Kara Goucher’s Thoughtful Advice to Her Younger Self

In anticipation of the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind., professional runner Kara Goucher wrote an inspiring blog that offered advice to her much younger self. Her alma mater, the University of Colorado, is ranked No. 1 among women’s teams and No. 2 in the men’s competition heading into this weekend’s championships.

Goucher, a three-time NCAA champion in track and cross country while at Colorado, wrote some calming advice to her 22-year-old self as she was on the eve of the 2000 NCAA Cross Country Championships and some of what she penned could be useful for just about any runner in any race, no matter you age, competitive level or type or race.

Goucher won the NCAA title that year, but it came a year after a disappointing 9th-place finish the year before. Foremost among her tips is to relax and enjoy the moment.

“As the future you, I want to tell you to slow down. Try to really take it all in,” Goucher writes. “Take a deep breath, look around you, and take it all in,” she adds.

Read all of what Goucher has to say at her Oiselle blog here.