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Kara Goucher Moving to Colorado

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Dec 12th 2013, 1:51pm
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Follow Your Heart

Published by Kara Goucher on December 12, 2013

“Follow your heart” is one of my favorite sayings.  I’ve trusted my instincts a lot in my life, and it has gotten me pretty far.  I trusted my gut when it told me to go to Colorado over Georgetown way back in 1996.  Nothing against Georgetown, but Colorado was the perfect fit for me.  I trusted myself when in 2004 I felt I needed a coaching change and moved out to Oregon.  I listened to my heart in 2009 when the voice inside said, “you need more.”  Colt was welcomed into our lives in 2010.  Two years ago I made a switch to a different training group, and I landed on the 2012 Olympic team.  My heart hasn’t let me down.

And so here I am, 35 years old, 12 1/2 years into a professional career, and I am following my heart again.  Adam, Colt, and I are moving back to Boulder, CO.  I am returning to finish out my elite career under the program in which I started.  Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs are my new/old coaches.  I could not feel better or more confident about this decision.

How I got to this point is a long story.  The short story is that I felt like I needed something different.  I reached out to Mark and Heather and they were kind enough to welcome me back.  Their other post-collegiate athletes were kind enough to welcome me as well.  Jerry Schumacher and Pascal Dobert, my current coaches, are sad to see me go but very supportive of my decision.  My teammates have been very supportive as well, especially Shalane Flanagan and Emily Infeld.

This is not an easy move.  Adam and I have lived in Portland for more than 9 years.  We built a life here.  We grew as a couple, built a home, had a child.  We connected with the community, which embraced us from the beginning.  We have made friendships that we will cherish for life.  Our son is a native Oregonian.  We have endless good memories here.

Yet, I have felt a calling to go back to Boulder.  I feel almost giddy with excitement when I think about training with Mark and Heather.  I have a lot of big goals left and I feel like they are the ones to help me achieve them.  Although I am saddened to leave a place I love, I know the right decision is to move back to Boulder.

 

KARA GOUCHER RETURNING TO BOULDER TO BE COACHED BY MARK WETMORE
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(12-Dec) -- After nine years of living and training in Portland, Ore., under coaches Alberto Salazar and Jerry Schumacher, two-time Olympian Kara Goucher has decided to move back to Boulder, Colo., where she will train under her college coaches, Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs, at the University of Colorado.  Goucher, 35, revealed her plans in a blog entry posted this morning.

"'Follow your heart' is one of my favorite sayings," Goucher wrote.  "I've trusted my instincts a lot in my life, and it has gotten me pretty far."  She continued: "My heart hasn’t let me down."

Goucher, who won the bronze medal at 10,000m at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, moved to Oregon in 2004 with husband Adam to be coached by Salazar.  Under Salazar, Goucher enjoyed excellent progress, making her first Olympic team in 2008, in both the 5000m and 10,000m; lowering her 5000m and 10,000m personal bests to 14:55.02 and 30:55.16, respectively; and running the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman in 2008, 2:25:53, at the New York City Marathon.  She also ran a spectacular 1:06:57 at the 2007 Great North Run half-marathon in Newcastle, England; she is still the only American woman to win that prestigious race in its 33-year history.

In 2011, she made an emotionally-charged change to part with Salazar and join Schumacher's group, where her primary training partner became Shalane Flanagan.  Under Schumacher, Goucher was also successful, taking fifth at the 2011 Boston Marathon, finishing third at the 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Trials, and placing 11th at the 2012 Olympic Marathon in London.

"And so here I am, 35 years old, 12 1/2 years into a professional career, and I am following my heart again," Goucher continued.  "Adam, Colt, and I are moving back to Boulder, Colo.  I am returning to finish out my elite career under the program in which I started.  Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs are my new/old coaches.  I could not feel better or more confident about this decision."

Wetmore, whose collegiate men's team just won the NCAA Division I Cross Country title last month, already coaches two professional athletes, both Colorado alumni like Goucher: two-time world championships medalist Jenny Simpson and Olympic steeplechase finalist Emma Coburn.

