Although Desiree (Des) Linden is a two-time Olympic marathon runner, competing in the 2012 and 2016 Games, she is probably best known for her victory in the 2018 Boston Marathon. It was a much-lauded feat for two reasons: Lyndon was the first American woman to win since 1985 (no American woman has won since), and the weather conditions on that April day were extremely harsh—scratching It was windy and rainy, with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees. It was the first time Lyndon’s trademark resilience and perseverance were on full display.
However, the six years since that victory have not passed quietly. The 41-year-old runner showed up at the starting line of the world’s largest marathon healthy and ready to compete. She is currently training for her fifth New York City Marathon on November 3.
Why has Linden been able to maintain strong competitiveness? She is open to change and ready to adapt to future challenges. In training, it starts with her morning routine.
“Flexibility is the name of my game in the morning. It’s something I learned early in my college running career, and I’ve been doing it for a long time,” Linden said. “I could play in Japan, Europe or Savannah and I’d figure out what I need.”
Linden typically runs a marathon in the spring (usually the Boston Marathon), a marathon in the fall, and the occasional half marathon during training.
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“My morning routine changes depending on the time of year and what I’m training for, but generally speaking, I always prioritize sleep,” she says. “Most of the year, I don’t set an alarm and I don’t get out of bed when my body tells me to wake up—that’s one of the perks of being a professional runner.”
As she gets closer to competition, though, she starts to adjust her wake-up time. We caught up with Lynden to find out how her morning routine changes during training.
First things first: fuel
I’ve never really been a morning person – I’m not much of an evening person either, more of an afternoon person – but as I get closer to games, I start to become a morning person and become more organized. I set my alarm and make sure I refuel right away and eat a hearty meal, usually toast or a bagel. I like to buy something to prepare my stomach for the run without feeling too heavy. I drank black coffee and mentally prepared myself for the day. Then I let my stomach settle before I head out so I can get the most out of my run, whether it’s a recovery run or a workout.
Game day gets concrete
Once I get closer to the game, I get even more involved and practice for game day. Let’s say I’m running the Every Woman’s Marathon this November, I’ll see it starts at 7am and they’ll have Gu Liquid Gel and Mortal Hydration on the course, so I’ll start incorporating those into my in daily activities. I’ve run marathons in the past, like the Olympic Trials, where the race started around 11am or 12pm, so I would adjust to a later morning and make sure I was acclimated to the time zone I was in.
No matter what, caffeine and ketones are key
After my run, I drink another cup of coffee. I like to mix it with added milk or to make a latte or cappuccino. My husband and I have our own coffee brand, Linden x Two. Sometimes we offer some of our products that I can taste and sample during my morning routine.
I don’t stick to a specific brand as I find flexibility is key to adapting to different game scenarios. That being said, you won’t find me missing my morning caffeine, and I’ve become a fan of Ketone-IQ, a ketone supplement that mimics ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state that utilizes fat as a fuel source. It clears my head and helps me feel more content before I head out. It’s great to have this in the morning.
Postgame is all about recovery—and beer.
What I really want to focus on is being an athlete for an extra hour after finishing the race. It’s hard not to get too excited heading straight into the festivities, but your body will thank you if you take a little extra time to calm down. I make sure to have a good protein drink. If there’s chocolate milk at the finish line, it’s easy to get and usually tastes good after all the gel and goo on the course. Then I would do a massage or an ice bath. If you can come together and do something difficult one more time, it can go a long way toward helping you truly heal.
Once I’m done with that, I go out and get burgers, fries, beer, spicy food, anything I didn’t want to eat the day before. I’m very strategic when it comes to drinking. Our goal is not to end your night too early. I’ll start with some light, low-alcohol drinks until my stomach is full. Then I’ll have a sculpin or a stronger IPA.
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