2018 Marathon champion Des Linden returns to Boston: ‘This one has meant the most to me’

After racing in the Chicago Marathon last October and then the Olympic trials in February, Des Linden says she’s feeling pretty fit though she admits she’s a “little bit fatigued.”

But she’s also excited.

The 40-year-old California native has firmly established her career as one of the best in the world of long distance running. And on Monday, she returns to the course where she became a legend.

Linden’s first marathon came in 2007 when she completed the 26.2-mile trek from the suburbs of Hopkinton to the bustling, electric atmosphere of Boylston Street in Copley Square.

In 2011, she went toe-to-toe with Kenyans Caroline Kilel and Sharon Cherop over the last few miles before finishing second.

Then came 2018 — the crowning moment of her career despite wicked rain and wind. Linden beat them all, coming in first at a time of 2:39:55 — the first American woman to win the race in 33 years.

After crossing the finish line last year in heavy rain, the fan favorite took off her race singlet and twirled it in the air to the loud cheers of spectators — a sign of a mutual love between the former Olympian and her admirers.

“It’s super cool,” Linden told the Herald of the fan support in Boston. “I’ve invested a lot of time coming back here. We get pulled in different directions. There’s the London Marathon, there’s Tokyo, there’s a lot of spring options. But this one has meant the most to me. I keep returning, and I feel like that sort of love has been reciprocated.”

“When I come back here and I’m walking around the city, particularly on race weekend, it just feels a lot more like home,” she added.

Monday marks Linden’s 11th Boston Marathon and 10 years since the 2014 race, one she remembers well as it showed her how much the event means to Bostonians and the greater running community as a whole.

Linden did not run in 2013, but attended the race as a guest, when terrorist brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev bombed the 117th running of the marathon, killing three spectators and injuring hundreds more. Two police officers died in the aftermath of the bombings.

“That following year was the biggest I’ve ever seen the crowds. They were the loudest. It was a statement moment,” Linden said of 2014, a race in which she placed tenth. “I don’t think it’s really gone backwards since then. People were fired up about the community, loved having the event and wanted to make a statement.”

With her running demands, Linden said it’s a challenge to get as immersed with community organizations as she wants. But after her win in 2018, she made a $10,000 donation to 826 Boston to support young writers. Months later, she served as a grand marshal at a running event held by the Roxbury-based education center.

“At this point, I think I’m still really competitive with a couple more years of high-end running. When I ‘retire’ I think that will be right at the top of the list of things I want to get involved in,” Linden said of forming community partnerships.

Linden herself is a writer. She published a book last year called “Choosing to Run: A Memoir.” It chronicles her 2018 Boston victory and other “inspirational” and profound moments throughout her legendary career.

Her advice to those gearing up Monday: Play it smart early on, don’t run the downhills too hard and be mindful of nutrition and hydration. With sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s expected for the race, she said runners should sip on water throughout the day, adding in electrolytes and carbs.

“The trick is don’t get overworked and overdo it because that can be detrimental more than beneficial,” she said. “Sip on it.”