Page 41 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 156

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #156 January 2026 41

The Thrill of the Challenge: Ultra Trail Races and

Entrepreneurship

By Casey Leger nationwide, and now I’m actually
appearing as a Dragon on Dragons’
f you love what you do, you’ll Den for the last two episodes of the
Inever work a day in your life. 20th season, “Full Circle.”
This is a phrase usually attributed
So. What’s the connection?
to Confucius or Mark Twain. It
certainly applies to entrepreneur, “I’m a huge believer that athletes
founder, and endurance athlete, make the best entrepreneurs, and
Marc Lafleur, who likens extreme vice versa,” Lafleur explains.
endurance sports, and athletics “Personally, I’ve always been an
generally, to entrepreneurship. athlete, and I truly believe it’s what
made me a great founder. And vice
Lafleur knows what he’s about.
versa; becoming a great founder
He recently competed in the Ultra
I think has helped my athletic
Trail du Mont Blanc. According
career. In the past five years, after
to its website, the UTMB is “the
selling truLOCAL and starting my Photo Submitted
most mythical and prestigious trail
next business, DB8, I was a race
running race in the world.” With
car driver, winning a motor sport
approximately 170 kilometres and
championship, to now tackling
10,000 meters of positive elevation
marathons and ultra marathons.
gain around the Mont Blanc through
People ask how I choose these
Italy, Switzerland, and France, it is Cornwall’s Oldest Paint,
things, but to me, there’s no Blind & Shutter Store.
a race like no other; it transcends
difference. Business and sport share Family owned Business Since 1988
the sport, and has established itself
the same obsession, discipline, grit,
as an iconic trail race, renowned Presents “Famous Sports Quotes”
stubborn determination. That’s why
worldwide.
I believe athletes should embrace
Lafleur also calls himself a entrepreneurship, especially after “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat,

founder: “I build cool companies,” their competitive careers.” determination and a hard to find alloy called guts.” Dan Gable
he says. “In 2015, I launched
Preparing for the UTMB was a
truLOCAL, and after five years,
commitment all its own. Lafleur
we sold it for $16.7 million. We SOL-R
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went through Dragons’ Den, scaled ALL BLINDS
Continued on page 42
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