Who had the better career: Adam or Kara Goucher?

Kara did make multiple Olympic teams but Adam's Half Marathon PR is almost 3 minutes faster.

Both have an NCAA XC individual title.

Kara, not counting the fact that your standard hobby jogger actually knows who she is. Adam had a solid career, cut short obviously. Solid times, nothing spectacular, although very good for the time as an American. Kara's times havent been crazy either, but she's been able to stay healthy and have a more fruitful career.

I think Adam was somewhat hampered by the fact that his sweet spot seemed to by 3K to 4K and those aren't as popular of distances. Even by Runner Nerd standards.

I'm drinking and basically pulling this theory out of my butt though, so if anyone has any actual facts to refute this than my apologies.

Really, this warrants a discussion? Kara, hands down. As the president would say "full stop" "end of discussion".

He was over hyped, she ran her best under Salazar. Thus neither of them are worth talking about.

trick question: Colt Goucher will run sub 1240/2620 PRs in 25 years and go on to win the 5k/10k double gold medal in the 2040 Olympics. Calling it now.

NotAustin18 wrote:

trick question: Colt Goucher will run sub 1240/2620 PRs in 25 years and go on to win the 5k/10k double gold medal in the 2040 Olympics. Calling it now.

Too bad the question was in the past tense. And specified Adam or Kara...

You should ask them together how they measure their success.

James Howlett wrote:

Assuming that Kara is done and definitely not counting any of Adam's ElliptiGO racing career.

For those who are confused by the term ElliptiGO:

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/adam-goucher-do-elliptigo-race-weekend

I am glad to see this question asked. It means that at least the LRC crowd understands that their careers were comparable. Adam is coming to a race that I am running in August (a very low-key event called the Panda Bear Night Run in Alma, MI). The race director puts on races just about every month here in the mid-Michigan area. When he told us at the last race about Goucher, I was very excited. Everyone else just stared blankly and had to be informed that it was "Kara's husband" before they had any clue who the guy was. Enough rambling though…

Adam was a Footlocker champ and obviously gets the nod over Kara as far as HS accolades go. While Kara's college career was very impressive, Adam gets the nod there too. 4 top-ten finishes in XC is very impressive. He also had 3 track titles compared to only 2 for Kara.

Professionally, Kara has only won a single U.S. title and that came at 5000m. Adam has won two 5000m titles in addition to three XC titles. Two of those XC titles came when he became the first and only man to win both the short and long course at the USA championships. However, Kara does have global hardware courtesy of her 3rd place showing at the 2007 World Championships. To my knowledge, 6th at world XC is Adam's best global performance although that was at a time when World XC was still very competitive (2006).

On the roads is where Kara has been able to separate herself. While Adam's career was cut short due to injuries, Kara has really flourished as a marathon runner. She made the podium in both Boston and New York in her first tries in each race. Her NY performance was her debut at the distance and she was the first American woman to podium in 14 years. She also ran that ridiculous half (1:06:57!) at the Great North Run. I would argue that is the top performance that either Adam or Kara has ever had. In addition to all of this, she is hot.

In conclusion, Kara probably wins. It is an argument worth having though and had Adam stayed healthy, he could've easily been more successful.

Who was better academically?

You were making a perfectly sensible argument and then dropped the ball with your final sentence.

I don't recall any "Deer Kara Goucher" threads on here so I'm going with Adam Goucher.

Thankfully both their careers are done and as Americans we can just move on from this Goucher experiment.

How is this even a question? All of Adam's PRs are better than Kara's.

Sure, Kara is more famous because she ran a marathon or two and because Adam is not physically attractive, but clearly Mr Goucher was the faster runner.

SMJO wrote:

You were making a perfectly sensible argument and then dropped the ball with your final sentence.

Haha. Yes, this is probably true.

Both very impressive, and both battling through many setbacks with determination and grace. I think Kara 'wins' because of her WC medal on the track, but Adam's world cross short course was probably just about as good.

Adam was really liked and admired but like Webb has become the subject of jokes by the insecure trolls on this message board. Likewise, everyone liked Kara until she started doing marathons and giving interviews. Then they started hating on her and if anything it has intensified.

These trolls have no life and no self esteem, so they gotta hate. The Gouchers are among their favorite subjects.

Historian of this cesspool wrote:

Adam was really liked and admired but like Webb has become the subject of jokes by the insecure trolls on this message board. Likewise, everyone liked Kara until she started doing marathons and giving interviews. Then they started hating on her and if anything it has intensified.

These trolls have no life and no self esteem, so they gotta hate. The Gouchers are among their favorite subjects.

You didn't answer the question.

Adam was the more talented runner but by far the less mediagenic and charming. Kara benefited by swimming in a very shallow US women's talent pool. They are the Andy Roddicks of running--flashes of brilliance, moderate success, rarely won the big one.