GU Energy Labs is thrilled to announce their partnership with two-time Olympian, Boston Marathon champion, and 50k world record holder Des Linden. Linden, who ran her last professional road race at the 2025 Boston Marathon, plans to transition to a trail focused race calendar in 2026 and is excited to be working with a brand so connected to iconic trail events like the Western States Endurance Run.
“I’m very trail curious! Leaving the roads really opens the door to test out new surfaces and distances and I’m pretty excited about that,” says Linden. “I have no clue if I have the tools to make me successful on the trails, or at any distance over 50k, but the idea of being curious and a bit scared about testing it out is fun.”
The partnership is a natural one for both parties, as the two have long been connected unofficially through a longstanding friendship between GU President Magda Boulet and Linden that began with a college recruiting visit to UC Berkeley in the 1990s. “Teaming up with GU goes beyond the product and is also heavily influenced by the people involved with the brand. It’s a thrill to finally be teammates with Magda. I’m intrigued to see what we can make happen through collaborating.”
Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of this partnership which will see Linden working closely with GU’s Performance Lab, led Director of Research and Education Roxanne Vogel, PhD, to help her optimize fueling strategies with science-backed products and protocols.
Linden’s influence extends beyond her athletic achievements, as she is also an author and podcast host who truly loves the running journey, regardless of the challenges. “To have the opportunity to collaborate with an athlete as talented, accomplished, and respected as Des is truly an honor for me and GU. We have the chance to help her write the next chapter of her career, which is really exciting. I have no doubt she will accomplish great things in the trail running world,” says GU’s Elite Athlete Manager, Yuri Hauswald.
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