FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston Marathon Champion and Two-Time Olympian Des Linden
to Race 2018 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4
Linden to participate in three NYRR Virtual Races leading up to the
marathon, beginning with the NYRR Virtual GOOAAALLL 5K on July 1
New York, June 27, 2018 - Boston Marathon champion and two-time Olympian
Des Linden will race the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday,
November 4, making her second appearance at the event after finishing in
fifth place in 2014. Linden, who earlier this year became the first
American to win the women's open division at the Boston Marathon in 33
years, made the announcement today on the TCS New York City Marathon
Instagram account.
"Breaking the tape at this year's Boston Marathon was a lifelong dream come
true," Linden said. "At the moment, it felt like it was the culmination of
my career, but I believe I still have plenty more to give to the marathon.
I'm thrilled to head to the TCS New York City Marathon this fall. I'm
motivated to get back on the big stage that NYRR will undoubtedly put
together and intend to make a name for myself in another great city."
Leading up to the TCS New York City Marathon, Linden will participate in
three NYRR Virtual Races, beginning with the soccer-themed NYRR Virtual
GOOAAALLL 5K, which is open to the public from July 1-15. NYRR's Virtual
Racing allows runners anywhere in the world to run a race at their
convenience and location of their choice during a specified period of time.
Launched in beta together with Strava, proceeds from the virtual races
support NYRR's mission to help and inspire people through running, and
benefit NYRR's youth and community programs.
"New York Road Runners has a great history with Des and we're excited to
welcome her back to the TCS New York City Marathon to take on what will be
one of our most talented women's open fields in decades," said Peter
Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS New York
City Marathon. "Des is the consummate pro, both on and off the roads. Her
win in Boston continued to shine the spotlight on an incredibly talented
group of elite women in the U.S. and around the world. And, as she prepares
for the streets of New York City this November, we are excited to have Des
take part in the NYRR Virtual Racing series, which she will kick off next
week."
Linden, 34, has had eight top-five finishes in Abbott World Marathon Majors
races in her career. Previously, she has finished at runner-up at the 2010
Chicago and 2011 Boston marathons and fifth-place in Berlin in 2013 and New
York in 2014. She was forced to drop out of the London 2012 Olympic
Marathon with an injury, but got her redemption four years later in Rio by
finishing seventh.
With her 2018 Boston Marathon victory, Linden finished in a four-way tie
for seventh place with 25 points in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series
XI standings. Series XI began at the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon and
concluded at the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. Series XII will begin
at the 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon and conclude at the 2019 BMW Berlin
Marathon.
The TCS New York City Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors,
a series made up of the world's six largest and most renowned road races -
the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America
Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. Points are allocated to the top
five finishers in each race, with the top three men's and women's finishers
in both the open and wheelchair divisions earning prize money.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world and the
signature event of New York Road Runners (NYRR), the world's premier
community running organization. The race is held annually on the first
Sunday of November and includes over 50,000 runners, from the world's top
professional athletes to runners of all ages and abilities, including over
9,000 charity runners. Participants from approximately 140 countries tour
the diverse neighborhoods of New York City's five boroughs—Staten Island,
Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Race morning also features the
Rising New York Road Runners Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City
Marathon, a race within Central Park that finishes at the same finish line
being crossed hours later by the marathon field. More than one million
spectators and 10,000 volunteers line the city's streets in support of the
runners, while millions more watch the globally televised broadcast. Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and
business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the
title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 48th running of the
TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 4, 2018. To learn more,
visit www.tcsnycmarathon.org.
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