Yesterday evening I took advantage of Nike’s generous offer to listen to and meet Olympians Kara Goucher and Bernard Lagat. How could I not? Kara is not only my favorite female elite, and my girl crush, but she’s also my running muse. I conjure up images of her zooming around the track at the Trials when I need a boost in my own workouts. (I hope I haven’t just freaked any of you out. Or you Kara, if you’re reading.) And Bernard, well, he’s the sweetest–I remember how down-to-earth he was on the podium at the Fifth Avenue Mile last September, what a classy second place.
Coach Ramon (it was excellent to catch up with him) led us on a 40-minute run from the New York Running Company store (at Third Avenue and 63rd Street; this new location is gorgeous) over the Queensborough Bridge and back. It was strange to be there with a massive group, but not unpleasant. I was scheduled to run 3 for recovery (after Tuesday’s hills and Wednesday’s tempo my legs were feeling a bit battered), so I turned around before the rest of the gang. 
Once I was back at the store and headed to bag check, I caught a glimpse of Kara. She was wearing jeans, black books, and a cropped, olive green satin bomber jacket over a drapey scarf and a bright blue Nike track jacket. I kid you not: my ears started to ring. Then I saw Bernard, who was already chatting with one of us regular runners. And then–bonus!–I noticed Alberto Salazar, hovering in the background. Wow, that man is a legend (and Kara’s coach).
I stood around nervously. I am embarrassed (and disappointed) to admit that despite the gentle prodding of both my TNT buddy SA and Ramon, I could not work up the guts to go say hello to Kara or Bernard. My mind went completely blank–I couldn’t think of a single possible thing to say to them besides “I’m a fan,” which would have been tragic for everyone involved.
So instead I sat and listened to the Q&A, as rapt as a 5-year old at story time in the library. What they eat, how they train, what events they’ve got coming up, long-term goals, all the standard questions. At one point Kara took a teeny jab at Bernard when she pointed out that her husband Adam was a much stronger runner when the two men competed against each other in college (we all laughed, even Bernard). Then they opened it up for questions, and once again I froze. I’m starting to reconsider if it’s such a good idea to keep her on my dinner date list (you know the game, “If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?”), since probably I’d get her across the table from me at Del Posto and have nothing to say. 
(Actually I don’t think that’s true; I’m much better one on one than speaking in front of a group.)
Much of what she told us about her training for the NYRR Women’s Mile and the Boston Marathon she’d said just a day earlier to Runner’s World. But it was still cool to hear this chick casually throw out that she’s running 95 miles a week now and is going to boost that volume to 105 for several weeks leading into the marathon. Then, she said something that was reassuring to me, a mere mortal: her longest run in her marathon training will be no more than 23 miles. I’ve got a 22-miler scheduled for four weeks out from London. She wrapped up with another encouraging tidbit: no matter how fast you are, or how talented you are, running hurts. Whether you’re having a difficult training run or the race of your life, it hurts because you push yourself, period. Those are words I can fall back on during my pace runs, Nike Speed workouts, and Mile 25 of London. Thanks, KG!
Then we all cued up to get 8 ½ x 11″ photos (provided by Nike) signed by the athletes. I met Bernard first, and he obliged me with a quick photo. I wished him luck at the Wannamaker, told him I’d seen him at the Fifth Avenue Mile last year. He was super-cool, he gives off a great vibe. Then, there I was standing in front of Kara. I moved fast–I introduced myself, asked her for a photo, and then told her how the image of her running at the Trials 
occassionally motivates me during my workouts. In that moment, any cool credentials I may have earned over the years were immediately revoked. Star-struck: so not cool. But to her credit, Kara looked me in the eye, smiled and said, “That means so much to me to hear.” Who knows if she meant it; SA thinks she did. Chances are good, maybe. (How’s that for an equivocation?)
I walked to Second Avenue and 60th Street to get the Q60 bus home, replaying the evening over in my head. Nice! And I still have the Millrose Games tomorrow! Seated on the bus, I pulled my signed photos out of my bag, where I’d placed them carefully in a hard plastic folder. “To TK, Always Believe! Kara Goucher.” Surely that’s what she wrote for everyone, but I don’t care. I’ll believe anyway.
