Kara Goucher
Encyclopedia
Kara Goucher is an American
long-distance runner.
after her father was killed by a drunk driver on the Harlem River Drive
. When her mother remarried, Kara took her stepfather's name, and was known as Kara Wheeler. Kara got started running in high school. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, fellow American runner Adam Goucher
and is coached by American running legend Alberto Salazar
. Kara gave birth to a boy, Colton Mirko, on September 25, 2010.
Outdoor Champion in 3000 m and 5000 m, the NCAA Cross Country Champion, and also a 5000 m Olympic Trials Finalist (8th). She graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001.
at the 2006 IAAF World Cup
in a new personal best time of 8:41.42. Her 3k time led the nation and her 10k time ranked her as the 2nd fastest American woman of all-time. At the 2007 IAAF World Championships
in Osaka, Japan she won the bronze medal in the women's 10,000 m event.
In September 2007, she won the Great North Run
in 1:06:57, the fastest woman's half-marathon time of the year, setting a new American best time at the distance and beating marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe
, on the latter's comeback from pregnancy and injury. The half-marathon was Goucher's first competitive race longer than 10k.
Goucher kicked off 2008 with a win in the prestigious Millrose Games
mile with a PR of 4:36:03. At the 2008 Prefontaine Classic
track meet in Eugene
, Oregon
, USA, Goucher ran the 5000 m, the same race as the World Record attempt by Meseret Defar
. Goucher ran well to place 3rd behind Defar and Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot
in her second fastest ever time of 14:58.10. Defar failed in her attempt but won the race in 14:38.73.
Goucher is a member of the Nike Oregon Project
, a project designed to improve standards in American Distance running. There she trains with fellow athletes Galen Rupp
, her husband Adam Goucher
, Josh Rohatinsky
, Amy Yoder Begley and Alan Webb
.
Goucher raced in the USATF Championships and Olympic Trials
on June 27, 2008, in the 5000 m and the 10,000 m. The championships were held at Hayward Field
, Eugene, Oregon
. Goucher already had the Olympic A Standard, but achieved it again, recording 31:37.72 at 10,000 m, finishing second behind American record-holder Shalane Flanagan
's 31:34.81. In the 5000 m, Goucher won her semi final heat with a time of 15:32.32, and won the final race with a time of 15:01.02.
Goucher competed in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics
10,000 m final where she placed tenth with a personal best time of 30:55.16, and the 5000 m where she placed ninth with a time of 15:49.39.
Goucher made her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon
on November 2, 2008. She finished in third place in a time of 2:25:53, becoming the first American on the podium since Anne Marie Lauck
was third in 1994. Goucher was chosen as the 2008 Road Runner of the Year in the Open Female division by the Road Runners Club of America
.
The next year, she won the 2009 Lisbon Half Marathon
, and placed third in the 2009 Boston Marathon
in a time of 2:32:25. She finished tenth in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, with a time of 2:27:48.
Goucher became pregnant in early 2010 and took a season away from competition as a result. Following the birth of her child, Colt, she returned to competition at the Arizona Half Marathon in January 2011, and finished as the runner-up behind Madaí Pérez
. At the 2011 New York City Half Marathon, she placed 3rd with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 3 seconds.
In January 2011, Goucher signed an endorsement deal with vitamin and supplement company Nutrilite
, which sponsors the Rock 'n' Roll race series.
In April 2011, Goucher returned to marathoning at the 2011 Boston Marathon, where she ultimately placed 5th with a time of 2:24:52, setting a new personal best by a minute,
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
long-distance runner.
Personal life
Goucher was born in Queens, New York. When she was 4 years old her family (mother Patty and sisters Kelly and Kendall) moved to Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
after her father was killed by a drunk driver on the Harlem River Drive
Harlem River Drive
The Harlem River Drive is a north–south parkway in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It runs along the west bank of the Harlem River from the Triborough Bridge in East Harlem to 10th Avenue in Inwood, where the parkway continues north as Dyckman Street. The portion of the Harlem River Drive...
. When her mother remarried, Kara took her stepfather's name, and was known as Kara Wheeler. Kara got started running in high school. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, fellow American runner Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.-Background:Goucher attended Doherty High...
and is coached by American running legend Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
. Kara gave birth to a boy, Colton Mirko, on September 25, 2010.
