Choosing to Run by Des Linden Summary

Choosing to Run is a memoir chronicling Des Linden’s journey from a reluctant high school runner to winning the 2018 Boston Marathon under brutal conditions. It explores her resilience, independent spirit, and the mental fortitude required to excel in professional running, while reflecting on her Olympic experiences, training philosophy, and record-breaking 50-kilometer race.

This book is ideal for runners seeking inspiration, sports enthusiasts interested in marathon dynamics, and anyone drawn to stories of perseverance. Linden’s candid insights into overcoming adversity and balancing personal life with athletic ambition resonate with readers navigating their own challenges.

Yes—Linden’s straightforward, humorous writing style and actionable advice on training and mindset make it a compelling read. The memoir balances personal storytelling with universal lessons on determination, making it valuable for both casual readers and dedicated athletes.

Linden recounts the race’s harsh weather (39°F, rain, and wind) and her initial low expectations due to recent illness. She emphasizes how embracing discomfort reignited her passion, leading to a strategic surge at Heartbreak Hill and becoming the first American woman to win Boston in 33 years.

Linden advocates for consistency over perfection, emphasizing incremental progress and adaptability. She highlights the importance of mental resilience, trusting one’s instincts, and maintaining a healthy relationship with training—avoiding rigid schedules that ignore bodily signals.

Yes. Linden opens up about confronting body image pressures during her collegiate years at Arizona State, detailing how she balanced peak performance with maintaining a healthy self-image—a rarely discussed challenge in elite athletics.

Beyond her 2018 Boston victory, Linden set a world record in the 50-kilometer race (2:59:54) in 2021. The book also covers her two Olympic appearances (2012, 2016) and her longevity in a sport often dominated by younger athletes.

Linden describes herself as a “grinder” who prioritizes steady effort over natural talent. Unlike peers focused on rigid regimens, she emphasizes flexibility, listening to her body, and finding joy in daily runs—a mindset that sustained her 20-year career.

While praised for its authenticity, some readers might desire deeper exploration of systemic issues in professional running (e.g., sponsorship inequities). However, the memoir intentionally focuses on personal triumphs and actionable mindset strategies.

Linden demystifies elite training, offering relatable takeaways like embracing bad-weather runs and reframing setbacks as growth opportunities. Her emphasis on “showing up” resonates with runners balancing passion with everyday responsibilities.

The book highlights her reliance on a tight-knit support system, including her husband Ryan and coach Walt Drenth. She stresses the importance of compartmentalizing athletics and personal time to avoid burnout—a lesson applicable beyond sports.

Notable lines include:

• “The course doesn’t know I’m running in historically bad conditions... It’s the challenge I fell in love with.”
• “I would choose when to give it up... rip it out of my cold dead hands.”

These encapsulate her tenacity and redefine success as persistence over podium finishes.