Former University of Colorado runner Kara Goucher will make her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon Nov. 2.
Goucher, who ran the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the Beijing Olympics, was born in the New York borough of Queens. Just before her fourth birthday her father was killed by a drunk driver in New York City. Her mother and sisters moved to Minnesota shortly after the tragedy.
“I’m just really happy for this opportunity and to debut here in New York,” Goucher said Wednesday in a conference call. “I’m excited about it. It’s one of the most, if not the most, prestigious marathons in the world. I’m a little nervous, but I’m very excited to debut here, and this is a very special place for me. I was born here, and actually my dad died here, so it’s a very special place for me and my family.”
Goucher’s coach, marathon legend Alberto Salazar, has long believed the marathon ultimately would be her best event. She was 10th in the 10,000 meters in Beijing and ninth in the 5,000.
“I’m kind of happy that she’s come to this realization as quickly as she has herself, because now when she trains for the marathon she’ll have a different mind frame,” Salazar said. “She’ll be believing this is where I’ve really got to make my mark.”
