Choosing to Run by Des Linden – Book Summary
Choosing to Run: A Memoir by Des Linden is a gripping and heartfelt journey through the life of one of America’s most celebrated marathoners. It offers more than a sports story—it’s about persistence, growth, resilience, and personal identity. Whether you’re a runner or not, Des’s story is deeply relatable.
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Aspiring and experienced runners seeking real-life inspiration
- Athletes facing setbacks, injuries, or burnout
- Women in sports and leadership roles
- Anyone striving to balance passion with personal life
- Readers who love honest, reflective memoirs
Top 3 Key Insights
- Resilience Wins: Des Linden turned disappointment and injuries into fuel for victory.
- Adaptability Matters: Evolving her training helped her avoid burnout and extend her career.
- Support Systems Are Key: Her success was built with help from family, coaches, and teammates.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- Mental Toughness is a Skill: She developed grit through mantras, visualization, and embracing discomfort.
- Ethics in Sports Matter: Des stood firm on clean sport and fair play, even under pressure.
- Joy in the Grind: She found meaning in everyday workouts and small wins.
- Balance is Essential: Hobbies, travel, and coffee kept her grounded beyond the racecourse.
The Book in 1 Sentence
A powerful memoir of grit, growth, and glory by marathoner Des Linden, showing the triumph of resilience and identity.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
Des Linden’s Choosing to Run tells the inspiring journey of a once-overlooked athlete who rose to win the Boston Marathon. It explores her setbacks, injuries, and evolving philosophy toward training and life. Through mental resilience and support from coaches, teammates, and family, Des becomes more than a champion runner—she becomes someone who lives on her terms. Her story blends personal insight, the thrill of competition, and the quiet work behind success. From battling health issues to standing up for clean sport, Des’s life reminds us that victory often comes to those who choose to keep going.
The Book Summary in 7 Minutes
Des Linden’s story is not just about winning a race—it’s about becoming someone who knows why she runs. This memoir details the highs and lows of her running career while offering rich life lessons on discipline, identity, and embracing discomfort.
From Outsider to Champion
Des began her athletic journey in soccer, where she often felt small and underpowered. But it taught her to toughen up. High school running offered her a new path. Her competitive fire and willingness to endure pain took root early, even though she didn’t fit the mold of a typical elite runner.
Over the years, she became a symbol of endurance, culminating in her win at the 2018 Boston Marathon. This was not just a race; it was a redemption story that rewarded years of near misses and unwavering belief.
The Power of Persistence
Des’s path wasn’t smooth. In 2011, she narrowly missed winning Boston. In 2012, she dropped out of the Olympic marathon due to injury. In 2017, she struggled with hypothyroidism. Yet, she never quit. She reframed each failure as a lesson. Every setback taught her how to train smarter, think stronger, and dream bigger.
Her mindset: do the work, stay patient, and keep showing up. This approach made her stronger both physically and mentally.
Training Evolved with Experience
In her early years, Des trained with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, where high mileage was the norm. At first, she thrived on structure and grit. But over time, she learned to trust her intuition. She moved from rigid routines to a more fluid training model. She let her body guide her effort, prioritized rest, and focused on quality over quantity.
This change didn’t weaken her—it preserved her. She remained competitive and avoided serious burnout or injury.
The Mind is the Strongest Muscle
Des ran with her mind as much as her legs. Her races were mental battles. She used visualizations and internal mantras to push through tough miles. She stayed present, focusing on one step at a time.
For Des, pain was not a sign to stop—it was a sign she was improving. She saw discomfort as the price of greatness, and she paid it willingly.
The Business Side of Running
Professional running is not all finish lines and medals. Des quickly realized the sport is also a business. She had to handle contracts, sponsorships, and media. She learned that athletes get what they negotiate, not what they deserve.
Des also became a voice for ethics in running. She questioned doping, unregulated treatments, and even the role of high-tech shoes. Her loyalty was to clean sport, even when the industry made that difficult.
The People Behind the Runner
Des’s journey was deeply shaped by others. Her sister Natalie and husband Ryan provided emotional grounding. Coaches like Frank Browne and Walt Drenth helped her build skills and confidence. Later, the Hanson brothers created an environment of accountability and ambition.
Her teammates also mattered. They were not just training partners but fellow travelers on a demanding path. Their camaraderie gave her strength.
The Joy of the Grind
Des found joy not just in race day, but in training. The daily grind, to her, was art. She liked chasing progress, repeating hard workouts, and pushing limits. She celebrated the unseen work.
Her mantra: embrace the grind. It wasn’t about making running easy. It was about making hard work meaningful.
The Boston Marathon: More Than a Race
Boston was more than just a marathon for Des—it was her proving ground. Her first try came in 2007. She nearly won it in 2011. Then, in 2018, against brutal weather, she won it.
She knew the course inside out—the fast start, the Newton Hills, the wild weather. The emotional pull of Boston, with its history and crowds, made it personal. Winning it was a dream fulfilled.
Life Beyond Running
Des kept her identity broad. She loved travel, books, music, and bourbon. She walked her dogs and explored coffee culture. Running mattered—but it wasn’t all she was.
These interests protected her from burnout. They gave her joy outside of performance. And if running had disappeared, she still would have had a rich life.
About the Author
Des Linden is a professional long-distance runner and Olympic athlete best known for winning the 2018 Boston Marathon. Born in San Diego, she ran for Arizona State University before joining the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. Known for her tough racing style and mental resilience, Des is a two-time Olympian and advocate for clean sport. Outside of running, she enjoys coffee, bourbon, travel, and writing. Her memoir, Choosing to Run, shares her personal story with honesty and grit.
How to Get the Best of the Book
Read it slowly and reflectively. Pay attention to the mindset shifts. Revisit key chapters before important events or challenges. Use Des’s insights as personal motivation, whether in running or daily life.
Conclusion
Choosing to Run is more than a sports memoir. It’s a lesson in endurance, not just in races, but in life. Des Linden shows that winning starts with choosing to keep going, no matter what stands in your way.