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American Des Linden today is tackling the world 50K record in Oregon. She is seeking to run under 3:07:20.
The 2018 Boston Marathon winner is attempting to wrest the record from Britain’s Alyson Dixon who set the time in Poland in September 2019 at age 40. Dixon has run the marathon as fast as 2:29:08 at age 39. Linden’s best over the 42.2K (26.2-mile) distance event is 2:22:38 in Boston and officially 2:25:55 in Houston 2012. Based on their respective marathon times, Linden, age 37, should be able to break the record.
Speaking with Yiannis Christodoulou, Dixon said, “I’m fully expecting her to smash my time to pieces.”
There will be little pressure for Linden as she has experienced the spotlight having run in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She was the first American to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years. She won in stormy conditions in the time of 2:39:54.
The forecast for the 50K is mild temperatures 14C (57F) as the high and sunny. Linden is known for running well in tough conditions. She told Athletics Illustrated in 2018 after her Boston win, “I’ve had some really solid races in the heat as well. I like challenging conditions, anything that requires more thinking and race savviness.”
The Chula Vista native also likes to run solid mileage numbers typically marathon training in the 120-130 mile (195 – 210K) range.