Narrator: Imagine this: it’s Mile 22 of the Boston Marathon. A brutal, freezing rain is lashing down, driven by a relentless headwind. Most runners are just trying to survive. But one, Des Linden, finds herself in an impossible position. She started the race with no hope of winning, battling health issues and a crisis of confidence, even telling a competitor she planned to drop out. Yet now, the lead is hers for the taking. The runner who was supposed to be a supporting character is suddenly the protagonist. In that moment, with four miles of punishing road ahead, she has to make a choice. Does she have what it takes to win? This single, defining moment is the culmination of a lifetime of choices, setbacks, and relentless perseverance, all chronicled in her memoir, Choosing to Run. The book unpacks the journey of how an athlete learns that victory isn't just about crossing a finish line first, but about the profound decision to simply keep showing up.

Narrator: Des Linden’s competitive fire was forged early, shaped by a complex relationship with her father. He pushed her and her sister into sports with a demanding focus on achievement over enjoyment. This instilled a powerful work ethic, but also a feeling of being an outsider. This identity was cemented at her first-ever race, the Junior Carlsbad. At ten years old, feeling out of place among kids in proper running gear, she simply ran as hard as she could. She didn't just win the girls' division; she beat most of the boys. Her father’s praise wasn't just for winning, but for beating the "in-crowd." This experience reinforced a "chip on her shoulder" mentality that would fuel her for years. Running became her escape and her source of control. Unlike team sports, the results were a direct reflection of her effort. It was a space where she could define herself, away from her father's scrutiny, and prove that the underdog could triumph.

Narrator: Linden’s path to professional running was unconventional. Instead of a lucrative sponsorship, she joined the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project in Michigan, a no-frills training group for underdogs. The philosophy was simple: "Work hard, perform well, get paid." There, she learned the value of balance. To avoid becoming consumed by the sport, she took a job at an outdoor retailer, Moosejaw Mountaineering. Her coworkers’ casual reaction to her running success—"Cool, good job, here’s some orders for the day"—kept her grounded and prevented the burnout that plagues many elite athletes. This period culminated in the 2011 Boston Marathon. After years of grinding, she found herself dueling for the win in the final stretch, ultimately finishing second by a mere two seconds. While a heartbreaking loss, the performance was a profound validation. It proved that her unconventional path, her balanced approach, and her relentless work ethic could place her among the world's best.

Narrator: In 2012, Linden achieved a lifelong dream by qualifying for the US Olympic team. The victory was a powerful validation of her entire career. However, the triumph was immediately followed by devastation. A stress fracture in her femur, which had been misdiagnosed, made it impossible for her to compete effectively. She flew to the London Olympics knowing she likely couldn't finish the race. After a few painful miles, she was forced to step off the course, her Olympic dream turning to dust. The experience was a crushing blow, leading to a period of deep disillusionment. She struggled with her recovery, her motivation, and her place in a sport that was increasingly grappling with ethical issues like doping. This setback forced her to confront the fragility of an athletic career and question whether her dream was still worth chasing.

Narrator: Following the Olympic disappointment, Linden's struggles continued. She felt physically and mentally exhausted, a condition she couldn't explain. A 2017 trip to India, meant to be a restorative adventure, only amplified her sense of fatigue and confusion. Her body simply wasn't responding. After a string of poor race performances, she was finally diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism, a condition so advanced that a nurse practitioner warned her she was at risk of falling into a coma. The diagnosis was both a shock and a relief. It explained her mysterious decline but also presented a new challenge: accepting a lifelong medical condition. This period forced Linden to redefine her relationship with running. She had to let go of the "cumulative fatigue" philosophy that had defined her training and learn to listen to her body, prioritizing long-term health over short-term gains. It was a slow, humbling process of rebuilding, not just her body, but her entire definition of progress.

Narrator: By the time the 2018 Boston Marathon arrived, Linden’s expectations were at an all-time low. She was still managing her health, her training had been inconsistent, and she was embroiled in a public disagreement with her coaches. On race day, facing horrific weather, she told her fellow American runner, Shalane Flanagan, that she didn't expect to finish and offered to help block the wind for her. This act of sportsmanship became a turning point. By shifting her focus from her own misery to helping a competitor, Linden found a new rhythm and a more productive headspace. She was no longer obsessing over how she felt. She was simply running, completing a task. This shift from outcome to process was crucial. It allowed her to persevere through the brutal conditions and, without realizing it, stay in contention as other, more favored runners began to falter.

Narrator: As the 2018 Boston Marathon wore on, the impossible began to happen. One by one, the leaders dropped back, undone by the punishing wind and rain. Linden, who had been simply "showing up," found herself near the front. At Mile 22, she took the lead. For the first time, fear crept in. The stakes were suddenly immense. Drawing on years of experience, she focused on her mental map of the course, running the most efficient lines and making calculated risks, like skipping a fluid station to maintain momentum. Turning onto the final stretch on Boylston Street, she was alone, battling the wind, the rain, and the weight of her own disbelief. Crossing the finish line, she became the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years. The victory wasn't the result of a perfect training cycle or unwavering confidence. It was the result of resilience, of learning from failure, and of making the choice to keep running, even when she had every reason to stop.

Narrator: The single most important takeaway from Choosing to Run is that true strength isn't found in avoiding failure, but in how you choose to respond to it. Des Linden’s story is a powerful testament to the fact that success is rarely a straight line. It is a messy, grueling process of showing up on the bad days, of redefining your purpose when your original goals crumble, and of finding motivation in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.

Her journey challenges us to look at our own "grinds" not as burdens, but as opportunities. What happens when you stop focusing on the finish line and instead embrace the process, no matter how difficult? Linden’s victory wasn't just a win for herself; it was a win for anyone who has ever felt like an underdog, faced a soul-crushing setback, and still made the choice to show up anyway.