Kara Goucher Speaks Out on Nike, Doping, and Abuse

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After reading her book, The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team, I was eager to invite Kara Goucher to the Singletrack Podcast for an in-depth conversation.

For those less familiar with the road running scene, Kara was one of the top American distance runners of the 2000s and 2010s, achieving podium finishes at prestigious events like the Boston and New York City Marathons, as well as the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials. She also claimed victory at the US Half Marathon Championships, among numerous other accolades. In 2004, she joined the Nike Oregon Project, led by distance running legend Alberto Salazar. Behind the scenes, however, Salazar was pushing the boundaries of anti-doping regulations while fostering a toxic culture of misogyny and athlete abuse. Despite the risk of losing everything and facing immense pressure, Kara found the courage to speak out and successfully advocate for meaningful change.

In our discussion, we explore various themes from The Longest Race, and we also discuss current events, including her podcast with Des Linden, Nobody Asked Us, and the challenges with today’s anti-doping investigative models.

Before we dive in, please note that this episode is a crossover from my guest-hosting stint on the Run To The Top podcast earlier this spring. Be sure to check out Run To The Top for their excellent coaching resources and content here:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcasting, Creative Freedom and Speaking Freely
08:05 Lack of Change at Nike, Perception of Nike and Possibility for Change
11:39 Support for Athletes and Career Transitions, Effects of Pregnancy Clause
15:36 Impact on Career and Olympic Trials, Taking Responsibility and Speaking Up
21:32 The Appeal of the Oregon Project, The Motivational Climate of the Group
25:31 Staying Silent in an Abusive System, The Charisma of Alberto Salazar
32:38 Healing and Reconciliation, Moving On and Confronting the Past, Trusting in the Sport
36:40 The Challenge of Catching Dopers, Need for an Investigative Model, Future of Anti-Doping

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