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A review by atomic_tourist
The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team by Kara Goucher
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
WOW!! What a year it has been for Oiselle-backed athletes and their memoirs. First, Lauren Fleshman's memorable read, Good for a Girl, and now Kara Goucher's The Longest Race.
In my review of Fleshman's book, I mentioned having admired her from a young age. Similarly, I've looked up to Kara Goucher since my high school running days. Actually, when my local running store opened back in 2015, their grand opening included an unveiling of a sculpture of none other than Kara herself! I'd see Kara's likeness every time I got a new pair of shoes, and I've been a fan ever since.
The Longest Race reaffirms why I see Kara as a role model. It's one of the bravest books I've ever read. For her to go on the record and implicate the sport's biggest names in a doping and abuse scandal... that takes guts. I follow the sport of running quite closely so I was aware of Alberto Salazar's fall from grace, but I couldn't grasp how abusive and manipulative his behavior was before reading Kara's memoir. What really struck me was the way in which Nike supported him and made Kara's life so miserable for standing up to him.
This should be required reading for any runner, in my book. And maybe even any sports fan. Go read it!!
In my review of Fleshman's book, I mentioned having admired her from a young age. Similarly, I've looked up to Kara Goucher since my high school running days. Actually, when my local running store opened back in 2015, their grand opening included an unveiling of a sculpture of none other than Kara herself! I'd see Kara's likeness every time I got a new pair of shoes, and I've been a fan ever since.
The Longest Race reaffirms why I see Kara as a role model. It's one of the bravest books I've ever read. For her to go on the record and implicate the sport's biggest names in a doping and abuse scandal... that takes guts. I follow the sport of running quite closely so I was aware of Alberto Salazar's fall from grace, but I couldn't grasp how abusive and manipulative his behavior was before reading Kara's memoir. What really struck me was the way in which Nike supported him and made Kara's life so miserable for standing up to him.
This should be required reading for any runner, in my book. And maybe even any sports fan. Go read it!!