Choosing to Run

Praise

“Revealing…Athletes of all ranks will find Linden’s memoir heartwarming and inspiring.” —Kirkus

“[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

“An inspiring memoir about navigating life choices both in youth and as an elite athlete.” —Booklist

“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

“Exceptional and inspiring” —Trail Runner

“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’s] career has always been defined by tenacity and an independent spirit, and her debut memoir centers on how she trains, how she thinks, her relationships with other great runners of her generation and how much she values her family and friends.” —PureWow

“This is a gripping story of grit and grace. With unusual honesty and rare insight, Des Linden shares her journey, showing us that a true champion is defined not by whether she wins the race but by how she runs it. I loved every page, and the morning I finished, I laced up my sneakers and went out the door inspired to do my best!” —Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance  

“Des boldly pulls no punches in this behind-the-curtain account of her life as an elite distance runner.  If you’ve ever watched a marathon and wondered what was going on in the mind of that person who just blew by at 5:15 pace, here’s your chance.” —Ben Gibbard, ultra-marathoner and lead singer and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie
 
“The most entertaining sports book I’ve ever read, Choosing to Run will have you do just as the title says … Unless, of course, you grab a coffee or bourbon as you read one more chapter.” —Deena Kastor, New York Times bestselling author of Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory

“Linden will always be remembered for her 2018 Boston Marathon. But to reduce her running story to a singular moment does a disservice to one of the sport’s most consistent performers, and it’s a gift to learn more about the ups and downs of a full career in “Choosing To Run” — one that, as she toes the line in Hopkinton later this month for her 10th career appearance at the Boston Marathon, isn’t slowing down anytime soon.” —Women’s Running