Pro-File: Kara Goucher’s Favorite Things

What do you think the Olympic runner’s favorite pig-out foods are?

Two-time U.S. Olympian and mom Kara Goucher, 34, of Portland, Ore., is one of America’s most recognizable distance runners. She recovered from an injury last winter to place sixth in this year’s Boston Marathon. We caught up with the 2:24 marathoner recently to learn about a few of her favorite things.

RELATED PHOTOS: Kara Goucher Career Highlights

Favorite place to run: Along the Lakewalk in Duluth, Minn.

Favorite workout: I like mile repeats when I’m fit. You get in a groove and it’s very satisfying.

Favorite running shoe: My all-time favorite shoe is the Nike Structure Triax.

The one piece of gear or apparel you can’t go without: My Nike sports watch. I run by time often, so I need to know how long I’ve been running and afterwards I like to see how fast I ran.

Fondest running memory: Winning the state cross country meet in 1994 and having my whole family there. We were all crying with joy.

Favorite race: I love racing in general, but the Boston Marathon has a special place in my heart. For me, the 2013 Boston Marathon will be a reminder to live my life more righteously and being more appreciative and thinking about the people who really suffered that day and will continue to suffer.

Pre-race meal: I’m easy. Something simple like rice or pasta, veggies and chicken.

Favorite post-race pig-out food: Burger and beer or nachos and a margarita.

Do you run with music? I run with music on my second runs [which is usually an easy run or a recovery run].

Right now on my iPod I have: “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys; “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” by Ed Sheeran; “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars; “Carry On” by Fun; “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons; “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers; “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons; “C’Mon” by Kesha; and “Diamonds” by Rhianna.

Favorite TV show: I’m constantly changing the channel depending on what’s on, but I’ve been pretty captivated by “Downton Abbey.”

Final thought: I very much appreciate all the people who follow me, but at the core I’m just this nerdy girl from Minnesota who’s not really that athletic or cool or anything like that.

DID YOU KNOW? Kara and husband Adam Goucher, an Olympic runner in 2000, have a 2-year-old son named Colt. Kara placed second in the 2011 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Half-Marathon just four months after giving birth.

This profile first appeared in the July 2013 issue of Competitor magazine.