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One of the most prolific figures in American distance running, Des Linden had a breakthrough moment in April 2018 when she famously became the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon open division in 33 years. Despite rain, cold temperatures, and fierce headwinds, Linden got her golden moment after seven top-five finishes in Abbott World Marathon Majors, including a near win in Boston back in 2011 when she was just two seconds behind champion Caroline Kilel and a runner-up finish at the 2010 Chicago Marathon.

A two-time Olympian, injury forced Linden to drop out of the London 2012 Olympic Marathon, but she redeemed herself four years later at the Rio 2016 Olympic Marathon, where she finished seventh. Upon returning home from Rio, Linden served as a Grand Marshal of the TCS New York City Marathon as a member of the U.S. Olympic Marathon team. In 2020, she narrowly missed a spot at her third consecutive Olympics, finishing fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials. 

Linden was one of four American women to finish in the top seven at the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon, taking sixth place in 2:27:51. The following year, Linden once again came in sixth place at the TCS New York City Marathon, the best finish among American women, with a time of 2:26:46.

In 2021, Linden ran 2:59:54 in the 50K, a world best for the distance. In 2023, she was the top American finisher at the United Airlines NYC Half and set a new American masters record at the Chicago Marathon, which has since been broken by Sara Hall. In 2024, she was 11th at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and 11th at the TCS New York City Marathon.

Raised in Chula Vista, Calif., Linden was a two-time NCAA All-American at Arizona State University, where she graduated with degrees in religious studies and psychology. She is married to semi-pro triathlete Ryan Linden, and they live together in northern Michigan, where the couple co-founded and operate their own coffee company. When not training, Linden co-hosts the podcast Nobody Asked Us with U.S. Olympian Kara Goucher.