Contestant #4: Dustin Beach

Ten years ago, Dustin Beach was a sedentary smoker who had forgotten what it meant to strive for a goal.  He took up running when his mom suggested they run a half marathon together; while she didn’t end up racing due to an injury, Beach made it to the finish line – barely – and suddenly remembered what it was like to feel proud of oneself. Since then, the now 27-year-old from Ottawa, ON, has run seven more half marathons, eight marathons (including Boston), and several 10K, 5K and Spartan races.