The Reward for Being a "Rookie" Again

Most people will be talking about Jess McCain’s podium finish at the New York Marathon yesterday, and rightly so, it was beautiful. She dug in and pulled off second place with a photo finish. It was clear that she was not going to have a repeat of her Olympic trials and miss a podium spot. It came down to a will to win in the last stretch of the race and that comes more from mental strength than fitness.

It was inspiring to watch.  It is safe to say that her 2-year hiatus from competitive running had a positive impact on her running career. I greatly admire that she had the personal insight to step away for a few years and the bravery to come back.

 But, today, I’m more interested in a race on the other side of the US, in Arizona. I want to discuss Des Linden’s 9^th place finish in the Javelina 100. She ran it in just under 17-hours, with an average pace of 10:10/mile. This may not be impressive for a runner with her resume, but this is her FIRST 100-mile race.

That is an incredible showing, in my opinion. She says she “ran like a rookie early.” I would argue that going from road to trail is a very different challenge. Not only do you have elevation on trails that you won’t see on road races, but this race also consisted of 5 laps.  20ish mile loop repeated 5 times is mentally draining.  

Every race demands a physical, emotional, and mental strength—whether on asphalt or trail. Having run two road marathons, I know the brutal discipline of holding a pace for two to four hours.

Trail racing is an entirely different discipline.

You can’t lock into a steady pace. The topography dictates your cadence and pace. You carry your own hydration and fuel, adding extra weight, and you are often miles away from spectator support or aid stations.

Road and trail running are essentially two different sports. In a 12-to-20-hour ultra, an athlete can stop to stretch a cramped calf and still take the win because so much can unfold over that distance. On the road, that lost time is nearly impossible to make a comeback.

While athletes can excel at both throughout a career, each requires a singular focus. That is why I believe Des Linden’s next chapter belongs on the trails—her trademark grit and tactical patience are built for it.

I’m a big fan of Des Linden for many reasons. First and foremost, her personality makes her a natural fit for the trail community. She lives a real, unfiltered life rather than holding herself to impossible standards. She likes whiskey and beer, and she never takes herself too seriously.

At the same time, her appetite for suffering is unreal—taking on 250 km through the Sahara Desert and racing Boston just a week later. Reading her book showed me just how deep into the shit she’s been, and how hard she worked to climb her way back out.

She has dipped her toe in the water, and I think it’s only a matter of time before she dives in. My bet? We’re about to see some incredible trail racing from her in this next chapter.

Ultimately, the lesson is clear: have the courage to reinvent yourself.

Stepping into a new arena means enduring another "rookie" phase—fumbling with unfamiliar terrain, being humbled, and putting your ego on the line. But that vulnerability is where real growth happens. Starting over doesn't mean starting from scratch. You carry  every lesson from your past with you. That accumulated wisdom becomes your unfair advantage, allowing you to adapt faster and climb higher than you could before.

Reinvention demands bravery, but the payoff is worth it. It breaks your self-imposed limits, you discover who you are under new pressure, and makes you a more capable, resilient person on and off the trail.