KARA GOUCHER
Boulder, CO / Duluth, MN
Specialty:
Feel best out on the roads!
Kara started running at age six with her grandpa who was a lifelong runner. She always loved cross country and the longer distances on the track. Kara has a true love for the act of running itself; it’s how she feels the freest and most like herself.
Kara says she’s lucky to have a very successful professional career, but now she cares about protecting the sport for future generations and continuing to run for my own happiness.
Accomplishments:
3-time NCAA Champion (cross county, 3000 meters, 5000 meters).
World Championship Silver Medalist in 10,000 meters (2007).
Beijing Olympics 8th in the 5000 meter and 9th in the 10000 (2008).
3rd NYC Marathon (2008).
Faster half-marathon by an American (66:57).
3rd NYC Marathon (2008).
3rd Boston Marathon (2009).
10th in London Olympic Marathon (2012).
3rd North Face 50k California (2019).
How fast do you think you could run a backwards mile?
What is one of your most memorable non-competition runs?
When my husband, Adam Goucher, and I—along with Kevin and Shanna Burnette—decided to run from Nederland to Winter Park with a 5 mile add on loop. We ended up going way off course and that 16-mile run turned into 26!! But the sights were out of this world and the experience was something I will always remember.
If you had to pick one race or event this year that you anticipate will be your most proud achievement or moment, which one would it be and why? Do you have a special connection?
I’m looking forward to going out and trying to rock a quick mile. The mile was the first race I ever fell in love with and tried so hard to break five minutes in high school. (Ran 5:00.97 my last race ever in high school.) Am hoping to channel my younger self to see 4:59.9 at some point this year!
What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t participate in?
The 800 meters on the track. Such a hard event and beautiful to watch unfold.
Do you have any quirky running habits?
Who doesn’t?! I can’t end a run unless my milage is at some measurement of a quarter mile. For instance, I could not stop at 7.89 or 8.15. I’d have to go to 8.00 or 8.25, respectively.
WOULD YOU RATHER:
Eat a slice of pizza mid-race or drink a milkshake?
Pizza!
Run on an empty stomach or a full bladder?
Yikes, I had a full bladder during the 2009 Boston Marathon and it was horrible, I think I’m going empty stomach!
Do a beer mile or a milk mile?
Beer mile!
Run in the freezing cold or the sweltering heat?
Freezing cold.
Be met at the finish line with your favorite beverage or favorite meal?
Beverage!
Come across a snake or a rat on your run?
RAT, I hate snakes!
Run with a blister on your foot or a cramp in your side?
Blister all the way!
Give up core work or stretching and still stay injury-free?
Stretching!
Run uphill in the first half of your run or the second?
First half!