by Larry Eder
Des Linden, photo by PhotoRun.net
Reposted April 9, 2018
I thought this piece would be a fun one to revisit. Desi Linden is well prepared for the Boston marathon. She has battled for the title until within sight of the finish line in Beantown. Will 2018 be her year? With the field of Shalane Flanagan, Molly Huddle, Desi Linden and Jordan Hasay, Boston is treating us to a fantastic field!
Originally posted December 17, 2017
Des Linden is a runner of immense focus, determination, talent and humor. This writer has intereviewed her at least a half dozen times, and it is always fascinating to learn something more about one of America’s finest marathoners.
Here’s the thing. Coming back from injuries, and reaching or suprassing your previous level of fitness is the exception and not the rule. Des Linden has taken second in the Boston Marathon, and her continued return to that level of fitness where one is in the front of the pack is, well, exciting.
The 2018 Boston Marathon may be the toughest field ever assembled for American women marathoners. There is Shalane Flanagan, Deena Kastor, Molly Huddle, Des Linden and Jordan Hasay.
Des Linden is a long time member of the Hansons-Brooks ODP. She came to them as a 34 minute 10k runner and her development, nurtured by Hansons brothers Keith and Kevin, juggles high mileage, strong tempo and interval work with recovery, rest and racing. Des has lots of self knowledge from spending hours and hours on the road. Run 100 mile plus weeks year after year and you develop skills.
Not one of the athletes (Deena Kastor is a masters athlete, but Deena still holds American marathon record, won the bronze Olympic medal in 2004, and ran a 2:27 as a masters), should be discounted. As I mentioned to BAA’s Jack Fleming, the 2018 Boston marathon will be a race for the ages!
