Des Linden has never been the flashy type.
She’s the gritty underdog, the one who just keeps showing up. And today, on Monday morning at the 2025 Boston Marathon, she is preparing to show up one last time as a professional — in the city where she became a legend.
Before even lacing up, Linden announced that this would be her final race as a pro.
She did it her way, with a love letter to Boston on Instagram, thanking the city for “all the years and all the cheers.”
“People say you should go out on top, and that’s what I’m doing,” she wrote. “Getting to race my final professional marathon in Boston is indeed going out on top.”
At 41, Linden’s resume reads like a greatest hits album for American distance running. She’s a two-time Olympian, a Boston Marathon champion, and the world-record holder in the 50K. But stats have never captured what makes her special.
Boston and Des: A Love Story
Linden first ran Boston in 2007 and basically never left.
She has made 12 trips from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, each one adding another chapter to her story.
Her 2018 win — in driving rain and freezing winds — wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement. She became the first American woman to win Boston since 1985, and she did it in a way that felt quintessentially “Des.” No drama, no bravado. Just grit.
“Boston knows grit,” she wrote in her farewell. And so does Linden.
A Different Kind of Champion
Des Linden’s career isn’t about glittering medals or world-beating times. It’s about showing up. About fighting through the ugly races, the heartbreaks, the close calls.
Beyond the races, Linden has built a brand around authenticity. She’s the runner who openly talked about the mental grind of the sport. She’s the bourbon-and-coffee connoisseur who didn’t pretend to be perfect. She’s one of us — just way faster.
In a sport often obsessed with times and trophies, Linden reminds everyone that success is also about loyalty, grit, and joy. Her impact goes beyond the finish line, inspiring everyday runners to chase their goals — and embrace the messiness along the way.