Now I regret even more not talking to Brian Sell when I saw him at that race expo last summer. I hope you treasure your picture forever!
I went down to the Running Company too to see Kara. I was an even bigger dork when I got a chance to talk to her for a minute (before the whole running group had come back in). I told her I graduated from the same school as her, but couldn’t come up with anything else coherent to say. Starstruck is definitely the right word…
Anyway, that quote about running always hurting really stuck out in my head too. It’s great to know that us mere mortals are not the only one who struggle out there on the road.
I was at the store this afternoon and gave a fond pat to the poster they both signed near the entrance…”NY Running Co, Your store rocks! ❤ Kara" Continuing in star-struck/I’m-not-worthy awe, I spent another 20 minutes sipping hot chocolate and sitting on "stage area" floor where they did Q&A to imagine how great Thursday night must have been. Glad you were able to experience the real deal…..and how great were those wins at Millrose??!!
There’s a distinction between seeing someone in that context and actually running with her. In the latter case, there’s no wall. I blogged about that a bit, about a run with Eamonn Coghlan, who knows something about racing in the Garden.
I should add that Kara Goucher doesn’t do anything for me. But she was tough at NY; I saw her at 19 and 23. (There’s a bunch of videos on Flotrack.) On the other hand, I’d be tongue-tied with Ryan Hall. He’s the man.
If you’re a “Goucher” fan, check out Running with the Buffaloes by Chris Lear. The Goucher there is Adam, but he’s the center of the story.
Joe, love your comments, thanks! I am a fan of Ryan’s as well; but I guess as a female runner Kara is someone I can really look up to and be inspired by in my own running. For some obvious reasons, I identify with her more than with Ryan.
Have been meaning to read Running with the Buffaloes for a while; thank you for reminding me.
I fully understand the identification issue. It’s tough for a guy to identify with a woman and vice versa. On the latter, the daughter of a runner I know was in the elites at NY in 2007. He said that she was amazed at how muscular Paula is. She aspires to be like that.
Let me mention one other thing. I’ve noted that Grete beat me at NY 1983 (by 2:13), but I whipped her at Trevira in, I think, 1984 by 10 seconds over 10 miles. When I caught her at mile 7.5, I was amazed at how her breathing was forced. She was hacking like a normal (i.e., non-elite) runner. (I passed her for good at 9.5.) I’ve always remembered that lesson that goes to elites-are-like-us, only faster. That, in turn, goes to the fact of there being a huge group that makes up the “running community,” one defined by mentality and effort and how one competes against one’s potential and not by arbitrary times.
Of course, if you’ve seen photos of me, I always look like I’m dying, and elites tend to look cool and collected no matter what is happening. But if they felt as good as they look they’d all be finishing together and no one would be dropped.
(P.S. Thanks for fixing my prior mistake.)
TK, what a great post. You know, a couple years ago at the More Marathon expo, I managed to work up the courage to say hello to Kathrine Switzer (and get her to autograph my bib, which I treasure) — but I couldn’t screw up the nerve to say hi to Grete Waitz. I was just way too shy to deal with interacting with someone so legendary. Next time I will.
Phangirrrrrrrl!!
She’s a cutie
rD
at least you didn’t sneeze on her when she signed your photo. THat would have been a hard one to recover from…
I was half expecting you to be mute for 20 seconds then blurt out, “Pigtails Flying!” and knock over four displays of gel packets as you ran out the store in shame!
Brother, this made me laugh out loud!! You know the chances of this actually happening are pretty high, seeing as I am a huge klutz and generally socially awkward.
great post – great photos! how cool is kara that she can tool around in public wearing jeans w/holes ;D
TK, your brother is hilarious. Next time we run together, lets practice what you’d say if you actually meet up with another one of your idols.
TK, I stumbled upon your blog and I think this is one of the nicest things I have ever read. I did mean it when I told you how wonderful it is to hear that I inspire you. I am a total dork, so I sincerely appreciate you being so kind to me. I hope that the next time you see me you come up and say hi. Good luck in London!!! -Kara Goucher
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Good post. Very cool that Kara commented about it!
Joe makes an excellent point about elite runners being like us, only faster. The loud breathing of Grete that he mentions reminds me of Rosemary Longstaff (2:43 at Boston in ’81).