Monday, April 10, 2023

Book Review: The Longest Race by Kara Goucher

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Regular readers of this blog know that I do a lot of running book reviews. Because I do so many running book reviews, most of the books I review are gifted to me by the publisher. I found it odd that ARCs of Kara Goucher's new book were not available and that there weren't a lot of prepublication reviews. I decided it would be worth purchasing and after reading it, I understand why she kept her book quiet until publication day. 

It's quite a read. I'm going to do my best to share my thoughts about The Longest Race without spoiling it for people who haven't read it yet. Runners who follow Goucher know a lot of her story, and it was nice to read it from her perspective. But some of what she shares in the book she hasn't shared before. It's a cautious tale for young women with lofty running goals. 


The Longest Race starts out with a look back at Goucher's childhood, growing up in Pennsylvania and eventually moving to Duluth to live with her grandparents after her father was killed by a drunk driver. Her mother marries a man who turns out to be controlling and with a bad temper. Kara was fortunate to have her grandfather, who instilled in her a love for running, uncovering her ability to run fast and win races, including several state championships when she was in high school. She ran for the University of Colorado and made a name for herself.

After college, she eventually landed at Nike, as the first female on the Nike-sponsored Oregon Project. She was excited to be coached by Alberto Salazar, a former championship marathoner. She soon learns that being a Nike athlete was not all it was cracked up to be. Initially, her pay was much lower than the males on the team. In addition, she shares concerns that Salazar was having his male athletes use performance-enhancing substances, which he also attempted with Kara. Salazar was verbally abusive as well as sexually abusive towards Goucher. She shares multiple episodes that made my skin crawl. 

As I read, I asked myself why we women put up with this kind of treatment from men? It wasn't as if she had any allies at male-dominated Nike. Once Goucher became a mother, her mindset began to shift. A working mother's guilt is strong and she struggled to justify what she needed to do--she was the main breadwinner at this point--while the poor treatment by Salazar continued. The sexual comments and abuse escalated. She continued to run, even while injured because she was contractually obligated by Nike or she would not be paid. 

As I read The Longest Race, it was hard for me to understand how Goucher stayed so long with Salazar and the Oregon Project in light of how she was being treated. I realized how much Salazar gaslighted her, constantly dropping snide and creepy little comments that made her question her worth as a runner. She's quoted in interviews as saying she 'loved' Salazar like a father, which clearly made it difficult for her to process much less share what was happening with him. Because he was so revered in the running world, she felt that she was at fault for his treatment of her. She didn't feel that there was anyone she could talk to at Nike about what was going on with Salazar. She shared some of her concerns with her husband Adam but didn't tell him about the sexual abuse when it happened. I struggled with that. Eventually, like so many women in her situation, there was a breaking point. 

The good news is that Salazar has a lifetime ban from USTAF. The other good news is that Goucher found success running for other coaches after Salazar.

Goucher co-wrote this book with Mary Pilon, a writer from the New York Times. I think it was wise to have a co-writer to help Goucher stay focused on the story and keep her emotions out of the narrative. Telling the story in a factual, objective way allows the reader to form their own opinions about what happened with Kara, Salazar, and Nike. Trust me, I felt plenty of anger for her. I kept thinking that by pushing her so hard, Salazar saw her as a commodity, not a person. He groomed her to be under his control. When she finally leaves the Oregon Project and Salazar, Goucher talks about once again finding the joy in running. He almost took that from her too.

With the recent releases of Lauren Fleshman's Good for A Girl, Des Linden's Choosing to Run, Alison Desir's Running While Black, and now Goucher's book, women runners are finally speaking out about the inequities and abuses of women athletes and athletes of color, especially in our sport. Reflecting on her book makes me wonder how much better Goucher could have been had she been coached by a caring human being and not pushed to the point of injury, as well as treated equally to her male teammates. We should all be grateful to her for sharing her story. Hopefully, the work she and these other women have started will continue to work towards improving conditions for women in sports.

Going forward, I will not spend any money on Nike products. But I already made that decision after reading Win At All Costs, Matt Hart's excellent expose on Nike and Salazar (my review is here). Ironically, as I was preparing this review, Nike announced the release of 'period underwear'. At first, I thought it was an April Fool's joke. After reading Goucher's book, I had difficulty imagining any executives at Nike talking about this period underwear with any seriousness. Women are lucky to have so many other brands that support women runners: Brooks, Oiselle, Athleta, Altra, and Hoka are leading the pack. Spend your money wisely.

You know what Nike can do with their period underwear. 

Have you read The Longest Race? What are your thoughts on the treatment of women athletes? Have you read any of the other books I mentioned? Do you buy Nike products?

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics, with the Runners' Roundup: DebbieDeborahJen, and Lisa.

28 comments :

  1. No, I don't buy Nike products anymore. I haven't read this yet but did hear Kara talking about the book on a podcast, so I know some what's in it. It is hard to imagine putting up with that kind of treatment- but I guess Kara was in a vulnerable position and Salazar knew how to manipulate her. I'm glad this has all come out and he's banned, but has Nike ever publicly acknowledged what he did and offered and apology? As far as I know they continue to defend him. I hope this book raises people's awareness.

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    1. Reflecting back on the book, I truly think he manipulated her and led her to believe that she couldn't run without his guidance. It's a story as old as time. I am so glad she outed him.

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  2. I don't think I've ever bought any Nike products. I haven't read the book yet but have read some articles about Salazar's treatment of Kara, and Salazar in general. My mother was raised by an abusive father and the thing I heard on repeat growing up was, "I told your dad he might hit me once, but I won't be around for the second time." She married one of the gentlest men ever born, so that was never going to be the case, but she made sure her two daughters didn't go down that road either. Like you, I don't understand how Kara stayed as long as she did. I'm just glad that Salazar is banned for life.

