“That’s Eric LaHaie,” Tim Murphy said. “Whatever he does, it’s going to be 1000 miles per hour, full commitment.”

LaHaie cites his experience as an athlete at Harvard as a major contributor to his success in endurance competitions.

“I think [playing football and running track] has really helped with the training aspect of preparing for these races,” LaHaie said. “I am used to setting a goal athletically and working hard through practice and training to achieve that goal. Harvard Football and Harvard Track really set this precedent for me.”

But since February, honoring Murphy’s legacy has become LaHaie’s primary motivation in both training and competition.

“He had every opportunity to back down or to fall back on excuses, but he never did,” LaHaie said. “Niall always lived life to the fullest, and he would love a challenge like running 250 kilometers over seven days, self-supported, across the Sahara Desert. So I think this was a great way to honor his memory a bit.”

While LaHaie’s performances in ultra marathons and other ultra-endurance competitions are laudable, it is his fundraising efforts that are perhaps most meaningful. So far, he has raised $13,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in Murphy’s honor.

“The overall experience of raising funds and running the Sahara Race in Niall’s name has been a rewarding experience,” LaHaie said.” “He was such a great individual and we will never forget him, and this campaign was just one way of showing that.”

LaHaie will continue to raise funds for the JDRF in his future major races. He hopes to partner with the charity to raise awareness about the disease and increase the number of competitors who fundraise for the cause.

And as time passes, LaHaie’s memory of his relationship with Murphy will never fade.

“I still think about him everyday and miss him so much, but I just try to think about all the good times we had and what a great friend he was,” LaHaie said. “I was so lucky to have him in my life and I will never forget him.”