2018 Boston Marathon winner comes to Mississippi

Runners from 40 states and five countries will take to the pavement this weekend as the 2018 Gulf Coast Marathon gets underway.

Marathon officials have announced Des Linden, the 2018 winner of the Boston Marathon, will join runners on race weekend to be part of the fun. The California native became the first American in 33 years to win the women’s category at the Boston Marathon.

She also competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, representing the United States in the marathon for both games.

Linden now lives in Michigan and recently placed sixth in the New York City Marathon. Communications Director Erin Rosetti said, “She is going to be running the Margaritaville 5K and immediately afterwards, she’s going to be doing a Q&A session. That’s for runners, spectators, fans as well as media. You can come and ask her all your burning questions about how she trains, what she fuels with, what she is excited about to be here for, and really just what she loves about running.”

Linden will also congratulate finishers of the half-marathon and marathon Sunday and VIP participants will have a special opportunity to meet her post-race at MGM Park.