Choosing to Run

A Memoir

By: Des Linden, Bonnie D. Ford - contributor

Narrated by: Des Linden

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Featuring both the story of an historic, unforgettable win and insight into the life of an indelible champion, Choosing to Run is a truly inspirational memoir from Boston Marathon winner and Olympian Des Linden, sharing her personal story and what motivates her to keep showing up.

When Des woke up on April 16, 2018, the morning of the Boston Marathon, it was 39 degrees and raining, with high, gusty winds. The weather didn’t bother her. In fact, she thought it might be a blessing. She was far from peak form—recovering from illness and questioning her running future—and didn’t expect much of herself that day.

But as she ticked off mile after mile in the brutal conditions, passing familiar landmarks on the course she knew by heart, something shifted. Opportunity unexpectedly presented itself. Des tapped into her inner strength and remembered all of the reasons she loved to race.

Coming off Heartbreak Hill at Mile 22, Des took the lead and never relinquished it, becoming the 2018 Boston Marathon champion and the first American woman to win the race in thirty-three years.

Her career has always been defined by tenacity and an independent spirit, stretching back to her first competitive race in San Diego, when she beat better-outfitted, more experienced kids. Des was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University, and as her collegiate years wound down, she decided she wasn’t done with the sport. Des gambled on herself and moved to Michigan to give professional running a try. As she rose through the elite ranks, she became increasingly determined to do things her way in an industry often bound by the status quo.

In her first book, listeners will learn the story behind that resolve: the way Des trains, the way she thinks, her relationships with other great runners of her generation, and how much she values her family and friends. They’ll hear about her deep connection to the most famous marathon in the world, her two very different Olympic experiences, and how she defined new goals and set a world record at the 50-kilometer distance.

Most of all, they’ll learn what makes her get up and run every day.

©2023 Des Linden (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Writing with honesty and energy, Linden shares the life experiences that shaped her determination to rise to the top of her sport.” —Arizona Daily Sun

“[Linden] provides a fascinating look at the training and culture of professional running…For seasoned runners and beginners alike, Linden’s book offers plenty of inspiration about the power of endurance in the face of obstacles. For all readers, it grants a peek at what goes into building that endurance.” —Associated Press

"There are a lot of books by runners. Many of them are good. Few of them are as human as Choosing to Run. Because Linden knows herself as a human in essence and only contingently as a runner, she writes not for other runners only but for any reader who suspects they might be human, too. It is examples like these that make us so.” —Sport Literate

an excellent book

I really enjoyed this book and really loved that Des narrated it herself, it adds another dimension to the book.

Great story!

Thank you for sharing your story. Loved how you weaved the past events into the race. Well done!

Loved

Thank you, Des, for sharing your story. Your independence and tenacity are inspiring. I might have to run another marathon now…

Great!

Super inspiring. Great to hear her story in her own voice. Ready to get out the door and get her after it.

Narrated by the Queen herself, Des Linden

Spectacular
Inspiring
One of the best books in sports history!
Thank you Des Linden for the excepcional lessons.
I wish you all the happiness, success, love and health.
Areli

Sooooo good!

Loved, loved, loved…listening to it for the 2nd time and probably a 3rd. So inspirational

Great motivation

Reminds me to run my best in any given day. You don’t have to always win to be your best runner.

Inspiring!

Love reading about people’s stories. I was introduced to running in the military. I was never a runner before that but grew to love it. Listening to all these athletes out there talk about their journey to these amazing accomplishments. So inspiring!

Great Running Tale of Perseverance over Doubt

It was great to hear Des tell her story. She's not a perfect narrator, but there were times when one can hear her emotion as she tells the tale. The book does go back and forth from her Boston Marathon win, moving from moments in the marathon back to her life leading up to that event. And she covers a bit of her life post marathon. In the end, she captures a wonderful story of what to her might have seemed an improbable event - winning at Boston. I don't want to give away too much except to say that as a runner, one can identify with the feelings she captured in her story. Especially for those who have run Boston, this book is an absolute MUST. For non-runners, it is a story that captures the psychology of grit and how one can achieve in amazing circumstances. In listening to this book, I enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of this runner's life for a few hours.

Loved listening to Des’s journey

An interesting look into Des’s career from her own perspective. The book is written linearly, but interspersed throughout are chapters that cover her 2018 Boston marathon race mile by mile - perfect for running nerds and my favorite parts of the book by far.