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Des Linden Sets New 50k World Record of 2:59:54 (Unofficial)

Desiree Linden unofficially sets a new 50-kilometer world record of 2:59:54.
By on April 13, 2021 | Comments
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At a small race in Oregon on April 13, 2021, 2018 Boston Marathon champion and road beast Desiree “Des” Linden made the leap to ultrarunning and unofficially set a new 50-kilometer world record of 2:59:54.

The previous record was set by Great Britain’s Aly Dixon at 3:07:20 during the 2019 50k World Championships.

Des Linden - 50k World Record - Brooks Running

Des Linden setting a new 50k world record in Oregon on April 13, 2021. Photo: Brooks Running

The event had no live timing and limited live coverage, with most of the latter coming from two Twitter feeds, that of journalist Sarah Lorge Butler and the Boston Athletics Association’s Boston Marathon Pro feed.

Here’s Boston Marathon Pro’s finish video:

And here’s Butler’s breakdown of Linden’s splits:

So, if these splits end up correct, she went 5:47 minute-mile pace for the first half marathon, was still at 5:46 overall pace at the marathon mark, and finished with a 5:47 overall pace for 50k. Talk about consistency!

The previous world record by Dixon of 3:07:20 had been set in Romania at the 2019 50k World Championships, the last time that championships were contested.

What a solid ultrarunning debut! We looking forward to learning more details about her run.

This was the Brooks Running video introducing her attempt from last week:

Related articles:

  1. Des Linden’s Journey to the 50k World Record Watch this video about Des Linden setting the women's 50k world record earlier this year....
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  3. CJ Albertson Sets 50k World Record in 2:38:43 CJ Albertson breaks the 50k world record in a time of 2:38:43....
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Meghan Hicks

Meghan Hicks is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar. She’s been running since she was 13 years old, and writing and editing about the sport for around 15 years. She served as iRunFar’s Managing Editor from 2013 through mid-2023, when she stepped into the role of Editor-in-Chief. Aside from iRunFar, Meghan has worked in communications and education in several of America’s national parks, was a contributing editor for Trail Runner magazine, and served as a columnist at Marathon & Beyond. She’s the co-author of Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running with Bryon Powell. She won the 2013 Marathon des Sables, finished on the podium of the Hardrock 100 Mile in 2021, and has previously set fastest known times on the Nolan’s 14 mountain running route in 2016 and 2020. Based part-time in Moab, Utah and Silverton, Colorado, Meghan also enjoys reading, biking, backpacking, and watching sunsets.