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An immediate sensation, “The Longest Race” swiftly climbed to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list. Esteemed author Kate Fagan hails it as “one of the most consequential athlete memoirs of our time.” In her gripping memoir, Olympian Kara Goucher unearths her personal journey, navigating and ultimately exposing a monumental scandal in the world of professional running.
Raised with aspirations of Olympic glory, Kara Goucher was a natural talent in running. Her athletic prowess didn’t go unnoticed; upon her college graduation, she secured a coveted sponsorship deal with Nike. The year 2004 marked a pivotal moment in her career when she was asked to be part of the clandestine, opulently financed Nike Oregon Project. Under the guidance of distance running icon Alberto Salazar, Kara saw this as the golden opportunity she had been waiting for.
In no time, she was garnering accolades including a World Championship medal, Olympic participation, and podium finishes at the illustrious New York and Boston marathons, mirroring the success of her mentor Salazar. However, beyond the limelight and accolades, Salazar harbored sinister secrets. His manipulation of anti-doping regulations and the creation of an oppressive environment are exposed by Kara in her book for the first time. Compounding matters, Nike, despite being privy to Salazar’s actions, supported him for years, demonstrating an alarming level of corporate misogyny.
“The Longest Race” is not just a captivating tale that is “as engaging as it is significant” (Molly Huddle, two-time Olympian), but it also serves as an urgent plea for change. Kara morphed into a champion for female athletes and played a pivotal role in ensuring Salazar’s ban from Olympic-level coaching. “The Longest Race” is promised to leave you “inspired, uplifted, and determined to conquer your world” (Allyson Felix, Olympic gold medalist). The book uncovers