College career
As a runner for the University of Colorado, Goucher broke out in 2000, becoming the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Outdoor Champion in 3000 m and 5000 m, the NCAA Cross Country Champion, and also a 5000 m Olympic Trials Finalist (8th). She graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001.
Professional career
After college Goucher battled injuries for several years, but then came back strong in 2006. After finishing 2nd in the 5k at the USATF Outdoor Championships in 2006, she set PRs at all distances on the international circuit, running the World “A” Standard in the 1500 m, 5000 m, and 10000 m. She finished third in 3000 metres3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
at the 2006 IAAF World Cup
2006 IAAF World Cup
The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece....
in a new personal best time of 8:41.42. Her 3k time led the nation and her 10k time ranked her as the 2nd fastest American woman of all-time. At the 2007 IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
in Osaka, Japan she won the bronze medal in the women's 10,000 m event.
In September 2007, she won the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
in 1:06:57, the fastest woman's half-marathon time of the year, setting a new American best time at the distance and beating marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours...
, on the latter's comeback from pregnancy and injury. The half-marathon was Goucher's first competitive race longer than 10k.
Goucher kicked off 2008 with a win in the prestigious Millrose Games
Millrose Games
The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet held on the first Friday in February in New York City. They will be held at the Armory in Washington Heights in 2012, after having taken place in Madison Square Garden from 1914 to 2011...
mile with a PR of 4:36:03. At the 2008 Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
track meet in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, USA, Goucher ran the 5000 m, the same race as the World Record attempt by Meseret Defar
Meseret Defar
Meseret Defar is a female long-distance runner from Ethiopia who competes chiefly in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres events. She has won medals at top-tier international competitions including Olympic and World Championship gold medals over 5000 metres...
. Goucher ran well to place 3rd behind Defar and Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot
Vivian Cheruiyot
Vivian Cheruiyot is an athlete from Kenya who specialises in long distance running. She represented Kenya at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics...
in her second fastest ever time of 14:58.10. Defar failed in her attempt but won the race in 14:38.73.
Goucher is a member of the Nike Oregon Project
Nike Oregon Project
Nike's Oregon Project is a group created by athletic shoe company Nike in 2001 to promote American long distance running, using air thinning technology. The runners live and train in Portland, Oregon near Nike's headquarters...
, a project designed to improve standards in American Distance running. There she trains with fellow athletes Galen Rupp
Galen Rupp
Galen Rupp is an American cross-country and track and field athlete, who competed for the University of Oregon and currently trains under Alberto Salazar as a member of the Oregon Track Club. Rupp competed for his native country in the men's 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,...
, her husband Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher is a retired American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competed in distance events and is featured in Running With The Buffaloes, a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team.-Background:Goucher attended Doherty High...
, Josh Rohatinsky
Josh Rohatinsky
Josh Rohatinsky is an American long-distance running athlete. He was the NCAA Men's Cross Country Champion in 2006 while running for BYU...
, Amy Yoder Begley and Alan Webb
Alan Webb (athlete)
Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
.
Goucher raced in the USATF Championships and Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
on June 27, 2008, in the 5000 m and the 10,000 m. The championships were held at Hayward Field
Hayward Field
Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon's football team from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams since 1921...
, Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. Goucher already had the Olympic A Standard, but achieved it again, recording 31:37.72 at 10,000 m, finishing second behind American record-holder Shalane Flanagan
Shalane Flanagan
Shalane Flanagan is an American distance runner. She currently holds the American record times in the 3000 m , 5000 m , and 10,000 m...
's 31:34.81. In the 5000 m, Goucher won her semi final heat with a time of 15:32.32, and won the final race with a time of 15:01.02.
Goucher competed in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
10,000 m final where she placed tenth with a personal best time of 30:55.16, and the 5000 m where she placed ninth with a time of 15:49.39.
