DESIREE LINDEN

Benson Kipruto won the pandemic-delayed Boston Marathon as the race returned from a 30-month absence and moved to the fall for the first time in its 125-year history.

Due to COVID-19 postponements, the races known collectively as the World Marathon Majors, are all scheduled from Sept. 26 to Nov.7. It's an unprecedented crunch for both runners and wheelchair racers.

Linden averaged a mile roughly every five minutes and 47 seconds for more than 31 miles.

Now, she can be considered an elite ultramarathon runner after breaking the world record for the 50-kilometer distance by over seven minutes. On Tuesday in Eugene, Ore., Linden competed in her first 50-kilometer race in 2 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds to break the previous world record of 3:07:20 set by Aly Dixon on Sept. 1, 2019. Tuesday’s 50-kilometer effort translates into 31.06 miles and is considered an ultramarathon distance. In her world record effort, Linden averaged 5:47 per mile pace. Linden has competed in the marathon distance at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.