Kara Goucher to run Leadville!!!

She's a lot like Nick Symmonds. Always has a direct line to the media. Very very media savy. She's on the most RW covers, more than any other athlete. She probably has a lifetime contract at RW.

In Portland, she was on TV constantly. She was featured as Portland's own going to the Olympics. I thought she went to U of O or PCC she was on so much. Even today I don't see any other runner get the same coverage she did. Rupp gets less local coverage.

Best of luck to her. I agree with Reed here. It'll be a hard transition and the decision took too long.

Runner 344 wrote:

This is great that Kara Goucher is doing the Leadville Trail Marathon.

Soon she can kick Camille Herron's butt.

My money would be on Camille for anything over 50K.

I'm happy Kara is coming to the trails, and the Leadville Marathon is a good first choice - it's hardly a "trail" race. Similar to the rail trail that Camille set the 100mile world record on. Definitely more road-like than trail, but she'd be an idiot to do a sky race or something similar her first time out.

Whooptee freakin do. Call me when she signs up for the Burro Race in August. Similar course, only you have to drag a burro with you.

a big bravey fan of hers wrote:

Assuming she's healthy, she's got to be the favorite, right?

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a26755214/kara-goucher-runs-leadville-trail-marathon/

She'll be strong for sure, but it's a brand new world for her. I actually really enjoyed reading her perspective in the RW article. She summed up the vast difference between roads and trails very well.

She's 40 years old, not much left to prove on the roads/track. She had an awesome career, and is still damn FINE. Wish her well in the mts of Leadville, hope more make that transition over in the coming years.

who honestly cares- props to her wrote:

a big bravey fan of hers wrote:

Assuming she's healthy, she's got to be the favorite, right?

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a26755214/kara-goucher-runs-leadville-trail-marathon/

She'll be strong for sure, but it's a brand new world for her. I actually really enjoyed reading her perspective in the RW article. She summed up the vast difference between roads and trails very well.

She's 40 years old, not much left to prove on the roads/track. She had an awesome career, and is still damn FINE. Wish her well in the mts of Leadville, hope more make that transition over in the coming years.

She's after the attention. Humble people would have just showed up to race. She "needs" everyone to know. Her career was not "that" good, or as good as many of you claim. Shalane has had a way better career on both the roads and the track. Whoever said her medal in 2007 was weak, is correct. That was proven the next year in the Olympics. Kara was solid, but not nearly what she thought she was. Her marathon was weak as well. The uniformed simply don't understand. Look at the times, it's that simple.

Selling yourself is a big part of how you can make money running. The attention gets you sponsors and keeps your sponsors. It is how you get paid. Usain Bolt endlessly promoted himself. Why? Because running careers are pretty short and if you want to do it for a living you need to cash in while you can. Just showing up to race makes you broke and nobody knows who you are.

Have to defer to Sage, whose brief & incisive analysis should be appreciated. Plus any famous runner whose name is even in the same sentence as Leadville should help ultras. Turn & Burn, Kara!$$!

Yeah, I do get it, probably more than you. She's been doing it for years. I'm 31 and I'm in marketing, 8 years now full time.

Newsflash: She's not getting paid x amount of dollars more for "saying/announcing" she's going to run it...she's not. She just want people to know about "her".

She can't keep up with the big dogs so she'll do something where the competition is not as fierce. Look her stats up, then think again about her career.

If she was 24 right now, she would O.D. on social media more than she does now. She can't, so she announces another chapter. If she bombs, then she was doing it for fun and wasn't fully prepared. If it works out, then I knew I could be good at this all along.

She'll be back on the roads soon. Oiselle was great, just a great company, remember? Does she say that now? Translation: I understand sponsorship, it's basically mind conversion to buy a product.

Kara Goucher is not broke, hardly.

jesseriley wrote:

Have to defer to Sage, whose brief & incisive analysis should be appreciated. Plus any famous runner whose name is even in the same sentence as Leadville should help ultras. Turn & Burn, Kara!$$!

You mean bow to him. You run 25 minute 5ks, he's been in the 14's. You shouldn't be in the same race as Sage.

blair2 wrote:

In an ultra the competitors line up a point A and whoever gets to point B first wins. How is that not a race? Because they are not going fast? Is high school cross country racing - those races are pretty slow too. Is there a certain pace required for an event to be considered a race? Can you provide your definition?

