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Kara Goucher to Vie for Boston Marathon Victory
Posted December 16th, 2008 at 11:50 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
On the heels of her successful marathon debut in New York last month where she became the first American woman to make the podium there since 1994, Kara Goucher has committed to next April’s Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial announced today. Goucher will try to break the 24 year USA drought for victory at America’s oldest, continuously contested marathon, founded in 1897.
“I could not be more excited to participate in the 2009 Boston Marathon on the John Hancock Elite Team,” said Goucher, 30, through a news release. “As an American, Boston is an incredible opportunity to run a major marathon,” she continued. “The race has a history like no other and its legacy spans generations. I am so thankful to continue my journey toward my goal of becoming the best runner in the world here in the United States.”
The last American woman to win the Boston Marathon was Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach in 1985, clocking 2:34:06.
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ING New York City Marathon: 2008 Edition of Race is “One for the Record Books”
Posted November 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The term “one for the record books” is often bandied about after races, but the 39th edition of the ING New York City Marathon probably merits that sobriquet. If not precisely “one for the books” it certainly turned out to be a race that will keep the scriveners busy for a while.
While no major marks were broken (women’s winner Paula Radcliffe felt the blustery, chilly winds might have cost her the course record) several secondary ones fell, most notably the women’s masters world record of 2:26:51 set by Britain’s Priscilla Welch in London 21 years ago. Ludmila Petrova, who won here in 2000, dogged Radcliffe for 24
miles before being the last to succumb to the Briton’s relentless and relentlessly quickening pace and clocked 2:25:43 to place second.
Another record-breaker followed one place and 10 seconds behind Petrova; Kara Goucher’s 2:25:53 is the fastest debut by an American woman, bettering the 2:26:58 run by Deena Kastor in 2001. That was also the American women’s course record, which also now belongs to Goucher, who is the third fastest American woman ever.
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TFS Running Podcast 155:
NYC Marathon Teleconference with Kara Goucher and Abdi Abdirahman
Posted October 30th, 2008 at 12:17 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Welcome to a special episode of TheFinalSprint.com Running Podcast featuring the 2008 ING New York City Marathon. Today we present a teleconference interview (courtesy of the New York Road Runners) with Kara Goucher and Abdi Abdirahman, along with New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg and PR Director Richard Finn, as well as several members of the media, including John Elliott of MarathonGuide.com and Peter Gambaccini of Runners World.
During this episode Abdi and Kara talk about their preparations and expectations for the race as well as their goals for the 2009 season. In addition, Kara talks about training under the tutelage of Alberto Salazar (the last American to win the New York City Marathon) and Mary discusses the recent controversy in the Chicago Marathon and the Nike Women’s Marathon over “gun” times trumping “chip” times, and much more!
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: NYRR, Jimmie Markham | Guest: Abdi Abdirahman, Kara Goucher
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 33.6 MB | Length: 00:36:47
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Goucher on Marathon Debut in New York: ‘I Believe I’m Ready’
Posted October 29th, 2008 at 2:39 PM by James Dunaway
Section: News & Results, Marathons
A year ago, Kara Goucher got a good look at the 26.2 miles of the 2007 ING New York City Marathon course riding as a passenger in the lead car.
This year, Goucher will be covering the course on foot. “Watching the race last year, I was blown away by the course,” she said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I knew right then I wanted to run a race on it. It’s a little bit daunting, especially the last five miles, but I’m excited to be in the race this year.”
For the 30-year-old Goucher, who with Deena Kastor and Shalane Flanagan has given American women’s distance running a modicum of respectability in recent years, it will be the longest race she has ever run.
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Kara Goucher Set to Make Marathon Debut Sunday in New York City
Posted October 27th, 2008 at 10:00 AM by Stephanie Lowe
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing
Now that the Olympics have ended, athletes must reevaluate their goals. For Kara Goucher, that means moving up to the marathon distance. Goucher, 30, announced last month that she planned to make her debut November 2 at the New York City Marathon.
The elite women’s field includes world record-holder (2:15:25) Paula Radcliffe, 34, of Great Britain and 2008 Olympic silver-medalist and former world record-holder (2:18:47) Catherine Ndereba, 36, of Kenya. Ethiopia’s Gete Wami, 33, fought hard but ultimately finished second behind Radcliffe at last year’s NYC Marathon and will compete again this weekend. Also making her marathon debut is Kim Smith, 26, of New Zealand. Smith defeated Goucher in the 2008 Olympic 10,000m. Smith has faster 5,000m and 10,000m times than Goucher, but has not recently raced any longer distances.
Goucher proved herself against Radcliffe at the half-marathon distance by winning the 2007 Great North Run in 1:06:57. Radcliffe was coming back from an injury and childbirth at the time, but went on to win New York last year.
