11/03/2026
Des Linden has run 100 miles.
The 2018 Boston Marathon champion finished her first 100-miler at the Javelina Jundred in Arizona on Saturday night, crossing the line in 16:58:00 as the ninth woman and 39th runner overall.
For a while, it looked like she might do a lot more than finish.
Linden started cautiously, then moved from fifth to first. She led through mile 45.3 and was still in front at mile 56.9 with a five-minute gap. She reached 60.3 miles in 8:01:12, averaging under eight minutes a mile on desert trail.
Then the distance caught up with her. Linden sat down at the 60.3-mile aid station while her crew worked on her, and by mile 64.6 the lead was gone. Her last 39.7 miles took 8:56:48, almost an hour longer than her first 60.3.
She kept moving anyway, through heavy rain that hammered the course after dark. Boston 2018 fans will know she’s handled worse weather.
Heather Jackson won the women’s race. Ninth leaves Linden outside the Western States Golden Ticket spots, but it adds a full 100 to a trail résumé that already includes third at Marathon des Sables.
Before the race, she said the distance was what made her most nervous. It turned out to be the hardest part.
