392. Kara Goucher, Olympic Track & Field Trials Commentator

Published: July 2, 2021, 9 a.m.

\u201cThis was the most fun I\u2019ve had in so long.\u201d

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If you watched any of this year's Olympic Track & Field Trials coverage, you would have heard a familiar voice calling the distance races: Kara Goucher! Kara served as commentator and member of the NBC broadcast team at Hayward Field, and today, she's here to tell all. On this episode, Kara talks about how she got the job (she will also be part of the NBC broadcast team during the Olympic Games in Tokyo later this month), how she prepared for the races, and what it was like calling all the action. She reflects on the highlights and heartbreaks from the Trials, talks about making mistakes live on air and how she handled them, and about getting the call that her husband, Adam, had gotten into a car accident right before she was about to go live. As always, Kara is open and honest, and promised nothing was off-limits during this conversation \u2014 so yes, she talks about having to wear Nike-branded apparel on air, and whether that swoosh-covering braid was intentional.

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SPONSOR:\xa0Millennium Running\xa0\u2014 Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off your order.

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What you\u2019ll get on this episode:

  • How Kara feels in the wake of the Trials (4:20)
  • How Kara got the job to join the NBC broadcast team for the Track & Field Trials (10:00)
  • How Kara\u2019s on-camera confidence improved throughout the Trials (21:30)
  • On misgendering Nikki Hiltz during the broadcast, and how Kara handled the mistake (22:55)
  • How Kara prepped and studied for the Trials (26:30)
  • How Kara stayed objective on air \u2014 even when some of her best friends were competing (29:15)
  • On the Nike of it all (31:00)
  • What it was like getting the call that Kara\u2019s husband had been in a car accident right before Kara went on air (37:50)
  • Shoe talk, and other \u201crules\u201d for the broadcast (47:00)
  • What it was like hearing the news break about Shelby Houlihan\u2019s positive test, and how Kara handled covering that during the Trials (51:30)
  • Which performances Kara is still thinking about after the Trials (1:00:40)
  • Kara answers listener questions from the Ali on the Run Show Facebook group (1:14:00)

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What we mention on this episode:

Kara Goucher on Episode 43 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kara Goucher on Episode 86 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kara and Adam Goucher on Episode 208 of the Ali on the Run Show

Leslie Jones commentating the steeplechase

Citius Mag

Fast Women newsletter

Shelby Houlihan & Karissa Schweizer on Episode 357 of the Ali on the Run Show

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