Adam Goucher Believes In The Power of The Run

Adam Goucher can run circles around most people. You see, Adam Goucher is a professional track and field athlete who for the last 20 years has competed at a world class level in distance running.

Goucher is also the author of "Running The Edge," the best running book to come along since "The Complete Book of Running" by running guru Jim Fixx in the 1970's, which at the time helped launch the running boom in America.

Goucher had a big career in running at the University of Boulder, where he ran track and cross country and was an eleven time All American and captured four individual NCAA titles. Today, Goucher is married to running icon Kara Goucher (she's planning to compete in next month's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston) and is the father of 14-month-old Colt Goucher, a handsome kid who will undoubtedly have some running wheels of his own.

In Goucher's deeply personal and insightful new book, along with co-author Tim Catalano (a college running team mate of Goucher's) you will discover how to: "Find the motivation to get off the couch and out the front door as you begin your personal running revolution. You will learn to harness the passion and powerful lessons found in running in order to fuel personal improvement in other areas of your life," Goucher espouses on the book's cover.

"One of the first lessons that running teaches us about success in athletics and in life is that there is no one else. No one else can do your workouts for you ... you are truly your own hero in running. It is up to you to have the responsibility and self discipline to get the job done," Goucher says in the book.

The book also discusses "The way of the maven" and how you must apply these running lessons to your other life stories as a husband, brother, son and at work. Goucher is a philosopher when it comes to running much like Dr. George Sheehan was in the 1970's and his writing is full of pathos and personal revelations. 

Goucher shares with us that "running is more than a sport. It is an identity. I am not somebody who just likes to run. I am a runner. This is the difference between a pastime and a passion. Passionate runners run because they love the feeling of running in their legs and chest. They run because running flows from their pores as easily as sweat."

Goucher recently ran his very first half marathon and in doing so, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. This is the level of competitor that Adam Goucher is. He goes for the absolute maximum result each time off the line in a race. He was very hard to beat during his peak competitive years and even won the coveted Foot Locker Nationals Cross Country race in 1993 as a High School Senior. Unfortunately, an injury will prevent Goucher from competing in the U.S. Trials race.

Goucher recently announced he was retiring from "racing" in the sport, but his commitment and countenance remain unwavering.

"I'll always be a runner and plan on continuing to find the best results I can for many more years," he said. Goucher would love to compete in next year's Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Palm Desert and hopes that he can spend some down time in the desert training for the race.

"I would love to relax in Palm Desert a few days and take in the desert air for some training runs," Adam said recently. In 2008, when Adam's wife Kara competed in the Beijing Olympics she did an interview for Palm Desert's KMIR and mentioned wanting to visit the desert hot spot soon. Hopefully Kara will join Adam for the Palm Desert Rock and Roll Half Marathon in 2013 as she competed in the San Diego Rock and Roll race last year.

Billy Mills, who won the 1964 Olympic Gold Medal for the 10,000 meter race, wrote the foreword to Adam's book and remarked on how "few books can teach you in a brief, inspiring read, the wisdom many search a lifetime to learn. Running The Edge is one of those rare gifts. It will take you on a journey to the center of your soul."

For more information of Adam's book and views on "Running The Edge" visit his website.