Des Linden’s Memoir: Choosing to Run

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I became a fan of American distance runner, Des Linden in 2019. A year after her historic Boston Marathon win in 2018. Yes, I was a little late to the Des-mania party. But I saw how the city adored her first-hand in 2019, when I was in Boston cheering on my wife (who had qualified and was running perhaps the most prestigious race in the world!)

Boston already had a soft spot for Des, but after her gritty, rain-soaked win in 2018? She basically became Boston royalty.

Des was in beer commercials, featured on banners and posters across the city, and making the rounds in a slug of interviews (where she was hilarious, by the way.)

So, when I saw Des Linden was releasing a memoir (2023), I had to PRE-ORDER an autographed copy for my wife (but really for me.)

My Choosing to Run (Des Linden’s memoir) book review:

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Choosing to Run Book Summary

In Choosing to Run, Des Linden’s memoir takes readers behind the scenes of what it’s really like to chase big goals in long-distance running. From growing up in sunny California to grinding through brutal winters in Michigan, Des charts her path from college runner to Olympic hopeful to eventual Boston Marathon champion. She’s honest about the setbacks — DNFs, injuries, self-doubt, and even a health issue that nearly sidelined her career. But through it all, she stays stubborn (in a good way) and refreshingly grounded.

The book centers around her 2018 Boston Marathon win, when she powered through cold rain, wind and misery to become the first American woman to win the race in over 30 years. It’s not just a story about running fast; it’s about resilience, showing up when you don’t feel like it, and finding your own pace in sport and in life.

Who is Des Linden?

Des Linden is one of the most respected long-distance runners in American history. A two-time Olympian, she’s best known for her gutsy win at the 2018 Boston Marathon. She became the first American woman to take the title in over 30 years and doing it in freezing rain and brutal wind.

She’s known for her even pacing, mental toughness, and dry sense of humor (not to mention her love of whiskey and coffee). She retired from official marathoning in 2024, but she’s still racing (especially ultras) and co-hosting a podcast called Nobody Asked Us with fellow runner Kara Goucher. The duo chat about running, life, and everything in between.

My 2019 Boston Marathon Experience

No, I didn’t run, but technically it was MY EXPERIENCE.

Now onto the rating! Choosing to Run Review (Des Linden’s Memoir):

Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5 

Maybe I’m a little biased from my personal experience with Des-mania… but I really enjoyed her book. Choosing to Run is a classic elite-athlete memoir, walking through her running life. Successes, setbacks, injuries, and health struggles. The thread that ties it all together is her improbable, gritty victory at the 2018 Boston Marathon. The book moves back and forth between that race and the earlier moments that shaped her as a runner.

Things I liked:

• Familiar connection to my personal experience at the Boston Marathon. (Again, no I didn’t run, but I did “experience” the marathon!)
• As a kind-of runner/kind-of athlete, I loved hearing what it takes for elite athletes to reach the top of their fields!
• Des is cool.

Things I didn’t like:

• Des Linden is funny. While this book certainly had some levity, I was hoping for more snark and humor from Des.

Have you read any other great running memoirs? Send suggestions my way in the comments!