Desiree Linden: The 2018 Boston Marathon Winner’s Wise Outlook on Life & How It Helped Her Win by Jessica Acree

"Sixth time’s a charm." – Desiree Linden, 2018 Boston Marathon winner

It's hard enough to imagine running the length of your driveway to get the mail when it's barely above freezing with pelting rain and 30 mph gusts of wind. Now imagine running an entire marathon in that mess! That's 26.2 miles of pure determination, talent and drive.

On April 16, 2018, elite U.S. marathoner Desiree Linden powered through less-than-desirable conditions in Boston to become the first American since 1985 to finish first among the women. She crossed the finish line soaking wet after two hours, 39 minutes, 54 seconds, looking strong and proud. As the 34-year-old, two-time Olympian put the winning gold-plated laurel wreath on her head she said, "This is storybook stuff."

The San Diego, Calif., native is a Midwestern transplant living in Rochester Hills, Mich., as a participant of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, so she knows a thing or two about unpredictable weather. We're a month into spring now and winter is still holding strong, dishing out big blasts of snow and ice, leaving all of us with serious spring fever.

Linden used it to her advantage and was not fazed by the forecast, staying relentless with every step, even despite having to power through several inevitable moments of self doubt. She really dialed it up in those last miles too, finishing fast enough to put herself over four minutes ahead of the second-place finisher, American Sarah Sellers. 

The self-described coffee aficionado, whiskey connoisseur and music junkie seems to have a wise outlook on life and really works to keep it real, staying grounded with humor and perspective. She even named her golden retriever puppy "Boston" well before securing the big win.

On March 5, Linden tweeted this: "Some days it just flows and I feel like I’m born to do this, other days it feels like I’m trudging through hell. Every day I make the choice to show up and see what I’ve got, and to try and be better. My advice: keep showing up."

It sounds like she took her own advice! Words we can all live by. How are you choosing to "keep showing up" in your own life?

Read more about Desiree Linden via ESPN.

Photo: Desiree Linden Twitter