Nickel: Milwaukee Marathon proves healthy way to deal with college stress

Q: How are college seniors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee managing stress before graduation?

College seniors are managing stress by training for a half marathon, opting for a healthy approach instead of unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Q: What event did the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee seniors participate in to cope with stress?

The seniors participated in the Milwaukee Marathon, specifically training for a half marathon as a way to deal with their stress.

Q: What unique way did the students celebrate their participation in the Milwaukee Marathon?

The students celebrated by creating their own costumes for the marathon, showcasing their creativity and camaraderie.

Q: What are some unhealthy ways college students typically deal with stress?

Unhealthy ways college students often deal with stress include excessive drinking, poor eating habits, and lack of exercise.

Nickel: Milwaukee Marathon proves healthy way to deal with college stress

College seniors are extremely busy right now with the final weeks of school before graduation. It can be stressful and all consuming.

And there are plenty of unhealthy ways to deal with that stress.

But University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee seniors Luna Penterman, Eva Garcia and Joyce Penterman decided that they wanted to train for a half marathon instead. And to commemorate that achievement, they got together the night before the Journal Sentinel’s Milwaukee Marathon race, and made up their own costumes for the occasion.

They dressed up as the cutest of cows to represent the dairy state, and the back of their t-shirts read:

“Putting my calf muscles to the test.”

“I thought this was a grazing event.”

“Heifer coming through.”

When the trio joined 3,500 other half marathon runners at the finish line Saturday morning April 11, they drew a major round of applause for their D-I-Y creativity and happy smiles.

“We need all the motivation we can get,” said Luna. "And, people love it."

Runners take off from the start line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Katie Gebhardt, the second-place finisher in the women’s full marathon, is embraced by her mother, Janet Gebhardt, after completing the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Winner of the women’s full marathon Carly Schrom, left, and Andy Schrom, right, celebrate completing the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David Vannucchi of Wauwatosa crosses the finish line first, winning the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Carly Schrom run towards the finish line, winning the women’s full marathon at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Miles Johnson of Chicago celebrates completing the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Drew Richardson, left, and Peyton Shaffer, right, cross the finish line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Trevor Wenzel of West Allis is the first to cross the finish line, winning the half marathon at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Madeleine Davison of Chicago crosses the finish line, winning the women’s half marathon at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Kimberly Miller, left, and Maddie Miller, right, celebrate finishing the half marathon at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Runners take off from the start line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ryan Cary, left, and Becca Cary, right, of Chicago warm up before the start of the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Half marathon runner Leo Krenz crawls to the finish line during the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Alyssa Henke crosses the finish line holding her 1-year-old son Augie Henke at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Theotime L’angevin of France, left, and Armando Mejia, right, celebrate finishing the half marathon at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mike Robledo of Shorewood warms up before the start of the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Half-marathon runners run towards the finish line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Runners take off from the start line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Runners take off from the start line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

David Vannucchi of Wauwatosa crosses the finish line first, winning the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Carly Schrom run towards the finish line, winning the women’s full marathon at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Miles Johnson of Chicago celebrates completing the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Drew Richardson, left, and Peyton Shaffer, right, cross the finish line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Runners take off from the start line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Ryan Cary, left, and Becca Cary, right, of Chicago warm up before the start of the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Half marathon runner Leo Krenz crawls to the finish line during the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Alyssa Henke crosses the finish line holding her 1-year-old son Augie Henke at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Mike Robledo of Shorewood warms up before the start of the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Runners participate in the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon & Half Marathon

Half-marathon runners run towards the finish line at the 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This was the kind of feel-good story we need.

The Milwaukee Marathon has had several triumphant returns with successful full and half marathons in recent years. The 2026 event was also adopted by Ventures Endurance Events and the Journal Sentinel as its title sponsor.

"We're constantly talking about being better connected and more essential to our community," said Journal Sentinel executive editor Greg Borowski, who also ran the half marathon Saturday and plans to run the 5K on Sunday. "And this is just one way. We have volunteers at the finish line, we have volunteers all over the place. A lot of our team members are running.

"It's a great opportunity to get out, get our name in front of people in a positive way and what better way than running and getting out in the fresh air, doing some good exercise."

The Pentermans, from Thorp, are studying business at UWM, and Garcia, from Racine County, is in elementary education. They liked having running as a goal and a diversion.

“I've been student teaching too, but this is so rewarding to wrap up the whole four years,” said Garcia. “I think it's so rewarding. It’s something I can say, as a teacher, and promote: running is good for mental health, it’s good for fresh air.

“And then just setting those goals as a model for my students. Its such an accomplishment to say, I ran a half marathon, and I did it last year too.”

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More: Who were winners of 2026 Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Marathon?

Luna and Joyce Penterman did not have this on their bucket list but were inspired by Garcia to sign up.

“Uh, well, we're not runners. We kind of just did this because she was,” said Luna. “And we found it very motivational. All our friends are here too. So that's really very high big for us.

“We've always wanted to do a half marathon, and the most we've done is a Turkey Trot, this was super fun. We had a blast.”

Running in costume is a longstanding tradition that dates back to at least the running boom in the 1980s. Most runners just want to have fun and stand out, especially in a sea of shorts and shoes.

This trio was inspired by Joyce and Luna's family, as they are from Thorp, Wis., where their parents own a cheese factory, Marieke Gouda.

The Milwaukee Marathon full and half concluded at Humbolt Park on Milwaukee’s South Side and it had an impressive turnout of spectators as well.

“I think the Milwaukee community, especially, they're motivating you, they're being here, putting up signs, telling you you're almost over there. Like, that was the biggest one for us. Just everyone cheering, cheering us on, even though they don't have to be here 7 in the morning.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nickel: Milwaukee Marathon a healthy way to deal with college stress