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Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders’ epic performances rely on their endurance just as much as their iconic high kicks.
According to a new profile of the squad in Vogue, published on Wednesday, November 27, one cheerleader’s fitness tracker read 24,000 steps after the Cowboys’ 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Monday, November 18.
“That’s not going to count a jump split,” another nearby cheerleader joked about the impressive number.
Per the Marathon Handbook, the average marathon runner takes about 52,400 steps in a 26.2 mile race.
The cheerleaders — who will take to the field on Thursday, November 28 for the Cowboys annual Thanksgiving Day game, this year against the New York Giants — rose to even more prominence earlier this year with the release of the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which became a phenomenon on the streamer and has been renewed for a second season.
But their increased level of fame doesn’t mean they aren’t still putting in the dirty work.
The squad dedicates hours of rehearsal prior to every home game at The Star, the Cowboys’ team headquarters located in Frisco, Texas. From there, the cheerleaders all take a bus from Frisco to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, roughly a 37 mile trek.
A number of the cheerleaders told Vogue they do around two hours of makeup before boarding the bus, with some reapplying once they arrive at the stadium.
The team members have all perfected the Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleaders signature look, which Vogue described as “one that is both camera-ready and intense physical activity appropriate.”
The dancers are on the move over two hours before kickoff, performing for fans outside of AT&T Stadium before making their way down to the sidelines for hours of endless motion during the game.
While the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have made an image out of being pristine and flawless, there’s some very real grime when you pull back the curtain.
“Ew, ew, ew,” one cheerleader was observed saying while peeling off a sock soaked in sweat.
Another cheerleader, named Reece, said, “It’s just one of those things that you have to push through.”
After an afternoon and evening of constantly being on their feet, the cheerleaders board the bus — at 11:22 p.m., on this night — for the long trip back to Frisco.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will take part in the halftime show on Sunday, alongside country star Lainey Wilson, when the Cowboys take on the Giants at 4:30 p.m. on Fox.
