Kara Goucher (born Kara Grgas on July 9, 1978) is an American long-distance runner. She was the 10,000 meters silver medalist at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and represented the USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. She made her marathon debut in 2008 and finished third the following year at the Boston Marathon. She competed collegiately for the University of Colorado and was a three-time NCAA champion (twice in track and once in cross country). Personal life Goucher was born Kara Grgas in Queens, New York. When she was four years old her family moved to Duluth, Minnesota, after her father was killed by a drunk driver on the Harlem River Drive. When her mother remarried, Kara took her stepfather's name and was known as Kara Grgas-Wheeler. She ran in high school for Duluth East. She married fellow runner and US Olympian Adam Goucher from Colorado in 2001, competing as Kara Goucher from that point forward. Kara gave birth to their son, Colton (Colt) Mirko Goucher, on September 25, 2010. In 2014, she moved with her family from Portland, Oregon to Boulder, Colorado. Both Kara and Adam hold individual NCAA cross country titles, from 2000 and 1998 respectively. In 2021, Goucher was diagnosed with repetitive exercise dystonia after noticing lack of sensation in her legs and difficulty running. Running career College As a runner for the University of Colorado, Goucher broke out in 2000, becoming the NCAA Outdoor Champion in 3000 m and 5000 m, the NCAA Cross Country Champion, and also a 5000 m Olympic Trials Finalist (eighth). She won the Honda Sports Award as the best female collegiate cross country runner in the nation in 2001. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001. Professional After college Goucher battled injuries for several years, but then came back strong in 2006. After finishing second in the 5K at the USATF Outdoor Championships in 2006, she set PRs at all distances on the international circuit, running the World "A" Standard in the 1500 m, 5000 m, and 10000 m. She finished third in 3000 metres at the 2006 IAAF World Cup in a new personal best time of 8:41.42. Her 3k time led the nation and her 10k time ranked her as the 2nd fastest American woman of all-time. At the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan she won the silver medal in