Fitness

Choosing to Run by Des Linden Review

April 18, 2023

Choosing to Run is a memoir by professional runner Des Linden, which tells the story of her journey from a young athlete to becoming one of the most accomplished marathon runners in the world. In this blog post, we’re reviewing the book, the writing, and sharing the best quotes.

Des Linden’s Choosing to Run is an inspiring and honest memoir that chronicles her life as a runner. The book takes readers on a journey from Linden’s beginnings as a high school athlete in San Diego to her rise to Boston Marathon champion. Linden shares personal stories and insights about her training, mindset, and her experiences competing at the highest level of the sport.

One of the book’s strengths is the writing style, which is straightforward and often funny, making it easy for readers of all levels to understand. Her passion for running shines through every chapter, making the book an inspiring read for anyone looking to improve their own running performance.

The memoir is not only a personal story but also a valuable guide for runners. Linden shares some of the behind the scenes of her training routines, favorite food (or rather, drinks), and mental strategies that helped her overcome obstacles and achieve success. The tips and tricks offered in the book can inspire runners of all levels to reach their goals.

Choosing to Run is not just a book about running but also a story of perseverance and resilience. It shows readers that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Linden’s journey to become one of the best marathon runners in the world was not an easy one. She faced many challenges and setbacks along the way. Her story shows how she achieved greatness because she never gave up.

Overall, Des Linden’s Choosing to Run is an inspiring memoir that is worth reading for anyone who wants to improve their running performance or their approach to goals. Her book offers great stories, valuable insights and tips, with a great sprinkle of her humor (which I loved). If you’re looking for a book to motivate you to reach your goals, Choosing to Run is a must-read.

“Effort was always worthwhile, even when the outcome wasn’t predictable.” [The Outsider]

“There was no way to know how much better I could be as an athlete unless I gave myself more time. I didn’t want to be haunted years down the line by ‘what ifs’. And the only way to avoid that was to chase down an answer whether I liked that answer or not.” [Chapter – The Outsider]

“Unlike the track where you could usually out grit poor decisions, mistakes were magnified over 26.2 miles.” [Investment]

“Why not me? I couldn’t come up with a good enough answer. So, I decided to get out of my own way and open myself up to possibility.” [Investment’]

“I nurtured big ambitions for a top 3 finish that would earn me a spot for the 2008 Beijing games. But ambition didn’t translate to expertise or the learned science of fueling properly before and during the race.” [Investment]

“Tolerating what most people would consider intolerable is the flipside of endurance. I couldn’t wish that out of myself. But I could take the mindset and discipline I used as armor and channel them towards something more sustainable.”

“If running was what I did – not who I was, it was up to me to decide how long running would be central to my life and set the terms.”

“I plug away at what I feel like is my maximum effort on this day, in these conditions, in this moment.”

“The course doesn’t know I’m running in historically bad conditions, that every step is another incrementable battle with my body. That a lifelong goal suddenly feels tangible to me under the most unlikely circumstances possible. With my glycogen reserves nearly gone these last few miles become a battle of will. It’s the challenge I fell in love with.”

“Suddenly I wanted more than anything to be a runner At least for a little while longer.. I was ready to scrap for that identity instead of fighting it. I would choose when to give it up. Until then I was going to make the rest of the pack rip it out of my cold dead hands.”

“I was exhausted on so many levels and couldn’t see mustering the fight to improve and continue to chase great performances. Yet, I was discounting something in that moment, maybe a lot of things, mostly the space between my ears where I had built up a different kind of endurance. I couldn’t rip out a lifetime of competitive wiring overnight.”

“What did I have to lose? To gain? To learn? The last year had made me uncertain of many things. And I wasn’t sure I was nimble enough to be present to possibility, to take this definitive of a turn in my thinking, to allow room for the worst day to become potentially a great day.”

“It’s impossible to get quality sleep the night before a major marathon. Anyone who says differently is either a liar or a psychopath.”

“I felt exactly the way my hair looked, like shit.” [Loyalty Shows Up]

“This is hands down the biggest day of my running career. And if it hadn’t been difficult I don’t think it would mean as much.”