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University of Iowa Dance Marathon the Marathon

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@uidm’s DMM provides emotional and financial support for pediatric cancer patients and their families by running/walking more miles💚

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🏃‍♂️💚UI DANCE MARATHON THE MARATHON 🏃‍♀️💚

So proud of our UI Dance Marathon runners for showing up, going the distance, and running for the kids! 💚 Every mile represents the love, strength, and dedication behind our mission.🎗️🥇💜#dm33

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Ran it back 😎 #year2

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For something bigger
#FTK #26.2

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Just a girl and her orange slices conquering the streets of Chicago!🍊

If I learned anything from this race, it’s that our bodies can handle a lot more than we think they can. In December of 2023, I had a pretty extensive ankle surgery. The surgery went well, but my recovery was long and very hard. The only thing I told my PT was that I wanted to be able to run again. I have always loved running, even when I hated it!😂 Even though, medically, my ankle should hold up when doing these types of distances, it’s usually unheard of because things like marathons are hard on your body. While Richard (my ankle LOL) and I have definitely still rolled (a lot) and been through some struggles since 2023, we have completed not one, but TWO marathons! My ankles and hips have always been my biggest setbacks, but I continued to push through and do things that everyone, including myself at times, thought I really wouldn’t be able to do again. This year, I was definitely running to support all the families impacted by pediatric cancer #FTK, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that I was doing this for me too. After each mile, I would think to myself, “c’mon Lena, prove to yourself that you can do this.” I unfortunately did not achieve the time goal that I wanted to for this race, but my body held up a lot better than I thought it would. I pushed through the pain and the mental challenges, and finished my first solo marathon as strong as I possibly could. Thank you God for giving me the strength and the legs to do this! However, I am extremely stubborn, so there will probably be another marathon in my future with hopes of hitting my time goal😅😂

Thank you to everyone for the love and support, it meant so much to me, and really helped me keep going. And thank you to everyone who has supported the fight against pediatric cancer because while a marathon is hard, fighting cancer is way harder. So thank you.💛

Philippians 4:13✝️

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26.2 miles run and a lifetime of lessons learned. The Chicago Marathon was truly an unforgettable experience 🌇🏅🏃‍♂️

Running the Chicago Marathon for the first time was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. This race meant so much more to me than just crossing a finish line.

After 3 knee surgeries and reaching a point where I genuinely thought I might never run again, being able to stand at the starting line was something I never took for granted. Then, just days before the race, my vestibular neuritis flared up, leaving me battling full-on vertigo heading into race day. There were moments when just getting to the start felt impossible, let alone finishing 26.2 miles. But with the support of my people, I made it to that finish line 🙌

One of the hardest parts of this journey was seeing my running partner, Laura, unable to race because of her battle with serum sickness. I was heartbroken that she couldn’t be by my side to experience the day we had worked so hard toward together. But I carried her with me every single mile and ran for both of us as she cheered me on from the sidelines ❤️

I also ran for the incredible kids supported by UI Dance Marathon. Knowing that every mile could help make a difference in their lives gave this race a purpose far greater than myself. I’m so grateful to everyone who donated, encouraged me, checked in on me, and supported this journey from beginning to end. To my friends, family, and everyone at UI Dance Marathon, thank you for being part of something I’ll never forget.

This experience reminded me just how much we’re capable of when we refuse to give up. It tested me physically, mentally, and emotionally in ways I never expected. There were plenty of reasons to doubt myself, but crossing that finish line reminded me why I started in the first place.

#ChicagoMarathon2026 #RunForACause #UIDanceMarathon #26Point2 #AnythingIsPossible

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Went the distance for the kids

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going the distance ftk!! 🍋‍🟩🏙️🎗️🏃‍♀️

wowow, so grateful for the opportunity to run 26.2 for @uidm!!! This journey has been not been easy, but it was SO rewarding and I am so so lucky to support our families in this way! Thank you to my friends and family, the incredible dev committee, and our AMAZING Mile Motivators for encouraging me along the way! FTK ALWAYS 💚

#uidm #dancemarathon #chicagomarathon #ftk

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Sending good vibes to our alumni running the Chicago Marathon on Sunday! Thank you for your hard work and continued dedication to UIDM!

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still thinking about DM32…

This year was the most amazing year I’ve had in DM. From being able to go cheer on our runners at the Chicago Marathon to organizing showers for the Big Event, I couldn’t have asked for a better team. My passion and love for this org has grown so much and it couldn’t haven’t happened without Dev 💜. I can’t wait to see what my final year in DM is going to bring!

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just a few film pics from back in my college days 😮‍💨 #filmdump

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5/12!!

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One month ago, we danced, ran, and rallied for the kids …and we’re still feeling every step, smile, and story.

Here’s to the moments that remind us why Every Story Matters. 💚

#uidm #dm32

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