Desiree Linden

Desiree Linden

Desiree Linden is an American long-distance runner known for marathon success on roads including the Boston Marathon and the U.S. Olympic Trials. She has competed at the World Championships, the Olympic Games, and major city marathons such as the New York City Marathon and the Chicago Marathon. Linden's career spans from collegiate competition with the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh to elite professional teams and international championships.

Early life and education

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Linden grew up in a family connected to Saginaw, Michigan and the Great Lakes region. She attended Forest Hills Northern High School where she competed in cross country and track under coaches influenced by Midwest distance traditions. Linden matriculated at the University of Minnesota Duluth briefly before transferring to the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, joining the Eagles' distance program and competing in NCAA events including the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship and the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Her collegiate teammates and mentors included runners who later competed in USA Track & Field national championships and regional meets. Linden studied alongside students involved in Big Ten Conference rivalries and Midwest athletics circuits.

Competitive running career

Linden turned professional after collegiate competition, joining training groups connected to clubs such as the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project and later affiliating with elite teams based in Salem, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. She raced nationally at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and internationally at events like the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Linden represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the marathon in London and at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, competing against athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Great Britain, Japan, and Germany. She ran tactical races in the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon alongside competitors who also competed in the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and the Berlin Marathon circuit. Linden's race calendar included invitationals such as the Prefontaine Classic and road races on the US Road Racing Circuit against champions from the Diamond League and continental championships.

Major wins and records

Linden claimed victory at the 2018 Boston Marathon in adverse conditions, finishing ahead of international fields including elites from Kenya, Ethiopia, Cuba, and France. She has podiumed at the U.S. Championships (track and field) and recorded top finishes at the Chicago Marathon and the New York City Marathon. Linden set personal bests in the marathon while competing in major races alongside record holders from Ethiopia and Kenya, and she has been ranked nationally by USA Track & Field in distance events. Her performances contributed to American medals and team placings at events such as the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and the Pan American Games-level road racing scene. Linden's times placed her among American leaders historically alongside athletes from Portland Track Club, Nike Oregon Project alumni, and other North American distance elites.

Coaching and training

Linden trained under various coaches connected to elite groups, working with coaches who previously guided athletes at the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Oregon, and professional squads in Boston and Eugene, Oregon. Her regimen included marathon-specific cycles used by clubs such as the Hanson Brothers-style programs, tempo work popularized by coaches from the Bowerman Track Club and track intervals echoing methods from the Stanford Cardinal distance tradition. Linden incorporated altitude preparation in locations like Flagstaff, Arizona, cross-training techniques used by athletes from Team USA squads, and race strategies developed with sports scientists linked to institutions such as University of Michigan exercise physiology labs. She collaborated with physiotherapists and strength coaches who have worked with competitors from the USATF national team and international marathon camps.

Personal life and advocacy

Linden is married to fellow professional runner Ben True, and they have been involved with community programs in Seattle and the New England running scene. She has advocated for athlete safety, mental health awareness, and women’s participation in distance running through engagements with organizations like Runner's World outreach initiatives, local running clubs, and charitable events benefiting causes tied to youth athletics and public health. Linden has participated in panels with representatives from USATF, spoken at events alongside Olympians from Team USA and international medalists, and supported campaigns that intersect with sport governance bodies such as the International Olympic Committee and regional athletics federations.

Category:American long-distance runners Category:Olympic athletes of the United States