When Jennifer Kyle asked her 3-year-old son, Desmond, who he was watching run the Boston Marathon last week, his answer was direct — “Me.”

Kyle told CBS Boston that she made her son, who goes by “Des” for short, a runner’s outfit, complete with a bib made from a post-it note, for him to wear as he watched 2018 marathon champion Desiree “Des” Linden compete in the race.

Desmond’s grandfather, Scott Simmonds, shared a photo of the 3-year-old’s outfit the next day.

Soon, the Pembroke boy would get a gift from the runner with whom he shares a nickname, according to CBS Boston.


The station reports that Simmonds ran into Linden at Logan Airport. He showed her a video of his grandson watching her run the marathon earlier in the week and asked for an autograph.

Instead, Linden pulled out her bib from the marathon and signed it for him to give to the 3-year-old.

“Desmond, keep showing up!” she wrote.

Kyle told CBS Boston that she’s tried to frame the paper, but her son has insisted on wearing it.

In response to Simmonds thanking her on Twitter, Linden weighed in on the 3-year-old’s running attire.

“Needed a proper bib,” she wrote.

Watch the CBS Boston report: