DAKOTA DISTANCE PROJECT
Tessa Stoltenburg
Current location: Omaha, NE
Accomplishments:
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2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier
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1st native born South Dakotan to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trails
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PB - 2:41:10 Chicago Marathon, 2019
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2018 Fargo Half Marathon Winner
Favorite workout: Long 20 mile snowball. You can't beat the feeling after defeating one of those.
Favorite running gear: My GPS watch with podcasts + mapping
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Favorite running memory: Crossing the finish line at the 2019 Chicago Marathon with giant goosebumps
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Amanda Blair
Current Location: Grand Forks, ND
Accomplishments:
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2021 Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon winner ​
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Completed 15 marathons
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2:49:38 California International Marathon, 2022
Favorite workout: tempo runs
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Favorite running gear: altra escalantes and my Suunto9
Favorite running memory: running the Disney world goofy challenge( 1/2 marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday) it was so fun and magical to run through the parks and be greeted by characters along the way.
Amy Feit
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Current Location: Luverne, MN
Accomplishments:
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2018 Manitoba Marathon Winner
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2016 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon Winner and Women's Course Record Holder
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Completed in 15 marathons and has taken more than 60 minutes off original PR going from 4:00 to a current PR of 2:51:12
Favorite workout: 800 or mile repeats
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Favorite running gear: hands free waist leash so I can run my dog Wallace with me
Favorite running memory: running into the stadium and getting to break the finish line tape at the 2018 Manitoba Marathon
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Aryn Embretson
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Current Location: Chicago, IL
Accomplishments:
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2:48 in first marathon at CIM
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35:44 10K PR
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NCAA DIII All-American in the 10k and Cross Country
Favorite workout: Progressive Tempo Run
Favorite running gear: My Garmin
Favorite running memory: Surprising myself with a cross country 6k PR after zero running and only cross training for 6 weeks because of injury :) Or placing 5th at nationals in the 10k and feeling like I was smiling the whole time living out a dream!
Tiegen Lindner
Current Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Accomplishments:
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Personal Bests:
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800 - 1:52​
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1500 - 3:48
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NCAA DII Track Athlete - Augustana University (SF)
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O'Gorman High School Record holder - 800 & 1600
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CoSIDA Academic All-American
Favorite workout: Long progression run & mile repeats
Favorite running gear: COROS watch
Favorite running memory: Waving the Drake Relays flag after a team relay win (Augustana University) & Howard Wood Dakota Relays 800m Special Event (O'Gorman High School)
Amy Will
Current Location: Warren, MN
Accomplishments:
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2019 Grand Forks and Bemidji Blue OX Marathon winners, back to back, 2 weeks apart ​
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Completed 16 marathons, from 4:07 to 2:57
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2:57:17 California International Marathon, 2022
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NCAA Div II Tennis - Bemidji State University
Favorite workout: mile repeats
Favorite running gear: Senita sports bra with back pocket
Favorite running memory: breaking the tape at a local marathon for the first time in 2016. That started a fire in me to train harder and to see what I could do in the long distance races!
Leigh Daley
Current Location: Fargo, ND
Accomplishments:
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2018 Fargo Marathon - 1:24:33 (5th overall)
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2018 Northfield Turkey Trot 5k Winner - 18:34
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Favorite workout: Long Run Workouts – whenever a tempo is embedded into the long run. I love when running big mileage with quicker splits.
Favorite running gear: My Garmin - The sick watch tan in the summer always feels like an accomplishment.
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Favorite running memory: Running the Fargo Half in 2018 was a really special moment for me. I never really have viewed myself as a super talented runner, so for me to be first overall in my age group and Top 5 women in the place I call “home” was a spectacular feeling. Everything just clicked that day and I have never felt so strong in my life.
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Kiran Cordes
Current Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Accomplishments:
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2023 Sioux Falls Half Marathon
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​Debut - Runner Up - ​1:21:25
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Favorite workout: 3x5K as follows w/ 2 minute rest: 5K @ moderate pace, 5K @ tempo pace, and 5K @ race pace
Favorite running gear: My Garmin Forerunner 225
Favorite running memory: Running in the 2023 Sioux Falls Half Marathon