Goucher was predictably circumspect when giving her reasons for leaving Schumacher's group.  She said that she simply "needed something different" for her family, which now includes three year-old son, Colt, born in September, 2010.

"I reached out to Mark and Heather and they were kind enough to welcome me back," Goucher wrote.  "Their other post-collegiate athletes were kind enough to welcome me as well.  Jerry Schumacher and Pascal Dobert, my current coaches, are sad to see me go but very supportive of my decision.  My teammates have been very supportive as well, especially Shalane Flanagan and Emily Infeld."

Flanagan, who became good friends with Goucher, tweeted this morning, "going to miss the endless chatter and giggles over all the miles," attaching a photo of the two women hugging before the start of the Boston Marathon.

Since finishing fifth over 10,000m at the USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines last June, Goucher has only competed in low-key races, like the Stumptown Cross Country Race Series in Portland, in October and November, where she competed twice.  She had planned to run the TCS New York City Marathon last November, but withdrew from the race at the end of August because a foot injury had been slow to heal.

Goucher underscored in her blog post that she was not done with running at a high level, and dismissed the inevitable speculation that always accompanies coaching changes for top athletes.

"There is no dramatic story here, I just need something different," she concluded.  "I have had to be brave many times before, and I’m being brave again.  I have found the courage to trust my instincts and to follow my heart.  After nine great years in Oregon I am headed back to the place and the coaches who helped me begin this journey.  It feels right and I’m excited about the future.  2014 is going to be an exciting year.  I feel like my future is limitless."


ENDS



Read the full article at: www.karagoucher.com

More news

5 comment(s)
DougB
Kara Goucher was at the Foot Locker awards banquet last night, shaking hands with all of the girls as they came onto the stage at the Hotel Del.

The most public evidence yet (and basically confirmation) that Kara is a free agent.
Chris Nickinson
KARA GOUCHER RETURNING TO BOULDER TO BE COACHED BY MARK WETMORE
By David Monti, @d9monti
© 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

(12-Dec) -- After nine years of living and training in Portland, Ore., under coaches Alberto Salazar and Jerry Schumacher, two-time Olympian Kara Goucher has decided to move back to Boulder, Colo., where she will train under her college coaches, Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs, at the University of Colorado. Goucher, 35, revealed her plans in a blog entry posted this morning.

"'Follow your heart' is one of my favorite sayings," Goucher wrote. "I've trusted my instincts a lot in my life, and it has gotten me pretty far." She continued: "My heart hasn’t let me down."

Goucher, who won the bronze medal at 10,000m at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, moved to Oregon in 2004 with husband Adam to be coached by Salazar. Under Salazar, Goucher enjoyed excellent progress, making her first Olympic team in 2008, in both the 5000m and 10,000m; lowering her 5000m and 10,000m personal bests to 14:55.02 and 30:55.16, respectively; and running the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman in 2008, 2:25:53, at the New York City Marathon. She also ran a spectacular 1:06:57 at the 2007 Great North Run half-marathon in Newcastle, England; she is still the only American woman to win that prestigious race in its 33-year history.

In 2011, she made an emotionally-charged change to part with Salazar and join Schumacher's group, where her primary training partner became Shalane Flanagan. Under Schumacher, Goucher was also successful, taking fifth at the 2011 Boston Marathon, finishing third at the 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Trials, and placing 11th at the 2012 Olympic Marathon in London.

"And so here I am, 35 years old, 12 1/2 years into a professional career, and I am following my heart again," Goucher continued. "Adam, Colt, and I are moving back to Boulder, Colo. I am returning to finish out my elite career under the program in which I started. Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs are my new/old coaches. I could not feel better or more confident about this decision."

Wetmore, whose collegiate men's team just won the NCAA Division I Cross Country title last month, already coaches two professional athletes, both Colorado alumni like Goucher: two-time world championships medalist Jenny Simpson and Olympic steeplechase finalist Emma Coburn.

Goucher was predictably circumspect when giving her reasons for leaving Schumacher's group. She said that she simply "needed something different" for her family, which now includes three year-old son, Colt, born in September, 2010.

