Desiree "Des" Nicole Linden (née Davila; born July 26, 1983) is an American long-distance runner, author, and podcaster. She represented the United States in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics women's marathon. In 2018, she won the Boston Marathon, becoming the first American in 33 years to win the woman's category in the event. She holds the women's 50K world record of 2:59:54. The 2025 Boston Marathon was her final professional road race.
In January 2023, Linden began a podcast called "Nobody Asked Us" with fellow runner Kara Goucher. In the podcast, Linden and Goucher discuss a wide range of topics related to running and elite running performances. The first three episodes were released on January 11, and new episodes are released weekly.
Early career Desiree Davila was born in Chula Vista, California.Hilltop alum going for gold in marathon Desiree Davila Linden looks to shake string of runner-up finishes The San Diego Union-TribuneDesiree Linden Bio Published July 19, 2016 KNSD NBC San DiegoDes Linden Won Boston After a Decade of Close Calls—But She’s Not Done Yet Her big win only stoked the fire for more. Now she’s changed her training and believes her fastest days are still ahead. Runner's World BY SARAH LORGE BUTLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY NILS ERICSON PUBLISHED: OCT 23, 2018
High school In high school Davila ran track and cross country, and played soccer. She ran a sub-5 minute mile as a high school freshman and graduated from Hilltop High School in 2001. At the CIF California State Meet she was a finalist all four years. In both 1998 and 1999 she was 8th in the 1600.California State Meet Results - 1915 to present Retrieved December 29, 2012. 1999 saw her also attempt to double in the 800 meters, finishing last after being depleted from the 1600. In 2000, she improved that to 5th. Her best finish was 4th in 2001 in the 3200.
College Linden majored in psychology and religious studies at Arizona State University, and was a two time All-American in track and cross country.Arizona State Official Athletic Site: Arizona State University Player Bio: Desiree Davila Arizona State University. Retrieved August 8, 2016. She finished third at the 2005 Pac-10 5,000m Collegiate Championships (16:59.93).
Professional career Linden is sponsored by Coros Global, TCS, and Brooks Running.
Career highlights:
2006–2007 In the Road Running World Championships 2006 in Debrecen she finished in 43rd place. Her first appearance in a marathon was at the 2007 Boston Marathon, where she placed 19th in 2:44:56. In the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine in 34th.
2008–2009 Linden finished second at the 2008 Houston Half Marathon and ran her personal best time of 1:12:10. This time qualified her for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials.2008 U. S. Olympic Team Trials – Women's Marathon: Athlete Bios: Desiree Davila Retrieved April 21, 2015. At the U.S. Olympic Trials in Boston in 2008, she finished 13th in 2:37:50. Later at the track portion of the Olympic Trials in Eugene, she ran tenaciously with the leaders of the 10,000 meters before fading to 11th. At the 2008 Chicago Marathon, Linden finished 5th in 2:31:33. On August 23, 2009, Linden finished tenth at the IAAF World Championship in the marathon and set a personal record by 3 minutes. Her time of 2:27:53 was the second-fastest American woman.
2010–2011 She finished second at the 2010 Chicago Marathon, setting a personal record by one minute. Her time of 2:26:20 was the fastest American woman. Linden came in third at the 2010 USA Championships 10,000m (32:22.32) Linden finished second at the 2011 Boston Marathon by just two seconds and set a personal record by four minutes. Her time of 2:22:38 was then the fastest time ever run by an American woman in the Boston Marathon. After her success in Boston she was invited to throw the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game.