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Kara Goucher to Make Marathon Debut in New York
Posted September 11th, 2008 at 2:07 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Following in her coach’s footsteps, 2007 IAAF World Championships 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher will make her marathon debut at the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 2.
“Last year when I watched the race first hand, I decided I wanted to run in New York,” Goucher commented. “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.”
Goucher’s coach, Alberto Salazar, made his marathon debut in New York in 1980 and won the race. He would win it two more times in 1981 and 1982, and remains the last American man to win the race.
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Faces in Races: Flanagan, Goucher & Huddle Lead the Way in Women’s 10,000m
Posted June 27th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Shalane Flanagan
Shalane Flanagan enters the 2008 USATF Olympic Trials as the favorite and American Record holder in both the 5000m and the 10000m. Flanagan’s PRs of 14:44.80 and 30:34.49 place her in the company of the world’s elite and demonstrate her ability to medal in this summer’s Olympic Games.
Flanagan began her running career as a high schooler in Marblehead, Massachusetts and had a standout career at the University of North Carolina. As a Tar Heel “Shenanigans” dominated the college ranks, winning two individual NCAA cross country championships and earning 15 All-American certificates. After graduating in 2004 Flanagan signed with Nike and made the U.S. Olympic team in the 5000m. She placed 11th in the semifinals of the Athens Games and continued her success with victories in the 2004 and 2005 USATF 4km XC races and the 2005 USATF outdoor 5000m.
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Running Film Festival to Premier During Olympic Trials; Support Ryan Shay Memorial Fund
Posted May 28th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Resources, Olympics, Trail / Ultra
RFF Release: When nearly 200,000 athletes and fans converge on Eugene, Oregon, for the 2008 U.S. Track & Field Trials, there is no doubt they will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the competitive spirit of “Track Town USA.”
However, when they leave Hayward Field for some well-deserved down time, hundreds will head to the movies. That’s right! Hollywood comes to Eugene, as the city plays host to the first film festival ever devoted to the subjects of track & field, marathon running, and cross country: the Running Film Festival (RFF), scheduled for July 3 – 5 on the University of Oregon campus.
RFF is the brainchild of running enthusiasts and industry entrepreneurs, who formulated the idea after assessing the vast, yet underexposed, collection of celluloid devoted to the sport. The festival signed a title sponsor to join presenting sponsors TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times, and a great event was born. A portion of the proceeds from the RFF will be donated to the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund
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“Running Film Festival” in Eugene Sure to Be An Unforgettable Experience
Posted May 25th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Trail / Ultra, High School
I’m going to this summer’s Olympic Trials—my first-ever Trials trip—and I’m getting pretty excited. Not just about the meet, but everything else as well. It seems like everyone in Tracktown USA is going all-out to make it an unforgettable experience.
The community at large is putting on a massive “Eugene ’08 Festival” complete with a temporary sports bar, music stage, kids’ activities, and excursions to sites like Pre’s Rock and the Nike campus. The whole effect is like the NCAA basketball tournament combined with the Newport Jazz Festival and the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, with the Tribeca Film Festival on top.
In fact, one entry from Tribeca will be shown in Eugene. Without a doubt, the biggest off-track happening during the Trials will be the upcoming Running Film Festival (RFF)– where a percentage of ticket sales will benefit the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund. Entries are still being accepted, but the schedule of feature-length films, documentaries and shorts currently includes the following:
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Film Festival to Complement Olympic Trials in Eugene
Posted May 21st, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, High School, Road Racing
After spending hours at the track watching the 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field in Eugene, Ore., this summer, track fans can retreat to the cool darkness of a movie theatre to take in the inaugural Running Film Festival, presented by Nissan and sponsored by TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times magazine.
“Everyone knows ‘Pre,’ ‘Without Limits,’ and ‘Chariots of Fire,’ but there are dozens of other movies and documentaries that runners will enjoy,” said Adam Jacobs editor-in-chief of TheFinalSprint.com. “We created an event that brings together great films, talented directors, elite athletes, and people who simply love the sport. Movie makers have the chance to screen their films for appreciative audiences with entertainment that fits seamlessly with the spirit of Eugene 08.”
Jacobs said that while the festival would include some world premieres, the core of the festival would be established running films like “The Long Green Line,” “Spirit of the Marathon,” “Run For Your Life,” “Indulgence,” “Run Like Hell,” and “Showdown.” The entire line-up will be posted at http://www.runningfilmfestival.com.
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The Final Sprint
On January 8, 2009
Jimmy said:
Hey nick, im a big fan.. do you do any cross training? and why did you decide to run d3 in college...