For anyone on the fence about getting Des Linden’s book, Choosing to Run, I am here to say GET IT!
If you are a running fan and even more so a marathon fan, you will not be disappointed.
My girls and I have been sick this past week so I have been home with them since Tuesday. I received the book, Choosing to Run, Tuesday afternoon and began reading it that evening once the girls went to bed and I finished the book Thursday evening.
I love the style of writing and layout of the book with alternating chapters. One storyline explaining the chronological order of Des Linden’s running career and the other a play-by-play told by Des of the 2018 Boston Marathon. I was hanging onto every word of the play-by-play. I could feel the whipping wind as they stepped out of the hotel to load the buses and I could visualize each hill and turn that Des spoke of. I’m such a sucker for a good play-by-play.
I remember sitting in PT school watching the 2018 Boston Marathon. I remember sitting there in class trying not to lose my damn mind when I saw Shalane Flanagan step off the course to use the restroom.
I didn’t know pros did that like ever and who knows maybe they don’t, but then again I have to remember the pros are human too and subject to trivial things such as needing to use the restroom the same as any of us lay people are.
Then to cap off the entire chaos of the 2018 Boston marathon, I see Des Linden LITERALLY waiting for Shalane! The whole time I am in shock thinking
“WHO DOES THAT? THIS IS THE MOTHER-LOVING BOSTON MARATHON, LET’S F!CKING GO!”
All the while on the outside, I sit as calmly as I can in class trying not to disrupt my professor as this all plays out on my computer screen when I am supposed to be following along and taking notes for cardio like a good student. Finally, a break comes and I stand up and start pacing for a minute because I am stressed watching the event unfold.
The weather is chaotic and I feel like the American women are losing it. My classmates joined in asking a million questions as most of them don’t know Des from Shalane and the start of the race from the end. I try to be as patient as I can be with each of their questions because who knows maybe I will foster a running fan out of them just yet. Class resumes and I take my seat impatiently staring at my screen.
After reading Des’ book, my thoughts are many. I am grateful for her vulnerability and willingness to share her story. I had never taken the time to know who Des truly was as watching her run Boston in 2018 was the first time I had truly watched her compete and I was perplexed, to say the least. I have since watched many interviews, and races, and listened to podcasts to know she’s a straight shooter and a competitor, two things I admire deeply about her.
Choosing to Run takes you down the path of getting to know Des along with getting a glimpse of what it is like to be a top-level professional runner in the United States. It is inspiring to all runners and athletes to show up every day and choose to do what you want to do whether that is running, lifting, or simply doing nothing.
Choose to do what makes you happy. Choose to love your neighbor. Choose to eat the ice cream. Choose to run another mile. Choose to be better than yesterday, but you have to choose. Never be afraid to re-evaluate what makes you happy. Des did it many times and that’s part of what has made her successful and why she continues to do what she does.
10/10 recommend
“Some days it just flows and I feel like I am born to do this, other days it feels like I’m trudging through hell. Every day I make the choice to show up and see what I’ve got, and try to show up and see what I’ve got, and try to be better. My advice: keep showing up. #Mondaymotivation #TogetherForward (Twitter via @des_linden, 03/15/2018)
“And here comes your 2018 Boston Marathon champion, Desiree Linden.”
Use the Link above to order from Jun 4-10, 2023
“in honor of Global Running Day – and receive a signed bookplate cope of Choosing to Run, the New York Times bestselling memoir from champion runner Des Linden.”
