Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 meter runner Kara Goucher has announced that she is going to make her marathon debut at New York City this year, and that she has been planning on running it since she rode in the media vehicle during last year’s race.
“Last year when I watched the race first hand, I decided I wanted to run in New York,” said Goucher. “The ING New York City Marathon is one of the most prestigious, and the course is challenging, so I’m excited for my first marathon to be this one. I have a strong emotional connection to New York, as it is where I was born, where my family lives, and where my father passed away. This one will be personal for me and my family.”
Kara is coached by Alberto Salazar, who has won the New York City Marathon multiple times. He believes that she is capable of debuting in 2 hours and 22 minutes, which would make her the 3rd fastest marathoner in the country after Deena Kastor and Joan Samuelson.
It should make for an interesting race to watch. Kara has been really successful on the track over the past couple of years after not making much noise for 4 or 5 years following her graduation from the University of Colorado in 2001.
She still intends to run on the track following her marathon, covering distances between the 1 mile and the marathon over the next 3 years and bettering her 5k mark to 14:30 and her 10k mark to 30 minutes. “I think you have to be good all-around, and if I want to be the best marathoner in the world, I have to be able to run world class times at those other distances,” she says.
More Info: Press Release – New York Times – Runner’s World Interview
Photo Credit: Victah Sailer
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