"I reached out to Mark and Heather and they were kind enough to welcome me back," Goucher wrote. "Their other post-collegiate athletes were kind enough to welcome me as well. Jerry Schumacher and Pascal Dobert, my current coaches, are sad to see me go but very supportive of my decision. My teammates have been very supportive as well, especially Shalane Flanagan and Emily Infeld."

Flanagan, who became good friends with Goucher, tweeted this morning, "going to miss the endless chatter and giggles over all the miles," attaching a photo of the two women hugging before the start of the Boston Marathon.

Since finishing fifth over 10,000m at the USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines last June, Goucher has only competed in low-key races, like the Stumptown Cross Country Race Series in Portland, in October and November, where she competed twice. She had planned to run the TCS New York City Marathon last November, but withdrew from the race at the end of August because a foot injury had been slow to heal.

Goucher underscored in her blog post that she was not done with running at a high level, and dismissed the inevitable speculation that always accompanies coaching changes for top athletes.

"There is no dramatic story here, I just need something different," she concluded. "I have had to be brave many times before, and I’m being brave again. I have found the courage to trust my instincts and to follow my heart. After nine great years in Oregon I am headed back to the place and the coaches who helped me begin this journey. It feels right and I’m excited about the future. 2014 is going to be an exciting year. I feel like my future is limitless."


ENDS
Chris Nickinson


Anybody remember this?
Scott Bush
Prediction: Kara finds new energy and new racing life in Colorado, hitting the trails, getting strong, staying healthy and rocks an outstanding fall marathon (top 5 at NYC, perhaps).
Chris Nickinson
And she has a new website!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Kara Goucher Announces the Launch of New Interactive Website Alongside an Exciting Move Back to Her Collegiate Roots

December 12, 2013 – Portland, Oregon – Kara Goucher, one of the most accomplished female distance runners of all time, is thrilled to announce the launch of her new website, www.karagoucher.com. The website will be an interactive platform for Kara to personally connect with a community of fans and share experiences and inspirations amongst all her readers. In conjunction with her new website, Kara will share training tips and advice from her new training team. On January 1st, 2014, Kara will be moving back to her college hometown of Boulder, Colorado to begin her training with her former collegiate coach, Mark Wetmore.

Goucher has a successful and ongoing running career alongside being a dedicated wife and mother. Goucher made her marathon debut in New York City in 2008 and placed third. In 2011, she was fifth at Boston with a PR in 2:24:52. She competed in both the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics last August where she placed 11th in the Olympic Marathon. Goucher won the 2012 USA Half Marathon Championships with a time of 1:09:46. Coming off a long hiatus and a withdrawal from the 2013 New York City Marathon due to a stress fracture in her foot, she is excited to start the new training regime with her former college coach, Mark Wetmore and C.U. assistant coach Heather Burroughs. She is thrilled to get back to the sunshine and altitude of Boulder, Colorado where she feels confident that her big goals will be achieved. Kara explains the move in her own words here: www.karagoucher.com/follow-your-heart/

Kara is thrilled to launch her website and build a platform where she can interact with her readers. Running is such an integral part of Kara’s life and she is excited to be able to share her experiences and inspirations and, in turn, have her readers share their experiences and inspirations with her. In addition to her decorated running career, Kara is a devoted wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend. So much of her life is lived outside of running, and she is opening up her website to share her passions and interests in her life on a more personal level. She has a passion for nutrition and cooking for her family, and she will share her favorite recipes and video cooking segments on her website to follow along, watch and share amongst friends. She will also share her favorite things in life including what has made her life easier and more efficient to what she cherishes the most with her family and friends. Whether it is a parenting tip, fashion trend, nutritional breakthrough, favorite new product, etc., Kara can’t wait to try it and share it with her readers in hopes that a small change or find can make a big difference. Kara is creating a social community where readers are encouraged to talk about anything and everything. Follow along, ask questions, post tips, and share stories because Kara can’t wait to hear from you all.
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