Elite marathoner Kara Goucher, 32, took second at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon in January, just four months after giving birth to her son, Colt. Now she has set her sights on nabbing her best marathon time at the 2012 London Olympics (her current personal record is 2:25:53). With a new book, "Kara Goucher's Running for Women," out and the Boston Marathon going down on Monday, espnW chatted with the Portland, Ore.-based running wunderkind:
espnW: Who introduced you to running?
Kara Goucher: My grandpa took me on my first run when I was 6 -- a 1-mile race. I fell at the start!
espnW: Take us through a week of workouts.
KG: I do 120 miles per week, running twice a day, except on my one long run day, which is usually Sunday. That's my favorite day. I might run 22 miles but don't have to do anything later on. Twice a week, I'll add hard days -- warm-up, drills, stretching and mile repeats. I'll run a 5-minute mile, then jog a quarter mile, repeating this nine times. And three days a week, I lift weights. I'd like to get back into Pilates, too.
espnW: You trained diligently throughout your pregnancy, even running 50 minutes and lifting weights the day you delivered. How did people react to that?
KG: A lot of people were motivated by it; others questioned the baby's safety. For both Paula [Radcliffe] and I, our babies' safety always came first. (Goucher and her friend, the marathon world-record holder Radcliffe, shared a Sept. 29 due date.) I backed off on pace and mileage, running 80 miles per week. Research shows exercise keeps you healthy and is great for the baby.
My OB/GYN is a marathon runner who trained through her pregnancies. She was really supportive and encouraged me to listen to my body. I had ultrasounds every few weeks to make sure my son was growing and progressing. I still gained 38 pounds. My legs are stronger than they've ever been because I was running while carrying around all that extra weight. When I started working out again after giving birth, I could go a lot longer without breathing too hard.
espnW: What's your advice for psyching yourself up to work out when you're exhausted?
KG: Get a buddy. I have a training partner, Amy Begley, and even if I'm dragging a little I don't want to let her down. I also think about what I want, the goals I have. Usually, if I can just get myself out the door, I'll feel better. I'll tell myself, "You only have to go an hour." For most people, it could be, "You just need to do 15 minutes." I always wind up going longer.
espnW: In your book, you emphasize finding a balance between running, family and work. What works for you?
KG: You have to strike a balance and take time for yourself. Maybe your preparation won't be as perfect, but you can still go after your goals. Ask your partner, neighbor or in-laws for help. Adam [Goucher's Olympian husband] and I will stagger afternoon runs. The moment he gets back, I pass Colt off and go for mine. There are moments where I feel guilty, like I'm missing stuff, but I'm more fulfilled overall. Training, doing something for myself, makes me happier and more appreciative of the time I have with my son. Being a runner makes me a better mother, and being a mother makes my running better.
espnW: Rumor has it that an NBA player hit on you at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Who was it?
KG: [Laughs.] We were talking with players, who were all really nice. One of them asked me for my number. I was wearing my wedding ring; he knew I was married. I thought, "Is this really happening?" But I've never said who it was and I'm not going to now!
