Linden Takes First & Amateur Runner Outpaces Professionals in 2018 Boston Marathon

It was a rainy day in Boston this past Monday, with possibly the worst running conditions in the past 30 years, but that wasn’t going to stop the usual festivities. As is tradition, Patriots Day was marked by the running of the Boston Marathon. Around 30,000 people participated in the event, and more gathered along the route from Hopkinton to Boylston Street to cheer on friends, family, and all the runners.

This year’s event brought some history with it, as Des Linden won the women’s race, making her the first American woman to win the competition since 1985. Linden, a Michigan native, finished the race with a time of 2:39:54. The last American to claim victory was Lisa Larsen Weidenbach, who finished the race in 2:34:06. Linden’s run was the fourth fastest for an American winner.

Linden ran much of the race alongside fellow American Shalane Flanagan, who won the 2017 New York City Marathon and is a four-time Olympian. Flanagan lost a bit of time due to a 14 second bathroom break, but returned to the front of the pack with Linden, who waited for her before continuing. Ultimately, the Oregon native finished seventh among women with a time of 2:46:31 in what is expected to be her final competition as an elite level racer.

The runner-up, Sarah Sellers, had perhaps the most interesting story of the day. A nurse from Arizona, Sellers had never run in a major marathon event before and was almost a complete unknown in the professional running circles. Nonetheless, she finished the race in 2:44:04, well before the professionally trained runners she was competing with.

Rounding out the top three for the women’s division was Krista Duchene of Canada, who finished just seconds after Sellers, at 2:44:20.

Women were not officially allowed to enter the race until 1972, but many entered under pseudonyms prior to that. Kathy Switzer, running under the name “K.V.  Switzer,” became the first woman to run and finish the race with a number in 1967, despite attempts by race organizers to have her removed. Now, many women compete in the event, with almost half the participants in 2015 being women.

On the men’s side, Yuki Kawauchi claimed the top spot, finishing in 2:15:58. He is the first Japanese man to win the Boston Marathon since 1987, when Toshihiko Seko won his second in six years. Last year’s winner, Geoffrey Kirui, finished in second place with a time of 2:18:23. Kirui finished the race about nine minutes faster last year, which earned him one of the 25 fastest victories in the history of the Boston Marathon.

American Shadrack Biwott was the third man to finish the race, doing so in 2:18:35. A Kenyan-born American, Biwott was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and ran for the University of Oregon in college.

In its 122-year history, the Boston Marathon has produced many incredible stories. Beginning in 1897 with just 15 men, it is the oldest annual marathon race in the world, and the second longest continuously running footrace in the United States. In 1980, Rosie Ruiz infamously cheated by jumping into the race about a mile from the finish line and attempting to claim victory before later being disqualified. 2011’s men’s race saw Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya finish the race in 2:03:02. This would be the fastest marathon time ever recorded, but would not be recognized as the official world record due to the course not fitting several standards.

Recently, the event has taken on a new meaning of pride for the people of Boston. Ever since the 2013 marathon bombing, there has been a feeling of strength and power with every marathon run. Despite the deaths of three spectators and injuries to hundreds, the event spawned the “Boston Strong” mantra, a rallying call for the city that continues to echo throughout its streets. Every April, when the runners gather at the starting line, the world is shown just what Boston Strong means, and how the people of Boston won’t be stopped.