2012–2013 She finished second in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials January 14, 2012, in Houston, TX with a time of 2:25:55. which qualified her to run the marathon at the 2012 London Summer Olympics on August 5, 2012, but did not finish.NBC broadcast coverage of the 2012 London Summer Olympics Her Olympic failure was attributed to a stress fracture of the femur. 2013 marked her return to competition, finishing second at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. At the 2013 Berlin Marathon, Davila finished fifth, winning her age group, in 2:29:15.40 BMW Berlin Marathon Retrieved October 9, 2013. For this accomplishment, she was selected the USATF Athlete of the Week.http://www.legacy.usatf.org/News/DESI-DAVILA-NAMED-USATF-ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK.aspx Desi Davila named USATF Athlete of the Year] USA Track & Field Retrieved October 9, 2013
2014–2016 She finished 10th at the 2014 Boston Marathon, in 2:23:54, second fastest American woman, behind Shalane Flanagan at 2:22:02. She finished 5th at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:28:11, the fastest American woman.Overall Women TCS New York City Marathon. Retrieved November 3, 2014. She finished 4th at the 2015 Boston Marathon, in 2:25:39, the fastest American woman.http://www.baa.org/error-404.aspx?reqUrl=/2015/cf/public/pg_MobileAthleteTrackCurrentLeaders.cfm Retrieved April 20, 2015. Desiree finished 6th in the 10,000 meters in 32:53.50(June 25, 2015), Women 10000 Meter Run SR Retrieved June 26, 2015. at 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 25 She won a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games 10,000 meters. She led the majority of the race, which set up Brenda Flores to sprint past her on the final straightaway.
On February 13, 2016, she placed second, behind Amy Hastings, at the US Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing in 2:28:54 in Los Angeles, California.2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon/Results Retrieved February 18, 2016. On April 30, 2016, she placed second, behind Tara Erdmann Welling at the USA Half Marathon Championships, finishing in 1:11:06 in Columbus, Ohio.2016 U.S. OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon - 2016 USATF Half Marathon Championships Results Retrieved June 1, 2016. 2016 U.S. Ohio Health Capital City Half Marathon - 2016 USATF Half Marathon Championships Results Retrieved June 1, 2016. August 14, 2016, Linden placed 7th at the Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon in 2:26:08.
2017–2019 On March 19, 2017, she placed 7th at the New York Half Marathon, finishing in 1:11:05. On April 17, 2017, she finished 4th in the 2017 Boston Marathon, finishing in 2:25:06, with the leader Edna Kiplagat winning in 2:21:52.
On April 16, 2018, she placed 1st at the 2018 Boston Marathon, finishing in 2:39:55. She became the first American to win the category in 33 years. On November 4, 2018, she finished the 2018 New York City Marathon in 6th place with a time of 2:27:51. On April 15, 2019, she placed 5th at the 2019 Boston Marathon. On November 3, 2019, she finished the 2019 New York City Marathon in 6th place with a time of 2:26:46.
2020–2025
On February 29, 2020, she placed 4th at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:29:03. On April 13, 2021, she completed a 50 km in 2:59:54, becoming the first woman ever to run 50 km under 3 hours and breaking the world record (previously 3:07:20 by Aly Dixon on September 1, 2019). This was Linden's first ultramarathon. On April 18, 2022, she completed the 2022 Boston Marathon in 2:28:47, taking 13th overall and 3rd among the American women. On April 17, 2023, she completed the 2023 Boston Marathon in 2:27:18, beating her 2022 time but taking 18th overall. She finished fourth among the top American women, behind Emma Bates, Aliphine Tuliamuk, and Sara Hall. On October 8, 2023, she completed the 2023 Chicago Marathon in 2:27:35, setting a new American Masters record in the marathon distance. In February 2024, she placed eleventh in the U.S. Olympic marathon trials. Linden competed in the 2024 New York City Marathon and placed eleventh in the women's field and second among masters women. In 2024, Linden served on the advisory board of Every Woman's Marathon. Linden competed in the 2025 Boston Marathon after announcing that that event would be her final professional road race.
Personal bests
Surface Event Time Date Location Outdoor track5,000 m 15:08.64 August 6, 2011 London, England10,000 m 31:37.14 June 23, 2011 Eugene, Oregon Indoor track3,000 m 8:51.08 March 12, 2010 Doha, Qatar Road20 km 1:07.08 March 18, 2012 New York, New YorkHalf marathon 1:10.34 January 16, 2011 Naples, Florida30 km 1:43.50 October 10, 2010 Chicago, IllinoisMarathon 2:22:38 April 18, 2011 Boston, Massachusetts
Personal life Linden is an aficionado of bourbon. One of her role models is Deena Kastor.
She married marathoner Ryan Linden in 2013.
References
External links
Desireé Linden Hansons Brooks