They began with a rush of enthusiasm; they danced with a dread of boredom; they finished in a state of exhaustion.

Anthony Marchetti (sophomore-business) and Debra Dennison (senior-political science) danced as couple number 217 in the 17th annual Interfraternity Council Dance Marathon, and they overcame a lot of pain to finish. From the start, though, they knew that it would not be easy.

"These 48 hours might be hell for me, but it's like that all the time for these kids," said Marchetti, a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the night before the marathon began.

Dennison, who belongs to Alpha Phi sorority, said she decided to dance after she worked on the morale team two years ago. She worked during a shift when the children visited and thinks the experience helped her see what the marathon was all about, she said.

7:30 p.m. Thursday night -- With less than 24 hours to go before the beginning of the dance marathon, Marchetti and Dennison met at Phi Delta Theta to share a spaghetti dinner with other members of the fraternity and Alpha Phi who were dancing. The dinner was a chance for getting acquainted with the other dancers, and also served the important task of "carbo-loading" Marchetti said.

Marchetti and Dennison were excited, although a little nervous. "I'm wondering how it will affect me, because it affects everyone differently," Dennison said.

1:10 a.m. Saturday -- By now couple 217 had a better idea of what the marathon actually involved. Boredom was the major foe.

Dennison agreed, "This is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, my feet hurt already and it hasn't even been eight hours," she said.

10:37 a.m. Saturday -- Both Marchetti and Dennison were feeling pretty good, they said. "I caught my second wind about a half hour ago," Marchetti said.

Dennison was looking forward to the second break which would be within the next half hour, "Once you change clothes and brush your teeth and everything you feel like a whole new person . . . of course, it wears off rather quickly."

2:25 p.m. Saturday -- Marchetti's yo-yo had broken and the marathon was getting long, he said. Dennison said, "This isn't fun anymore," mainly because of her sore feet and an aching back.

8:35 p.m. Saturday -- There was a break for the marathoners. "Around 4:30 I got a really good foot rub, it made my feet feel really good for two-and-a-half hours," Marchetti said.

Dennison said she was nervous because dancing was really difficult. "At 24 hours I didn't think I was going to make it, but then the people came and spoke on the kids and how they were cured," she said.

12:40 a.m. Sunday -- Marchetti had learned the finer points of juggling."I already knew a little bit about it and one of the guys on the floor showed me how to do it," he said.

4:40 a.m. Sunday -- Dennison said it was getting difficult to concentrate on anything but the pain. "I know I'd never quit; it's basically physical problems," she said. "Without the morale people I'd never make it," she added.

4:30 p.m. Sunday -- Dennison had almost been forced to leave the floor before this time. "At about 8:00 this morning I almost dropped out, both my arches had fallen, and they were taped wrong and I couldn't walk," she said. Her feet were retaped and she rejoined the dance.

Marchetti was exhausted. "I feel like I'm watching t.v., but it's my life on the t.v. screen," he said.

6:30 p.m. Sunday -- Dennison said that Marchetti was dehydrated, and he was standing off to one side of the floor. "He's still standing, though. He'll get through it," she said.

Marchetti, leaning on the shoulders of two morale team members, smiled and nodded his head when asked if he thought he would make it.

6:55 p.m. Sunday -- Marchetti was back on the floor for the last line dance.

7:05 p.m. Sunday -- When the marathon ended, Marchetti said he felt "Tired and . . . tired."

Dennison said she felt fantastic. "It was one of the best things I've ever been involved in; one of the hardest, but one of the best."