The story begins on the online dating app called "Hinge" where the perfect match was made between an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant and a Brewer. Conversation was flowing and they decided to meet up in person at the local Caribou Coffee in Mankato, Minnesota. That's where it all began... Dane won a free coffee by answering the correct trivia question and Sam was too nervous to even notice :/

On their second date, they went out to a Mexican restaurant for dinner and saw the movie Scream VI (would not recommend), but they enjoyed laughing about how horrible the move was. Then Dane went off to Texas to run a 100 mile race in less than 24 hours! It must have been pretty life changing, because Sam received a text message to go out to dinner the night he got home. Although Dane's Achilles' were hanging on by a thread, they were mended by the new bond beginning to form.

The dates continued from there... Snowshoeing, fancy drinks, cooking together, a Twins game, walks, swing dancing in the living room, traveling together for weddings, lots of movies and cuddles with deep conversation.

The relationship pivoted when Dane got a new job as a Formulation Scientist for a supplement company in Utah. They knew they had a big decision to make since feelings were strong. Sam met Dane's parents for the first time while helping him pack up to move across the country.

Sam visited Dane in Utah where the relationship and the adventures were "elevated" to the next level. They climbed mountains, visited waterfalls, watched sunsets, and faced fears. Dane had a grand plan to tell Sam that he loved her when he dropped her off at the airport after that first visit, but the plans took a turn when his car broke down on the way and they had to pull off of the highway. Sam called an Uber and Dane said "I Love You" in the parking lot of the R&R BBQ :)

The relationship continued long distance for about 6 months while Sam was looking for jobs in Utah. They talked on the phone for hours every night, even watched a full season of Stranger Things over the phone together.

Dane convinced Sam that she could run a half marathon and that's where the running and workout adventures began. Their families finally got to meet each other in Cody, Wyoming when they ran Sam's first race together.

The perfect job finally came along and Sam accepted a position in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Utah Hospital. She made the move across the country and the relationship only got better from there.

They continued to hike and exploring the vast landscape Utah had to offer. Sam convinced Dane that he could compete in an Ironman Triathlon! It only took two months for Dane to convince Sam of the same. They ran marathons, triathlons and spent hours training vigorously.

They went on what Sam thought was just going to be a training trail run in the mountains, but to her surprise she found Dane on one knee with a ring in his hand when she got to the top! One the best moments of their lives to date! She said yes overlooking the greater northern Wasatch range.

They then traveled to Wisconsin to complete Ironman Wisconsin by swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running a 26.2 mile marathon to finish it off. Crossing that finish line and seeing your FIANCE made the pain well worth it!

Sam and Dane are so excited to embark on the next adventure of their lives, GETTING MARRIED! They are so grateful to have wonderful friends and family support them and to celebrate with this summer. They want to share their love of the beautiful place they live in with all of you, so thank you for making the trip out to Utah. Here's to being a part of their next great adventure!