#184 Kara Goucher on Living with Dystonia, the Nike Oregon Project and Protecting Female Athletes

On this episode, Matt & Andrea have the privilege of interviewing Olympian Kara Goucher. Kara's just released her book, the Longest Race, Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team. They cover many facets of Kara's story, from her current struggles with runner's dystonia to her integral part in exposing the Nike Oregon Project and Alberto Salazar. They also discuss how excel at any fitness level, finding joy in running by feel, and encouraging female runners of all ages.

Kara Goucher is a three-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympian, winner of the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in the 10,000 meters, and a podium finisher at the Boston and New York Marathons. She is a running analyst for NBC Sports. She cohosts the hit running commentary podcast Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara, as well as the Clean Sport Collective podcast, promoting fair play in sports. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her Olympic-runner husband, Adam, and their son, Colt. Her website is KaraGoucher.com.

Report at the links below if you have experienced abuse or misconduct, or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct inflicted on, or by, someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, which includes USATF. There are no associated costs, fees, or other financial barriers attached to submitting a report. The reporting form available when clicking the ‘Report Abuse or Misconduct’ button allows for reports to be made anonymously.
https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/
https://www.usatf.org/safe-sport/reporting-a-safe-sport-complaint
If you or someone you know needs help with disordered eating, please consult these resources:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/resource-center/
https://fastr.stanford.edu/resources/

Chapters

• 0:00: - Intro
• 2:16: - If you could change one thing about the sport of running, what would it be?
• 16:09: - How to find your own excellence level
• 20:34: - Kara's runners dystonia diagnosis
• 32:02: - How shoe choice effects dystonia
• 40:17: - Learning to live & train with dystonia
• 44:50: - Kara's new book
• 49:09: - The impacts of Kara's testimony about the Nike Oregon Project
• 53:44: - The role of SafeSport in protecting athletes
• 1:00:51: - Improving female athlete's health as they grow and age
• 1:12:12: - Wrap-up

We’re offering a chance to win a $100 Running Warehouse Gift Card!

TO ENTER: Drop a comment in our Sunday YouTube episode for this podcast, and let us know what we should title this series!

About the Contest

We’re excited to share that we’re partnering with Running Warehouse for not one, not two, but eight giveaways in the coming weeks. All you have to do to enter this week is leave a comment about what shoe you’re excited for to enter for a chance to win a $100 dollar gift card to Running Warehouse. (If you left a comment in last week's video, we'll count it this time, but in the future it'll be the same podcast's Sunday drop!) The contest is open through Friday the 29nd at 9 PM EST. Only US residents are eligible to enter.

Please respond to our account only for winner announcements. We’ll reach out to you on how to get the $100 Gift Card.