Kara Goucher has pulled out of the NYC Marathon due to a foot injury.
Credit: Getty Images
Kara Goucher is out of the New York City Marathon. Cue instant heartbreak within the running community.
“The most difficult decision of my marathon career,” Goucher wrote on Facebook. “I have withdrawn from NYC.”
One of America’s most-loved distance runners posted a full statement regarding her injury and withdrawal from the New York City Marathon on husband Adam Goucher’s blog Run the Edgeon Tuesday.
“2013 has not been the year that I thought it would be for my running,” Kara Goucher said in the statement. “For the past few months I have been looking forward to running the ING NewYork City Marathon as a perfect way to cap off a difficult year and to show the world what I am still capable of doing. Unfortunately, it just is not in the cards for this year.”
The two-time Olympian made her marathon debut at the 2008 New York City Marathon, where she placed third. She clinched third again in 2011, just one year after the birth of her son Colt.
A lingering foot injury is keeping Goucher out of this year’s competition. What started as an achy foot after a tempo run with training partner Shalane Flanagan escalated into a stress fracture in Goucher’s second metatarsal.
For now, Goucher plans to get healthy and adjust her training.
“I will continue my 100-plus miles a week running on my AlterG treadmill and keep thinking about one special moment at the 2008 Olympic games when Constantina Dita of Romania became the Olympic Marathon Champion at the age of 38,” she said. “You see, I will be 38 in Rio 2016. And I still believe.”
