Boston Marathon Champion and US Olympian Des Linden to keynote the 2019 RACE-MANIA Summit and Expo
January 22, 2019 – Sun Multisport Events today announced that DES LINDEN, 2x U.S. Olympic marathon team member and winner of the 2018 Boston Marathon, will keynote the RACE-MANIA Summit and Expo held on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at the Boston University Fit Rec Center in Boston, MA. RACE-MANIA is the Northeast’s premier gathering dedicated to educating, equipping and inspiring endurance athletes preparing for the start of a new season.
Following a successful collegiate career where she was a 2x All-American in track and cross country at Arizona State University, Linden grabbed the attention of the marathon world with her thrilling 2nd place finish at the 2011 Boston Marathon. Her time of 2:22:38 was, at the time, the fastest ever run by an American woman in the Boston Marathon and just 2 seconds behind winner Caroline Kilel. She went on to qualify as a member of the US Olympic marathon team for the London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016) Olympic games. In April of 2018, Linden overcame torrential rains, biting headwinds and temperatures in the 40’s F to become the first US women’s champion at the Boston Marathon in 33 years. Her winning time of 2:39:55 bested a stacked field and what many consider the worst conditions in race history. Linden will return to the Boston Marathon to defend her title on April 15, 2019.
Attendees of RACE-MANIA will have multiple opportunities to connect with Linden and hear her speak. She will be available at 11:00am for a “Meet & Greet” on the RACE-MANIA expo floor and then participate in a keynote Q&A moderated by endurance sports legend and Boston Marathon Race Director, DAVE McGILLIVRAY, at 1:15pm. A limited number of attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for the RACE-MANIA VIP Pass which will include participation in a shakeout run followed by light breakfast with Linden the morning of RACE-MANIA, priority seating for the keynote Q&A and a special goodie bag. (Already registered for RACE-MANIA? No problem! Click here to upgrade your registration to the VIP Pass by selecting “Change Category”).
RACE-MANIA offers endurance athletes an energy-packed day that features educational presentations, hands on-clinics and workshops, competitive events, a vendor expo and more. Linden joins a terrific line-up of speakers that also includes renowned cycling coach, HUNTER ALLEN; the “Voice of IRONMAN”, MIKE REILLY; motivational speaker and coach, MEREDITH ATWOOD; and others. Registered attendees have an opportunity to win one of two grand prize giveaways which include the Marathon Sports Ultimate Runner’s Package (value: $1,000) or one of two RaceQuest Travel packages (either a 2020 RaceQuest Travel 4-day/5-night Training Camp trip in Costa Rica worth $2,595 or a 2020 Challenge Roth race entry and 7-night tour valued at $3,595). Complete details can be found here.
RACE-MANIA is produced by Sun Multisport Events and Platinum-level sponsors include Breakthrough Performance Coaching, Marathon Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Marathon Sports, Peaks Coaching Group and RaceQuest Travel. Boston University’s Fit Rec Center, located at 915 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, MA, provides state-of-the-art facilities for RACE-MANIA, including 25,000+ square feet for the expo, a high-tech theater for presentations, multiple classrooms for clinics and workshops, an indoor track and a world-class pool.
About Sun Multisport Events (SME):
Sun Multisport Events is New England’s premier, award-winning endurance event production company. SME offers a unique set of events that attracts a diverse set of endurance athletes. In addition to the RACE-MANIA Summit and Expo, SME produces sprint, Olympic and half distance multisport races and “Barn to Run”, New England’s first and only farm-based trail race series. SME won “Best Triathlon Series” (2013) and its Patriot Half won “Best Small Race” (2017, 2013) in the Triathlete’s Choice Awards and “Best Triathlon” in the Best of Competitor 2016 (Northeast). Visit the Sun Multiport Events website to learn more.
RACE-MANIA exhibitor and attendee inquiries:
Mark Walter
Owner, Sun Multisport Events
Phone: 781-414-0437
Email: info@SunMultisportEvents.com
