship. It is called the Brian L. Maxwell Fellowship. This scholarship helps students at the Haas School of Business. It honors Brian's hard work and creative spirit.

At his old high school, Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, there is an annual award named after Brian. It goes to a student who is great at both sports and school. He also donated a well-equipped Fitness Room to the school.

Brian is remembered by his wife, Jennifer, and their six children. His daughter, Julia, became a great cross country runner. She even competed for Stanford University. Brian Maxwell's life shows how hard work and new ideas can lead to great success.