Although Desiree (Des) Linden is a two-time Olympic marathoner, competing in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, she may be best known for her steely win at the Boston Marathon in 2018. It was a commendable feat for two reasons: the Linden was the first American woman to win since 1985 (and no American woman has won since), and the weather conditions that April day were extremely bad—wind, rain, and temperatures in the 30s. It was the first time Linden’s trademark was on full display.
However, the six years since that victory have not been quiet. The 41-year-old runner consistently shows up at the start of the world’s biggest marathons healthy and ready to compete. She is currently training for her fifth appearance in the New York Marathon on November 3rd.
How has Linden remained a strong competitor all this time? She has remained open to change, ready to adapt to the challenge before her. In training, this starts with her morning routine.
“Flexibility is the name of my morning game. That’s something I learned early in my college career and have been doing for a long time,” says Linden. “I could race in Japan or Europe or Savannah and I’ll be able to figure out what I need.”
Linden typically runs one marathon in the spring (usually the Boston Marathon) and one in the fall, with half marathons sprinkled in during training.
“My morning routine changes depending on the time of year and what I’m training, but in general, I always prioritize sleep,” she says. “Most of the time, I don’t set an alarm and wake up when my body tells me to — that’s one of the perks of being a professional runner.”
When he gets close to a match, though, he’ll start calling the wake-up call. We caught up with Linden to find out how else her morning routine changes during training.
First thing: fuel
I’ve never really been a morning person—I’m not even a night person, more of an afternoon person—but I’m starting to become a morning person as I get closer to a race, getting a little more structured. I’ll set an alarm and make sure to refuel immediately by grabbing a good meal, usually toast or a bagel. I like to take something to get my stomach ready for a run that doesn’t feel too heavy. I drink my black coffee and mentally prepare myself for the day. I then let my stomach settle before I head out, that way I can get the most out of my run, whether it’s just a recovery run or a training run.
Match days are becoming specific
Once the race gets closer, I choose further, practicing for race day. Tell me if I ran it Every woman’s marathon this november i would see it starts at 7am and they will Liquid Gu gel and Deadly Hydration along the way, so I would start implementing them into my routine. I’ve run marathons before, like the Olympic Trials, which start around 11am. or 12pm so I would adjust to a later morning and make sure I’m adjusted to the time zone I’ll be in.
No matter what, caffeine and ketones are clutch
After I run, I’ll have another cup of coffee. I like to mix it up by adding milk or making a latte or cappuccino. My husband and I have our own brand of coffee, Linden x Two. Occasionally we will have one of our products that I can sample and test during my morning routine.
I’m not a stickler for specific brands, because I’ve found that flexibility is the key to adapting to different racing scenarios. That said, you won’t find me missing my morning caffeine and I’ve become a fan of Ketone-IQa ketone supplement that simulates ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state that uses fat as a fuel source. It provides some mental clarity and makes me feel a little more full before heading out. Having it in the morning is great.
Post-race is for recovery – and beer
What I really try to focus on is being an athlete for an extra hour after the race is over. It’s hard not to get too excited going straight into the party, but your body will thank you if you take a little more time to settle down. I make sure I get a good protein shake. If they have chocolate milk at the finish line, that’s easy to grab and usually tastes good since they have all the gels and gooey stuff along the way. Then I’ll have a massage or an ice bath. If you can muster up one more time to do something difficult, these go a long way towards real recovery.
And then once I’ve done those, I go out and get a burger, fries, beer, spicy food, all the things I wouldn’t want to eat the day before. And I’m strategic about drinking. The goal is not to end your night too early. I’ll start with something light and low ABV until my stomach is full. Then I’ll settle for one Sculpin or a heartier IPA.
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