Runners at Miami Marathon, Half-Marathon have unique stories to tell
On a humid, windy Sunday morning in downtown Miami, 18,500 runners from 49 states and 80 countries lined up for the 24th running of the Life Time Miami Marathon.
Every runner arrived with a reason — a motivation pushing them forward when their body or mind told them to stop. From elite performances to deeply personal journeys, these were some of the most compelling stories from this year’s race.
From gridiron to finish line
Alex Beach was once a nearly 300-pound lineman at Colby College. After discovering running when he moved to Miami, the 30-year-old has transformed himself into an elite marathoner, placing fourth overall in the men’s race with a time of 2:29:48.
“After I finished playing football, I was in a corporate job, fluctuating my weight, and then I found running,” Beach said. “My best friend and I had a bet to run Miami, and ever since I’ve been all in on running.
Beach ran his first marathon at age 27 at the 2023 Miami Marathon. During the next two years, he completed eight marathons, shaving more than two hours off his time, including a personal-best 2:27:13 run at the Chicago Marathon.
Despite racing around the country, Beach makes it a point to return to the Miami race each year.
“This is the first marathon I ever did, three years ago, and I’ve run it four years in a row now,” Beach said. “Every year I try to improve. It’s a great arc of how I’m improving.”
Beach has lost 120 pounds since his senior year of college, crediting running as the motivation to his health goals.
“I try to push myself every week,” Beach said. “This is a personal brand of mine,” he added, pointing to his hat. “Cancel Comfort. It’s very simple. Every week push yourself harder than you did the week before, and you get better.”
Running for a bigger cause
Cal Calamia finished his first Miami half-marathon 29th overall, finishing at the top of the non-binary division with a time of 1:21:27.
Calamia began running at 10 years old, while growing up in a conservative household in Illinois. While unsure about who he was, Calamia used running as an escape.
“I used running as a way to get outside and be in my body — to be with myself and feel proud of myself — starting in fifth grade,” he said. “I never turned back, and it’s been a huge part of my life ever since.”
Now an athlete sponsored by HOKA running shoes, Calamia’s career is devoted to running. In 2025, he became the first person to podium in all six of the World Marathon Majors: New York, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, London and Tokyo.
“Getting to travel all around and explore new cities through marathoning and half-marathoning is pretty dope,” Calamia said. “I’m grateful for the life I get to live.”
Apart from his journey as a runner, Calamia is an ambassador for a bigger cause
Calamia is the founder of the non-binary run club, a group built on providing a training community for transgender and non-binary runners. Based in San Francisco, Calamia is on the front lines, advocating for non-binary divisions within major marathons across the United States.
“When I started to transition is like when I really felt like myself,” Calamia said. “I felt a lot stronger and more excited about the sport. So, I started advocating for non-binary divisions, and now they’re here and everywhere from California to Florida. It’s really awesome.”
Miami is one of hundreds of races worldwide — including the six World Marathon Majors — to have a non-binary division.
“It’s really dope to see this sport be more inclusive,” Calamia said. I think that’s what running is really all about. All we want to do at the end of the day is get on this start line and do the same thing. Hopefully, through running, realize that we are more similar than we are different.”
A design that defines Miami
Courtney Einhorn left her career as a speech pathologist in 2013 to pursue her passion of art. Thirteen years later, the Miami native designed the medal and ribbon awarded to every marathon finisher.
“It’s an incredible honor and a full-circle moment for me, Einhorn said. “To have my art become part of such an iconic event, and something runners will take home as a symbol of their accomplishment, is incredibly meaningful.”
The ribbon features five Miami-inspired designs: a rising sun over the MacArthur Causeway, palm trees along Ocean Drive, downtown Miami’s skyline, sailboats and peacocks from Coconut Grove and hearts celebrating the runners themselves.
“I wanted the ribbon to feel unmistakably Miami,” Einhorn said. “Miami is colorful and bold, so I wanted the ribbon to capture that spirit.”
Though Einhorn has worked with major brands including the Miami Heat, Swatch, Birkenstock and Dyson, she said her design of marathon ribbon and medal carries a special significance.
“The Miami Marathon represents dedication, resilience, and community,” Einhorn said. “Being part of that makes it one of the most rewarding highlights of my career so far. It’s emotional for me.”
