Des Linden announced on Monday just two hours before the start of the women’s field of the Boston Marathon the race would be her final professional marathon.
In a lengthy post on social media, titled “Dear Boston,” Linden, 41, was thankful for the notoriety that came with her performances in Boston, especially her 2018 win in pouring rain.
Her announcement also appeared as a full page print advertisement in Monday’s Boston Globe newspaper.
“I made my debut at 26.2 on your roads in 2007 and fell in love – with the distance and with the Boston Marathon,” the post read. “Four years later, we were in it together as you lifted me up through the Newton Hills, carried me as I turned Right on Hereford and Left on Boylston, and brought me within two heartbreaking seconds of victory.”
She finished second in the 2011 race in 2:22:38, just two second behind Caroline Kilel who won in 2:22:36 with a late kick.
“But you never gave up on me, inviting me to keep showing up,” Linden continued in her post. “Hell, you embraced the fight, because Boston knows grit. The victory in 2018 wasn’t just mine, it was ours.”
However, her win in 2018 catapulted her image on the marathon stage after toughing through driving rain to stun the women’s field in 2:39:54. It also marked the last time an American would win in Boston. And the first time an American woman won that race in 33 years.
“People say you should go out on top, and that’s what I’m doing – because getting to race my final professional marathon in Boston is indeed going out on top,” she said to close out the post. “I’m ready to leave it all out on the course one last time. See you on Boylston. Thanks for all the years and all the cheers.”
As news of Linden’s announcement began to make the rounds on Monday morning, Linden was already preparing to head to the start in Hopkinton with the rest of the elite men and women.
And as the race worked its way through the early miles, Linden navigated though a familiar course, holding steady with the chase chase group as Sharon Lokedi, Hellen Obiri, Irine Cheptai, Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Amane Beriso battled for lead position for the bulk of the race.
With the closing stages leading to the final turn on Boylston Street, Linden received a roaring welcome from the crowd, perhaps for the final time.
In the end, she finished in 2:26:19 in 17th place, her fastest time on the course since 2017.
Her husband Ryan Linden, met her at the finish line, hugged and she addressed the media for closing remarks on a career that was punctuated with gritty performances that helped boost a personality that resonated with fans of the sport.