Goucher made her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
on November 2, 2008. She finished in third place in a time of 2:25:53, becoming the first American on the podium since Anne Marie Lauck
Anne Marie Lauck
Anne Marie Letko is an American long-distance runner who competed in the Summer Olympics in 1996 and 2000 ....
was third in 1994. Goucher was chosen as the 2008 Road Runner of the Year in the Open Female division by the Road Runners Club of America
Road Runners Club of America
Founded in 1958, the Road Runners Club of America is the oldest and largest distance running organization in the United States with over 1500 running club and event members representing 200,000 individual runners active in their running communities...
.
The next year, she won the 2009 Lisbon Half Marathon
Lisbon Half Marathon
First held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short , excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted...
, and placed third in the 2009 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in a time of 2:32:25. She finished tenth in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, with a time of 2:27:48.
Goucher became pregnant in early 2010 and took a season away from competition as a result. Following the birth of her child, Colt, she returned to competition at the Arizona Half Marathon in January 2011, and finished as the runner-up behind Madaí Pérez
Madaí Pérez
Madaí Pérez Carrillo is a Mexican long-distance runner. She represented Mexico in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.- Career :...
. At the 2011 New York City Half Marathon, she placed 3rd with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 3 seconds.
In January 2011, Goucher signed an endorsement deal with vitamin and supplement company Nutrilite
Nutrilite
Nutrilite is a brand of mineral, vitamin, and dietary supplements created in 1934 by Dr. Carl F. Rehnborg. Nutrilite products are currently manufactured by Access Business Group, a subsidiary of Alticor whose products are sold via the Amway and Amway Global Corporations worldwide...
, which sponsors the Rock 'n' Roll race series.
In April 2011, Goucher returned to marathoning at the 2011 Boston Marathon, where she ultimately placed 5th with a time of 2:24:52, setting a new personal best by a minute,
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing the 2008 New York City Marathon New York City MarathonThe New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...New York City, New York 3rd 2:25:53 2009 Boston Marathon Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...Boston, Massachusetts 3rd 2:32:25 2009 World Championships 2009 World Championships in AthleticsThe 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....Berlin, Germany 10th 2:27:48 2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's MarathonThe Women's Marathon event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics took place on August 23, 2009 in the streets of Berlin, Germany. The race started at 11:15h local time.-Medalists:-Abbreviations:...2011 Boston Marathon Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...Boston, Massachusetts 5th 2:24:52
Personal records
| distance | performance | location | date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 m | 4:05.14 | Rieti Rieti Rieti is a city and comune in Lazio, central Italy, with a population of c. 47,700. It is the capital of province of Rieti.The town centre rests on a small hilltop, commanding a wide plain at the southern edge of an ancient lake. The area is now the fertile basin of the Velino River... |
27 August 2006 |
| One Mile (indoor) | 4:33.19 | New York, NY | 30 January 2009 |
| 2000 m | 5:41.28 | Eugene, Oregon Eugene, Oregon Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S... |
7 June 2009 |
| 3000 m | 8:34.99 | Rieti Rieti Rieti is a city and comune in Lazio, central Italy, with a population of c. 47,700. It is the capital of province of Rieti.The town centre rests on a small hilltop, commanding a wide plain at the southern edge of an ancient lake. The area is now the fertile basin of the Velino River... |
9 September 2007 |
| Two Miles | 9:41.32 | Carson, CA | 20 May 2007 |
| 5000 m | 14:55.02 | Berlin Berlin Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union... |
16 September 2007 |
| 10,000 m | 30:55.16 | Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... |
15 August 2008 |
| Ten Miles | 53:16 | Minneapolis, MN | 5 October 2008 |
| Half marathon (downhill course) |
1:06:57 | Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne... |
30 September 2007 |
| Half marathon |
1:08:05 | Chicago, Illinois | 2 August 2009 |
| Marathon |
2:24:52 | Boston, MA | 18 April 2011 |
Audio interview
- Kara Goucher Podcast: "Back in Action and Hungry for Gold"
- TheFinalSprint.com's interview with Kara Goucher on 6/8/07
Video/pictures
- http://liveearth.org/liveearthblog/liveearth-tv-episode-3-kara-goucher-on-the-run-for-waterInterview on Live EarthLive Earth-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
TV] - Video of Kara Goucher by italian web magazine
- Flotrack.org coverage of Kara Goucher including her race videos, interviews and pictures
- Kara Goucher`s interview after she won the Bronze at Osaka, Japan 2007