Once you get the itch to do something adventurous, it tends to spread. Just ask two participants from this past weekend’s Carnaval Run Miami 5K.

Brian Larson and Carol Chang, friends for more than a decade, met while working with the nonprofit organization CARE and discovered they were both from Iowa.

Larson works with Catalyst Miami, a local agency that does community outreach work, and Chang works with the Red Cross.

In 2007, the friends decided to head to their home state to participate in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, which runs almost 500 miles across the state.

After they finished, they looked for a next challenge.

So the spirit of adventure took them to the ING New York City Marathon, then they decided to do a marathon on every continent.

After doing marathons in Berlin (Europe), South Africa (Africa), Rio de Janeiro (South America) and Shanghai (Asia) all they have left to do is Australia and Antarctica.

“After growing up in Iowa it seemed like a good idea for us to go back. It all started at RAGBRAI,” Larson said. “After that we decided we needed more adventure!”

Larson and Chang did the Carnaval Miami Run 5K on Sunday.

“We just came out to do it for fun. It has a great course along the ocean,” Chang said. “Before deciding to the New York Marathon I had never really ran before.”

But once her and Larson finished their first marathon they found out that there’s no limit to how far they could go.

CORPORATE RUN

Approximately 29,000 participants came out to compete in last year’s Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run 5K. This year the event will be held on April 25 at 6:45 p.m. at Bayfront Park. The event benefits United Way. So whether you are doing it for charity or for bragging rights within the office, it is for a good cause.

For more information contact TeamFootWorks at 305-666-7223.

ENDURANCE RACE

On Saturday, the DOWN2EARTH Half Marathon will be held at Hialeah’s Amelia Earhart Park. This hardcore trail run will have runners negotiating through the uneven, twisting and turning mountain bike trails through the park’s 91-acres.

For more information visit: www.active.com.

If you would like your upcoming participant events to be showcased, email: Corey Campbell at Campbell.corey@gmail.com