Digital Champion Ben Lariviere started running in March 2013 with the motivation to get fit, stay fit, and challenge himself. In October of 2014, Ben ran his first sub-3 hour marathon at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and this past April he ran his first Boston Marathon! His biggest inspiration to be a better runner is to inspire his family, friends and fellow runners to take up the sport and be the best they can be! When he’s not running, you’ll find Ben spending time with his family or working out at the gym. Follow Ben on Twitter and Instagram.
Couch to Boston. By Ben Lariviere
TORONTO July 29th 2015 . I never thought I’d be a runner. In fact, before I started running I used to say “look at that guy running he must be crazy, I’d never do that.” My whole life changed in March 2013 when I finally had enough of the lifestyle that I was living. I had become too comfortable in life and was treating my body like a trash can. I smoked a pack a day for 20 years, was an avid drinker and had poor eating habits. I woke up one day looking at myself and realized something had to change. My choices were affecting me, my loved ones, and also my personal health. I had high blood pressure, was on cholesterol medicine and was overweight.
I quit my bad habits all at once: smoking, drinking, and eating unhealthy. Luckily, I had a great support system from my wife, family and friends. I also started working out at home 3 times a week with weights and the elliptical. Once the nicer weather came around, a friend of mine suggested I register for a Tough Mudder event so I would have a goal to reach for. In my mind, I was just hoping to survive the race! Know that running would be a part of my obstace race, I decided to give it a shot in my training. I didn’t know anything about where to start, I just ran through town, not caring about pace or distance. I just wanted to see how far I could run, and on my first try I managed 10k.
5 months later, after I had lost 35 pounds and completed my first race, a friend told me that I should run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon. Convinced that I should “go big or go home”, I signed up for the full marathon and completed it in a time of 3:09:29. I wasn’t try to qualify for Boston, my goal was to finish, but I was happy with my result and I was hooked on running! Over the next year I kept training, trying to do better and entering more races. I ran the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in 3:03:34 and then the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon again, with my fastest time to date 2:59:06. I realized that if you work hard enough, and never give up, anything is possible. I never thought in a million years I would be running the Boston Marathon, the holy grain of races.
I ran the Boston Marathon in 3:18:19 on April 20th of this year 
and it was an epic event, to saythe least, with all the people, runners, and the incredible atmosphere surrounding the event. Race day itself was tough with terrible weather, and I was unprepared for the hills along the course, but nevertheless it was a dream come true and I can’t wait to return in 2016. I will be ready next year, no matter what comes at me! So far, I have been a self-taught runner and I want to reach others out there like me to inspire them to start running and reach their goals. Running has changed my life and I can honestly say that I am “that crazy runner” and I’m proud of it! I’ll see you on the start line of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday October 18th!
