Several participants walk around the track during the 2011 Run Josh Run event sponsored by Engineers Without Borders.
Dan Larson’s competitive family motivated him from a very young age to be involved in every sport he possibly could growing up. Now that competitive streak will be used to help orphans in Kenya as Larson will attempt to run 100 miles for Engineers Without Borders.
The University of Wyoming chapter of EWB is hosting the event Run Josh Run for 24 hours starting at 10 a.m. April 20 at the Madrid Sports Complex in Laramie. The Run will raise funds to help build an orphanage and get clean water.
“My dad was a very good runner in college and my sister was the eighth best triathlete in the world in 2008 and 2009, so it’s sort of a family thing,” Larson said. “When I first came to UW, I was looking for a group to hang out with, so I joined Engineers Without Borders. Run Josh Run is the perfect opportunity to use my gifts to help the group.”
As he grew older, he realized his favorite part about sports was not necessarily the sport, but the talent he had for running.
“Track was my main sport in high school because I had a knack for sprinting for a long time,” Larson said. “The pain that people normally feel really didn’t bother me, so I guess you could call me a born masochist.”
He describes running as philosophical and mentally challenging. As the elements and physical toll start to get into his head, he reminds himself of why he runs.
“For me, it’s a lot like life. If you want the benefit you have to see it through,” he said. “When you’re done, you really feel accomplished. I don’t feel like I’m trying to stay in shape but that I’m conditioning myself to do the right thing, not the easy thing.”
After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with an economics degree with the help of a track scholarship, Larson went from running competitively to running for fun. Now pursuing his education in petroleum engineering at UW, he is always looking for ways to be involved and help out.
Run Josh Run is a relay event, where Larson hopes to run 100 miles. With the help of sponsors, every lap in the 24 hour event helps the charity trip to Kenya to help build and supply for orphans. This cause brings back familiar emotions for Larson because he went to Kenya in 2008 for a mission trip.
“I was in a ministry where we put on sports camps and used it as a method to gain trust while building orphanages,” he said. “So kids could escape from things like female genital mutilation and being married off at ages as early as eight.”
After reflecting upon his past charity work in Kenya and his lifelong passion for running, he said, “I just wanted to make a difference and this fell right into my lap. This is too perfect to avoid.”
Despite his family’s worry about the wear and tear Larson will put his body through by attempting 100 miles in 24 hours, he is excited about the challenge and the cause.
“I do think I can run 100 miles, but I don’t think it’s going to be easy or be something I can just do. It’s going to be really hard and I’ll have to push myself through a lot of pain to get there,” he said. “But I will do it because I believe in this cause.”
For more information about how to register or be involved, visit www.facebook.com/runjoshrun or contact Jon Herrboldt at jherry31@uwyo.edu.
