The morning of the 2025 Boston Marathon, Des Linden announced via a full-page ad in The Boston Globe that the race would be her final professional marathon. And then she went out on a high note, finishing 17th in 2:26:19, and winning the masters' division.

She'll continue to run professionally, but she plans to focus on different events. Sarah Lorge Butler caught up with Des two weeks after that announcement to discuss her career so far, and what's next. See the chapter markers for more details.

Des Linden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/des_linden/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Jess McClain discusses finishing seventh at the 2025 Boston Marathon, where she ran 2:22:43, was the top American woman, and PRed by 3:03. She discussed hiring David Roche as her coach, as well as some of the training and fueling changes she made leading up to the race.

Jess lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and runs professionally for Brooks. But she also has a full life outside of running. She discussed her work with foster youth and rescue dogs, and how she balances that with her training.

See chapter markers for more episode details.

And if this episode left you wondering about U.S.'s selection procedures for the World Championships marathon, you can read about them here: https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/2025-world-athletics-championships-marathon-selection-procedures/full-view.html

The Road to Tokyo rankings are here, and you can sort by event and country. https://worldathletics.org/stats-zone/road-to/7190593?eventId=10229534&country=USA

Jess McClain on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesstonn/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Emily Infeld, 35, recently set a 10,000m personal best of 30:59.38. Three days later, she unexpectedly got a call asking if she would like to take part in Grand Slam Track's first Slam, in Kingston, Jamaica. She flew out 13 hours later.

Despite the late notice, she held her own, finishing fifth overall and leading the way for the Americans.

Emily won a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2015 World Athletics Championships, and she's been through many ups and downs since then. After spending the first 12 years of her professional career as a Nike athlete, she signed with Brooks in January. And she's back to working with her college coach, Chris Miltenberg.

Emily talked about how her training has changed, getting the Grand Slam call (on April Fools' Day no less), and proving herself right.

Emily Infeld on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyinfeld/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!