Boston Marathon Features On wbztv.com
Apr 7, 2009 8:33 pm US/Eastern
Goucher Aims To Be 1st US Woman To Win Since '85
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Kara Goucher looks forward to representing the U.S. in this year's Boston Marathon.
WBZ
The New York Post dubbed her "Cindy Crawford in running shoes." Her name is Kara Goucher, and she might just be the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985.
Goucher was recently in town to check out the course, and she says that Boston isn't her only goal this year.
Even though this year will only be her second marathon, Goucher is aiming high.
"I wanted to run a marathon so badly, and I wanted to represent to the United States," Goucher said.
Goucher came to Boston in early February for the Reebok Indoor Games. She buried the field of 3,000 meters and then ran 20 miles of the Boston course the very next morning.
When asked what her biggest challenge preparing for the marathon is, Goucher said, "It's really getting to that 21-mile mark and still feeling good. Because it's a challenge. Your legs get beat up on the downhill when you make that climb. It's a tough course."
If she wins on April 20, she will become the first woman to win the marathon since 1985.
"We're coming, and every year it's getting better and better," she said. "Just do it. Seriously if I have any message, it's that. We're showing that we can."
Last November, Goucher finished third in her debut marathon in New York.
"I believed I could do it, and it felt good go get it out of the way," she said.
Goucher and her husband of seven years, Adam, are U.S. distance running's fastest couple.
They trained under Roberto Salazar, who won Boston in a historic finish in 1982.
"It's surprising to me how much people remember it, and it was a close race," Salazar said.
What many people don't know is that Salazar suffered a near-fatal heart attack a year and a half ago during a training session with his athletes.
"I didn't have a heartbeat for about 15 minutes, and it's a miracle, I believe, that I'm still alive," he said. "I don't stress about stuff like I used to. I'm just glad to be here."
Watch interview with Salazar on coaching Goucher
With his new lease on life, Salazar has helped Goucher make the most important decision of her career. It will involve putting her training on hold so she and Adam can start a family.
My coach has known about our decision, and he's helped us plan out a time that would allow us to have a baby and have plenty of time to get ready for the next Olympics.
"I will run Boston, and hopefully it will be a big success. Then I will take a step back and see if Mother Nature will help us out," Goucher added.
Watch more of Cook's interview with Goucher
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