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    1. In the past, before all this came out, I wasn't opposed to Nike products. My first running shoes were Nike Air Pegasus--this was back in the 1990s--and I ran in them for many years until they changed them. We had no idea what was going on there.

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  3. I have never really purchased Nike products - and i will continue to keep it that way! I haven't read the book yet but have read several articles about Salazar and his treatment of Kara, and other athletes. Absolutely disgusting!

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    1. It's so impressive to me how the running community has become so much more conscientious about a company's treatment of certain populations and/or the environment.

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  4. I don't think I've ever purchased any Nike products, and after reading both Kara's book and Matts book, I will not even consider it.
    I found it troubling that neither book really mentioned WHY so many people considered Salazar this supposedly phenomenal coach to begin with. There is no doubt that he was an outstanding runner, but that in itself certainly doesn't qualify someone to be a good coach. I also found it disturbing how unquestionanly people bought into his behaviour and coaching techniques.

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  5. Thanks for this, Wendy!
    I have been purchasing Nike products but after reading this, I will stop.
    These books are a PR disaster. What is Nike's reaction? Are they apologizing and vowing to be better in the future? I wonder if the period underwear is a step in that direction.
    Oh, and how did they treat Kara during pregnancy? That must have been rough, too.

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    1. Her pregnancy was an issue as well but what was worse was Nike making her come back to 'work' 2 weeks after she gave birth. Even women in sedentary jobs don't have to do that. She had to run while she was still healing!

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  6. Thanks for the review. I really want to read her book.

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  7. I couldn't put this book down and even though I knew part of her story already it was definitely alarming to read more details and have the story told from Kara's perspective. I had just finished Good for a Girl before reading this one and last year I read Running While Black. All these books are bringing inequities to light and I hope more change will happen. I haven't bought Nike products in quite some time now and I definitely don't plan to in the future.

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    1. I was comparing this new crop of books to women's running books I've read in the past and these are definitely more hard hitting. I'm glad to see it.

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  8. Wow, sounds like an emotional read. I may have to pick it up. I wonder if Nike learned anything from the scandal?

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    1. I'm sure they did, but will they treat their women athletes any better?

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  9. I haven't purchased any Nike products for a long time and this confirms my decision. It's hard to figure why women continue to put up with this type of treatment, not only in running but in many areas of life. You just have to hope that books like this will help educate or strengthen our resolve not to put up with abuse like this. I'm so happy that Salazar finally got his just rewards, though it's a shame that Nike continues to thrive.

    By the way, after reading this I checked Audible and yes, this the Longest Race is available! I've already purchased it. Even better, Kara is the narrator along with her co-writer Mary Pilon. I can't wait to listen!

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    1. Let me know what you think!! Now when i see people wearing Nike, I want to say something. I don't, but yeah, what a shame.

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  10. Women (athletes) and otherwise are not treated well as a whole. We put it up with it because we are conditioned to put up with it, and it seems only recently that we are fed up enough to push back in big enough numbers that it hurts the bottom line. Sad but true. I recently read a book called "Wordslut" which was a very interesting dive into language and even how something as simple as a word can change everything for a group of people. I bet you would enjoy it.

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    1. I just saw that book! I may have to pick it up! Thank you for the recommendation.

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  11. Great review, Wendy! I am waiting for my copy from the library. Hopefully I do not have to wait too long. I do have a few Nike products but they're from the Chicago Marathon and the Shamrock Shuffle. I do not wear them much anymore so I guess I can toss them. I also read Win At All Costs (great book) and was shocked with the things Nike does.

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    1. I still wear my Chicago Marathon gear, even though it is Nike branded. After reading this, I also have mixed feelings about how much the Chicago Marathon loves Galen Rupp.

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  12. I haven't read this one yet but it's clearly a must-read. I expect that she stayed so long for the same reasons that women stay with an abusive partner - gaslighting and undermining and thinking they can't escape. Power to her for telling her story. It upsets me that Mo Farah got caught up in all this as I do believe he is an honest and decent man, but he couldn't help get tainted by it all. I've been a Nike-canceller for a while before all this, from when they continued to sponsor Justin Gatlin after he got caught doping (I am sure they're not the only ones who have done something like this but I noticed it and it bothered me).

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    1. From what I read in Kara's book, Mo Farah wasn't clean either. The whole thing is just such a shame. Every sport has cheaters and it seems as if it's getting worse.

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  13. I had no intention of reading this book, I was not interested in the doping angle having listened to Kara on the Clean Sport Collective, and then I got into her podcast with Des and I "impulse" (after trying twice in hard copy) bought it for my Kindle the same day I finished Des' book. So heartbreaking, yet not at all surprising. I too wonder if she'd have been able to run longer if not for the impact the thyroid medicine had on her as well as the poor nutrition, although she had ED triggers before Nike.

    Luckily Nike doesn't sponsor anything here that I'm aware of so no conflicted gear.
    I'll have to read Win at All Costs, but even in the early pages you knew where this was going -- the Lance!

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    1. If nothing else, her book will serve to expose Nike to people who weren't aware of their treatment of women!

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  14. Great review Wendy. I have her book on my Kindle and after hearing her on the panel at Boston with Lauren, Allison and Christine Yu, I'm really looking forward to reading it. I do wear my Chicago Marathon gear which is Nike branded, but have no interest in supporting the brand. I wonder what, if anything, Nike has learned.

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    1. Probably nothing, which is why, as women, we have to continue to do our part.

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