Des Linden may have retired from running professionally after the 2025 Boston Marathon , but that didn’t mean she was stepping away from the sport entirely . That’s something she made clear after crossing the finish line on Bolyston Street last April. “It’s not retirement, it’s just moving on to something a little bit different, and I’m excited to try something new, to try new distances,” Linden said following her 2:26:19 effort for 17th place last year. But even after a year full of exploring new endeavors in running, from trail races to a multi-stage ultramarathon, perhaps it’s no surprise that the 2018 Boston Marathon champion still found herself yet again donning her honorary “Des” winner’s bib at the start line in Hopkinton on Monday. One year removed from her final pro race, Linden completed the 2026 Boston Marathon—her 13th time lining up for the World Marathon Major—this time running alongside the rest of the over 30,000 runners in the mass field and pacing her husband, Ryan.…