Des Linden Places Ninth in 100-Mile Ultra Debut

Des Linden finished ninth in her first 100-mile race at the Javelina Jundred in Fountain Hills, Arizona. The marathon winner completed the five-lap course in 16 hours and 58 minutes. Linden has been on two Olympic teams, but she considers herself a rookie in ultra events.

A Strong Start and a Late Drop

Linden ran strongly through the first three laps. She took the lead around the 40-mile mark and held it for the next 20 miles. She reached 60.3 miles in 8 hours and 1 minute, averaging a pace of 7 minutes and 58 seconds per mile. That distance is more than twice a marathon.

At the 60.3-mile aid station, Linden sat down while her crew attended to her. She changed shoes and took about five minutes to start running again. Within a half-mile of leaving the station, she was walking. Two female runners, Katie Asmuth and Carla Molinaro, passed her during this time. The final 40 miles took her 8 hours and 57 minutes.

The women’s race was incredibly close. Heather Jackson, 42, won in 13 hours and 48 minutes, averaging 8:17 pace. Molinaro finished second in 13 hours and 49 minutes after Jackson overtook her in the final quarter mile of the race. Both earned “golden tickets” for the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-miler in June.

Rob Molke, 35, won the men’s race in 12 hours and 11 minutes. He held off Noah Dusseau, who was runner-up in 12 hours and 12 minutes. The men also received “golden tickets” for Western States.

Training and Perspective

Linden’s training leading up to Javelina was not ideal. She had several two-day stretches when she ran 30 miles one day and 20 the next. She was aware she would need to adjust her goals if she started to struggle in the later miles.

“Just get to the finish. I think that’s super important,” Linden said in a phone interview with Runner’s World on October 29. “I think if I can run the whole time, that’s going to be great. And then if it’s going really well, I would love to get a golden ticket. But those are just as flexible as the plan. I know that even finishing can be something that all of a sudden comes into question. It’s just so different from anything I’ve done.”