Kara Goucher en route to her third place finish in Boston in 2009 (© Victah Sailer)
Fresh off her second U.S. 5000m track title, Kara Goucher will return to the roads to make her U.S. half-marathon debut at the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday 2 August in her final tune-up prior to the Marathon at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15 – 23 Aug).
Goucher, the bronze medallist in the 10,000m in Osaka two years ago, has focused her attention to the roads since, with considerable success. In her Marathon debut less than a year ago, Goucher finished third at the ING New York City Marathon, clocking 2:25:53. Her follow-up over the distance came in Boston in April, where she again finished third.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to race as part of my preparations for the World Championships here on home soil, in one of the true great sporting cities,” said Goucher, whose appearance comes exactly three weeks prior to the women’s Marathon in Berlin on 23 August. “I’m very happy about the way my preparations have gone. I ran the trials in June and now it’s time to get back on the roads. I’m hoping to run well in Chicago and take that confidence into Berlin and give a good account of myself on the world stage.”
In her two outings over the distance, Goucher has impressed in the Half Marathon. She won her debut at the 2007 Great North Run where she out-dueled Paula Radcliffe to win in 1:06:57. Earlier this year, she won the Lisbon Half Marathon in 1:08:30.
The race will be webcast live on Competitor.com beginning at 6:30 a.m. local time.
Dan Cruz for the IAAF
Goucher, the bronze medallist in the 10,000m in Osaka two years ago, has focused her attention to the roads since, with considerable success. In her Marathon debut less than a year ago, Goucher finished third at the ING New York City Marathon, clocking 2:25:53. Her follow-up over the distance came in Boston in April, where she again finished third.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to race as part of my preparations for the World Championships here on home soil, in one of the true great sporting cities,” said Goucher, whose appearance comes exactly three weeks prior to the women’s Marathon in Berlin on 23 August. “I’m very happy about the way my preparations have gone. I ran the trials in June and now it’s time to get back on the roads. I’m hoping to run well in Chicago and take that confidence into Berlin and give a good account of myself on the world stage.”
In her two outings over the distance, Goucher has impressed in the Half Marathon. She won her debut at the 2007 Great North Run where she out-dueled Paula Radcliffe to win in 1:06:57. Earlier this year, she won the Lisbon Half Marathon in 1:08:30.
The race will be webcast live on Competitor.com beginning at 6:30 a.m. local time.
Dan Cruz for the IAAF
