Relatively new to the running scene, but tearing the asphalt up behind her, Kara Goucher, born July 9th, 1978, is a superstar in the making, in the field of long-distance running. Born in Queens, New York, Kara suffered great loss early on when her father lost his life to a drunk driver. She was just four when she and the rest of her surviving family changed hometowns to Duluth, Minnesota, where Kara’s mother could raise the kids with the help of her parents, Ola and Cal.
A very tight-knit family, Ola and Cal filled the void of a lost father extremely well, becoming surrogate parents themselves, a role in which they thrived. For Kara, family was the key and the strength she needed to blossom in those early years. Kara’s sisters, Kendall and Kelly, her mother Pat, and her grandparents, have a great deal to do with Kara’s success; they have been her support, her cheerleaders, and her best friends through injury, disappointment and achievement.
Kara’s love of long-distance running was discovered in seventh grade. She wanted an award the local junior high school gave out, but in order to gain it, she needed participation in a sport. Due to the cross-country team’s reputation of never cutting students, she felt it was safe choice. The chance awakened in her a love for running that would propel her forward into athletic greatness.
Education was emphasized heavily and Kara was not allowed to neglect her studies in favor of athletics. A well-rounded individual, Kara was also involved in dance and music while in high school. Eventually, though, she had to make a choice between that and running, as training was taking over her free time. As one of the top runners in the state beginning in junior high, the decision, though difficult, was clear.
High school saw Kara achieve notoriety and start really gaining a reputation for herself. Duluth East High School enjoyed a record number of cross-country championships with the help of young Kara. It was at a competitive run against Carrie Tollefson, which Kara lost by one second that eventually led to meeting her husband, Adam Goucher (2006 4k short course 1st place winner at the World Championship games). Kara was told by her coach that she had lost because she wore tights as she ran; Carrie chose not to don the popular accessory, regardless what temperature it was. Ever after, Kara has refused tights, even when she triumphed at the NCAA cross-country title on shatteringly cold day in 2000. When Adam Goucher saw the shivering champion, he gave her his coat to keep her warm. Nothing sparked at the time, but that would not always be the case; they married in 2001.
2008 ran Kara at her first marathon in New York City. With a time of 2:25:53, she came in a strong third and gained title of the best marathon debut by an American woman ever; she beat out Deena Castor’s time of 2:26:58. For the first time in 14 long years, an American woman placed in the top three for the revered race. In 2009, landing another solid third place in her second run, she ended the Boston marathon with an impressive time of 2:32:25.
A place in history is hers forever thanks to her winning the first American medal ever in the women’s 10,000-meter at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships. She outmatched the competition in the 5000-meters and took second in the 10,000-meter Olympic trials in 2008.
She’s been victim to several injuries that have kept her out of training, however, and these are always worrisome to any athlete. She also has what she calls ‘negative self chatter’, which are basically nagging self doubts, taking on the form of an inner dialogue with herself. She has a small problem with talking herself down or out of a competition she believes may be too challenging. With the help with a sports psychologist, she’s making great strides in this area.
Currently, as of 2010, Adam and Kara are both on hiatus and eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, a son. Kara expects to resume training when after the baby is born and is looking forward to both motherhood and returning to long-distance running.