Two weeks ago I made a 30 hour trip to Colorado to follow Kara Goucher around. This is basically my #1 life goal realized. And I have a feeling I'm not alone in the curiousity of what a day in the life of Kara Goucher looks like. Come along...
8:30AM WARMUP
Kara parked at the gate of Potts field then headed out for a shakeout run of 20 - 25 minutes. She followed this shakeout with drills (leg swings, turnover drills and strides) and then talked over the workout as she changed her shoes. She brought a few pairs for Mark Wetmore to look over and they went with the flats instead of spikes.
WHAT SHE WORE Wazelle Short Sleeve + namesake KG Tights
9AM WORKOUT
The sky was split over Potts Field as Kara pounded out 400s in 75 with a 200m rest. To the east a dark stormy cloud, to the west the bright Colorado blue. The wind was strong as her coach yelled out splits.
This workout was a test to see if Kara would be cleared to race the Twin Cities 10 Mile on October 4th. Her hamstring had been complaining for the last 6 weeks and her team needed to assess if she was in a place to race.
She completed the workout, looking strong and effortless. Focused and silent. Cracking a real smile when Wetmore nodded his approval that the 10 Mile was on and that yes, she could hit the weight room.
WHAT SHE WORE Moto Tracktion Bra + Mile 21 Shorts (created for her NYCM last year)
10AM COOLDOWN
Shalaya Kipp swung by the track to say hi and jog some laps with Kara. Shalaya is a base building block of training. In season she's on the track with Kara. After shooting the breeze for a few laps Kara peeled off to add more miles by running to the weightroom.
10:30AM WEIGHT ROOM
Kara rolled up, excited to lift. Only mildly disappointed to be demoted to more body weight work than actually barbells. She ticked off each exercise, cheating a few seconds on rest to get into the next one early. (see it on Pinterest)
WHAT SHE WORE Suspension Shimmel + Stride Shorts
11AM RECOVERY
A jog back to her car at the track then home for recovery calories (shake) and rest (checking emails, catching up around the house).
12:30PM LUNCH
Kara met back up with me and her agent Shanna for lunch. I got to hear how she felt about her workout and what was coming up between now and the Olympic Trials Marathon on February 14th. The Twin Cities 10 Mile is the first race in the block and she's excited to race it hard.
WHAT SHE ATE Scrambled eggs, toast, fruit and a latte.
WHAT SHE WORE Muscle Tank + Jeans
2PM PICK UP COLT
Then it was time to get Colt from school. He was excited to see his mama and only a little weirded out by the camera following her. He shook it off easily and started his campaign to play in the indoor gym. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far… He was thrilled to show off his skills to a new audience, fearlessly climbing and tumbling. Launching off Kara’s knee into summersaults.
WHAT SHE WORE Tracker Jacket + Muscle Tank + Jeans
3PM FAMILY CHILL TIME
Back to the homebase, Kara relaxed and snuck a peek at email. Colt gave the photographer a tour of his room and introduced his two cats.
Adam got home around 4pm and they hashed out dinner plans for their 14th anniversary that night. They’d moved it up a night so it didn’t fall the night before Kara’s mile repeats. She was loathe to try and enjoy a night out before a monster workout.
WHAT SHE WORE Lux Sweatshirt + Satellite Tank + Aero Tights
4:30PM SHAKEOUT RUN
After nailing down dinner plans, Kara headed out for her afternoon shake out miles. Kara likes to run her evening miles on nearby dirt path, it’s about a mile of dirt and she just goes out and back and out and back until the miles are done. Usually between 4 and 6 miles, whatever’s left on the daily total.
WHAT SHE WORE Mix Tank + Tracktion Bra + Flyte Shorts
Surprisingly I wasn't invited along from her and Adam's night out, but looks like it was a great time.
Excited to cheer Kara on this Sunday at the Twin Cities 10 Mile! Follow along at @Oiselle on Twitter and #TC10Mile.
