Some of that running has been literal for seniors preparing for the big day. The day before they walked across the stage, Hannah Reynoso and her colleagues ran 13 miles Saturday in Des Moines’ last Dam To Dam half-marathon.

“There were 15 in the class,” Reynoso said. “Seven seniors … All the seniors decided to wear their medals.”

In the class, students had to get up early and accomplish things they might not realize they could.

“We’re not runners,” Nicolina Lunde said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Senior Class President Gabby Estlund, 18, battles with the breeze Saturday morning as she tries to put her mortar board and ribbons on before the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement in Dodger Stadium.

“We’re not runners at all,” said Reynoso. “I never thought I would do something like this.”

Taylor Hartley, the class valedictorian, said in her speech to the roughly 250 graduates that she’s seen how her classmates refuse to give up.

“Sometimes life is like swimming a race while wearing goggles full of water,” Hartley said, drawing on her own high school sports experience. “You cannot see what is ahead, and you are scared to keep moving forward.

“When it feels like the only option is to quit, Dodgers keep moving forward.”

There was adversity all throughout school. There was also adversity in completing the running class, which met early in the mornings, said Calaeb Vance.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Soon to be alumni Hannah Wadle is reflected in Vance Calaeb’s sunglasses as they prepare to walk onto the field for the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement in Dodger Stadium.

“There were a lot of early mornings through the winter,” Vance said. “There were only a few days below freezing.”

“We had to get up super early,” said Reynoso. “If you’re running 10 miles, you had to get up by 4. I was the slowest one in the class, so I had to get up really early.”

Reynoso and Lunde said the class was quite hard. In fact, they only joined it because more runners were needed. But they were happy they’d pushed through.

“It was definitely worth the experience,” Vance said.

Vance is on his way to the Marine Corps after graduation, starting at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Bridget Wilmarth, right, shows off her diploma frame for her friend Jenna Williams, at left, during the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement at Dodger Stadium.

“After that I could go all over the world. That’s what I’m looking forward to,” Vance said.

The brotherhood he’s felt among his fellow Dodger wrestlers has him seeking the camaraderie of the Corps.

“I’ve always loved the idea of being part of something bigger than myself,” Vance said.

Savion Poe also said he would miss his brothers from the football team.

“I’m going to miss a lot of people. This is crazy,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Latricia Roby, of Fort Dodge, holds onto a big bunch of balloons for her daughter, Keimara Roby, 18, who got her diploma Saturday afternoon during the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement in Dodger Stadium.

Poe’s plan is to attend Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids, and eventually open his own business.

In his speech to the class, Salutatorian Aaron Asay explained how he’d wanted a perfect 4.0 GPA from his time in high school.

Instead, he finished with 3.99, after one A- in a sophomore Spanish class.

That disappointment spurred him to focus more on his language skills.

“And consequently I found a true passion for the study of language and culture,” Asay said. “This summer I am leaving for a service trip to Peru in which I will speak nothing but Spanish for two years. And honestly, I don’t think I would be at this point if I hadn’t received that A- my sophomore year.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Trey Mosley continues a phone conversation Saturday as he walks into Dodger stadium for the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement.

Asay plans to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, after a two-year trip for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Before they had to cross the field in the traditional red robes, the students partook of another tradition — as one of the teachers handed out letters the students wrote to themselves when they were in eighth grade.

“I remember everything I said. I’m embarrassed,” said MaKayla Pingel. “I remember writing about boys. All I wanted was a boyfriend, and money.

“I have changed a lot.”

Vance had some thoughts on what he’d say to his younger self, if he could send a message back.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just keep your head down and keep working,” Vance said. “Freshman year I didn’t work as hard as I wish I had. … The harder you work, the more you’re going to get out of all of this.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Holding onto their mortar board became a ceremony long task for almost all the graduates including Hannah Wadle, at left, and Brayden Bell, right, Saturday afternoon at the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement in Dodger Stadium.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Graduates walk across the stage Saturday afternoon to receive their diplomas during the 2018 Fort Dodge Senior High commencement in Dodger Stadium.