Also Kara is running a trail marathon not an ultra, so I don't know if you consider it a race or not.

My definition actually doesn't matter. Again, it's just my opinion, not meant to offend. I just don't see trail marathons or ultras as racing. Simple as that. I wouldn't pay to enter an event like that, nor would I spend any time watching it - even though I've been involved in running and racing since I was old enough to walk. These events to me appear to be more like something on the fringe.

Kinda like one of the "extreme" events that are "races" through obstacle courses. Just doesn't fit within my own personal definition of a race.

I don't really need to justify my opinion to you - but you asked. And again, I'm not condemning anyone for participating, as I have tons of friends who do - but just doesn't rise to the level of a competitive race like something on the track or a cross-country meet.

You have your opinion - which I'm fine with, not trying to change it - and I have mine.

You sound like a lot of fun. Very open minded and encouraging, we'll be looking for you as the top seed in the marathon trials, likely going sub 2:10 on a moderate day too.

It is your opinion...But your opinion is not on par with truth. You can believe whatever you want but that does not make it true. Opinion DOES NOT equal truth. No matter how much you want to believe it.

"Newsflash: She's not getting paid x amount of dollars more for "saying/announcing" she's going to run it...she's not. She just want people to know about "her". "

Getting her name out there and staying a household name is part of marketing. Which you know obviously. Yeah she doesn't get "paid" directly for the announcement but she got an article in Runnersworld which is good exposure and makes her more marketable to sponsors. Kara isn't broke because she is good at marketing herself. The world is full of athletes who were the best at what they do but who made less than someone worse because they sucked at marketing. Putting your head down, getting the results and staying humble doesn't pay the bills.

it's not equal wrote:

It is your opinion...But your opinion is not on par with truth. You can believe whatever you want but that does not make it true. Opinion DOES NOT equal truth. No matter how much you want to believe it.

Jesus.

Where did I say my opinion equals truth? It's a gol-dern opinion.

I understand that others consider anything with a start and finish line as a "race". And that is fine by me. Meets the fundamental definition. That's the truth.

But in my opinion, based on my observations, participation and my personal preferences, it's just not racing to me.

For a good 10k runner to move into trail running or ultras is the mark that they've given up on their racing careers and moved into something completely different. Not unlike when Salazar jumped the shark and did Comrades back in the day.

Finally - AGAIN - not trying to convince you - and yes, I know the literal definition of a race. But for me, this ain't racin'.

ToddRoadRunners wrote:

She's after the attention. Humble people would have just showed up to race. She "needs" everyone to know. Her career was not "that" good, or as good as many of you claim. Shalane has had a way better career on both the roads and the track. Whoever said her medal in 2007 was weak, is correct. That was proven the next year in the Olympics. Kara was solid, but not nearly what she thought she was. Her marathon was weak as well. The uniformed simply don't understand. Look at the times, it's that simple.

Humble people? It's professional athletes' JOB to promote the events and brands that they are involved with. The self-promotion hate is idiotic and bad for the sport.

And yet here you are posting on threads about events in which you have absolutely no interest.

Well Are We wrote:

This the same route Magdalena Lewy Boulet, an Olympic marathoner, took as she was nearing 40 and shes's done quite well for herself. Kara G may have the same kind of success. Or not.

Yes on the Magda shout-out. Goucher is doing the same thing, and it's a brilliant move.

It's pointless for anyone to call her "washed up" when everyone ages out of their peak competitive years eventually. It's not like she was stupid and flamed out young like Hall or Webb. Goucher had a long and pretty successful road/track career, and she's obviously still keen to compete but knows she can't keep up in the same events. Perfect time to see if she clicks with trail racing.

I'm going to guess people on this thread have never actually done real trail running (20+ milers with 8000 vert). You can be as fast as you want on the roads, trail running takes a different beast. It's not just about running fast. Its about nutrition (more so than a marathon), and knowing when you can run and need to walk (because it will come back to bit you hard if you don't take it easy up some early climbs). Also, can we please change this thread to "Kara Goucher to run trail marathon at Leadville"? The current title implies she is running Lead 100