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As a two-time Olympian and Boston Marathon champion, Des Linden’s legacy is secure as one of the top women runners in U.S. history. But she seems to keep adding to it by continuing to run boldly in every race she runs and, of course, spreading the positive, humble vibes she’s always been known for.
Although Linden cemented her status by winning 2018 Boston on a cold, rainy day, she came of age as a runner in 2011 when she earned a hard-fought second-place after battling stride-for-stride with Kenyan’s Caroline Kilel and Sharon Cherop over the final few miles in one of the most exciting Boston Marathon finishes in recent memory. Linden has also finished fourth twice (2015, 2017), fifth (2019) and 10th (2014). She placed 18th last year (2:27:18) as the fourth American woman, and, now at the age of 40, returns this year just 10 weeks after placing 11th in the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon (2:28:04).
We caught up with Linden 10 days before her 11th Boston Marathon.
Did you find time to recover at the Olympic Trials before beginning your buildup to Boston?
“Yeah, it’s gone surprisingly well. I took about 10 days of really light activity, and then I came back with probably better workouts than I had leading into the Trials. So I think we’re in a good spot, although I feel like it’s getting long. Like, I’m ready to race. The last two weeks I’ve been dragging my feet, and not sure if I should be doing this, but I knew that once I got into my taper and arrived in the city, I’d be fired up and the fitness would be there. It’s just so fun to be in Boston. It’s a part of the best time of the year. It’s the biggest and the best running event on the calendar for the masses and it’s fun to be there.”
What makes you look forward to the Boston Marathon every year?
“Well, I like the city quite a bit, and obviously the race has really helped that, but we live in a small town in northern Michigan, and going to a city is a lot. But there’s something about Boston where it feels open and easy, and I can spend time there and not feel overwhelmed. And Boston Marathon weekend definitely kind of makes you feel hopeful in a unique way, right? It’s springtime, the weather’s changing, but there’s also like, people are healthy and, you know, going to commit to this really hard task. And Boston has a reunion feel to it, too, because it’s the first time this year that we’ll start to see the running community, see old friends getting back together, and that kind of promotes good energy all around.”
Aside from the success you’ve experienced, what makes the Boston Marathon so special as a runner?
“For me, I think it’s just that there’s just so many places for things to happen on the Boston course. On flat marathon courses, some people can just lock into a rhythm and turn their brain off. But in Boston, there are places to attack and there is decision-making to make on the fly based on how things play out, and learning and working the course, and you’re never just going through the motions like you can do on a flat course. I always knew a course like Boston would give me a shot to kind of mix it up a little bit more, work hard and, hopefully, be there to battle at the end.
“It definitely suits a strength runner and someone who can handle a more tactical decision-making type of effort. I think if you step off the track and you’re fast enough to set American records or chase global championship medals, then it makes all the sense in the world to try and go fast and shoot for the Londons and the Berlins. But for me, what makes Boston so special is just pure competition and the unpredictability that makes it a little bit more fun.”
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Is the Boston Marathon always going to be enticing to you because of the pure challenge it brings?
“I think that’s what’s fun about it. It is very accessible to everyone and you can take on the Boston course, which has so much history in so many years, and you can measure out where you fit in over history. It’s kind of nice to have that opportunity to put yourself in there, see what it means, and then try to get better and try to improve. Obviously there’s the top tier pros, but the age group history in Boston is just as great. So when you fall out of the front group, there’s the master’s division and there’s the age group divisions. And so there’s really ways for everyone to kind of measure themselves over the distance, and the course adds another element to it, which is really fun.”
What course advice do you give to runners who are new to the Boston Marathon?
“I think it’s really about being smart and running patiently. The first six miles, everyone thinks it’s going to be their day just because it’s downhill and it feels easier than expected. For me, the Newton Hills are actually a nice relief all the downhill. You run one of the longest, most aggressive downhills leading into mile 17 or so, and then you make the right hand turn shortly thereafter and those hills give a break for your quads. So I always appreciate the break, but then on top of every hill you get some really good recovery. If you’ve got your legs underneath you, go ahead and work it a little bit on those downhills and then take the break on the next uphill. If you kind of play your cards right and give yourself something to work with from mile 21 in, you can pick up so much time and just pick off runners as you lean into the downhills instead of feeling like you need to recover there.”
How great is the finishing stretch to the Boston Marathon finish line?
I mean that’s got to be one of the most spectacular stretches in running, right? The energy after you turn onto Boylston, and then you have 600 meters to go. You can see the finish structure, and it looks like it’s right there, but you get a little bit more time than you maybe necessarily want, but that gives you time to soak it in a bit, too. It’s great that the crowds are as big as they are because they make you feel like it’s closer to 200 meters instead of 600. My only advice: don’t kick too soon!”
Will you eventually test your mettle at competitive trail running?
“I have to be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. I thought I would love it. And then I went to UTMB to watch a couple years ago and did some training runs, and that’s when I realized I am like Bambi on ice out there on the mountain trails. I think it’s fascinating. I love that the trails will take you to some amazing places, and I definitely want to go explore that—but I would have a lot of work to do to even make it fun to compete over long distances. I like gravel running, and we have a lot of great dirt roads to run in Michigan. But true trail running is a whole different beast, so I won’t say I love it yet, but I wanna love it.”
How does it feel knowing you’ve played a big role in moving the needle for women’s running in the U.S.?
“Joanie and Deena and those folks who came before us have paved the way, and now there’s just a lot more you can do in the sport now as a career, particularly on the women’s side. I think it’s really fun to look at the tiny place I have in this trajectory. I think of the momentum we’ve had and how much iconic folks like Joanie (Samuelson) and Deena (Kastor) and Shalene (Flanagan) and Kara (Goucher) really got the ball rolling. Every generation has felt the need to really keep things moving forward and push the pace a little bit, and that’s just snowballed. There’s more depth, there are faster paces, and there is a really bright future. So it’s cool to think that I helped push that momentum that we created in our prime years.”