Female runner crossing finish line, arms raised

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University alumna Dakotah (Bullen) Lindwurm is living her dream as a professional runner—and this summer, she won first place in Grandma’s Marathon.

Lindwurm took the women’s title in the prestigious Minnesota marathon with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 4 seconds.

“I was ecstatic. It was my ‘A’ goal. Winning was something I had been dreaming and praying about the whole build up,” said Lindwurm, originally from St. Francis, Minn. “I knew I was more fit than I had ever been and that I had a great shot at winning if I could execute on the day, but a lot can go wrong in a marathon, so I knew it would still be difficult.”

Grandma’s was the fifth marathon for Lindwurm, a runner with Minnesota Distance Elite.

“I love that running gives me time and distance away from all of the stressful things in life,” she said. “It's an hour or two a day that I get to just think about whatever I want, and have no stress that life brings. I am a professional runner; it is my absolute passion and every day I get to live out my dream.” 

More recently, Lindwurm followed up that win with an outstanding run at the Boston Marathon on Oct. 11, coming in 13th among women with a time of 2:31:04. 

Lindwurm graduated from Northern in 2017 with a degree in biology education and a minor in chemistry. At Northern, she competed on the Cross Country and Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field teams.

“I chose Northern because it felt like I was more than just a number,” she said. “All of my professors cared about me as an individual rather than just about me as a student.” 

Her time at NSU, and especially with the Wolves, helped prepare her for this success.

“Northern taught me to dream big,” Lindwurm said. “My professors and coaches at Northern saw the best in me and pushed me outside of my comfort zone to succeed.”

Her advice for others who might be considering getting into running: Take it one step at a time.

“Long-distance running can seem daunting and can seem like something that seems impossible,” she said. “But if you take it step by step you can, and will, finish.”

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.

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