Kara Goucher has been on a roll since her bronze medal at Osaka, Japan. Her debut run over the half marathon was pretty good too! Let’s see, she runs the fastest 15k, 10 mile and half marathon EVER by an American women and then defeats Paula Radcliffe, world record holder at the marathon…..
Kara Goucher was told by her coach, Alberto Salazar, to run 5:10 a mile pace and stay with the front pack, as long as they did not go below 5:05 pace.
Well, Paula Radcliffe, she of the world record marathon, she who has been out of the racing world for 21 months, was using the Great North Run for her reappearance on the roads.
By mile three, after Radcliffe threw in a 5:03, it was only Goucher and Radcliffe. Then, it got interesting, as they hit six miles in 30:58. Then, Goucher ran a 4:57, giving her three seconds over Paula Radcliffe. The next mile was run in 4:49 and the
party was over, Paula was struggling.
Kara Goucher just kept on moving, hitting 15k in 47:15, ten miles in 50:39, and ran down the final downhill mile, hitting the finish in 66:56, the fastest times every by an American. But no records, alas for our new star, Kara Goucher, as the course is too downhill for record purposes.
Paula Radcliffe held on well, 71 seconds back, for second place. A great first competition for Kara Goucher over this distance and a strong performance, after twenty one months off from competition for Radcliffe. It will be fun to see these two racing again!
For a great story on the Great North Run: http://www.iaaf.org/WRU07/news/kind=2/newsid=41916.html#radcliffes+return+derailed+debutante+goucher+great+north+run+report
