The Longest Race

Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team

By: Kara Goucher, Mary Pilon, Mary Pilon - introduction

Narrated by: Kara Goucher

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In “one of the most important athlete memoirs of its generation” (Kate Fagan, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Olympian Kara Goucher reveals her experience of living through and speaking out about one of the biggest scandals in running.

Kara Goucher grew up with Olympic dreams. She excelled at running from a young age and was offered a Nike sponsorship deal when she graduated from college. Then in 2004, she was invited to join a secretive, lavishly funded new team, dubbed the Nike Oregon Project. Coached by distance running legend Alberto Salazar, it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime.

Kara was soon winning a World Championship medal, going to the Olympics, and standing on the podium at the New York and Boston marathons, just like her coach had done. But behind the scenes, Salazar was hiding dark secrets. He pushed the limits of anti-doping rules and created what Kara experienced as a culture of abuse, the extent of which she reveals in her book for the first time. Meanwhile, Nike stood by Alberto for years and proved itself capable of shockingly misogynistic corporate practices.

The Longest Race is an unforgettable story that is “as interesting as it is important” (Molly Huddle, two-time Olympian) and also a crucial call to action. Kara became a crusader for female athletes and a key witness helping to get Salazar banned from coaching at the Olympic level. The Longest Race will leave you “motivated, empowered, and ready to take on the world” (Allyson Felix, Olympic gold medalist) as it reveals how Kara broke through the fear of losing everything, bucked powerful forces to take control of her life and career, and reclaimed her love of running.

Critic reviews

"At first, Goucher’s voice is joyful as recounts how she came to be a top runner and was chosen to participate in the Oregon Project. Then you hear her angst and frustration as it all goes wrong. Goucher audibly works through her horror as Salazar assaulted her on a plane and during a massage, her disbelief as she attempted to explain it all away, and, finally, her reckoning with the abuse she was experiencing. It’s a plainspoken, authentic performance of an important sports exposé."

I won’t be purchasing any more Nike products:

if it was a personal grudge between Kara and Alberto, that’s one thing, but once it was evident that Alberto was in violation of, and a violator, AND nike spent millions of dollars defending Alberto??? No way. Also, i remember well how Nike featured and exploited Kara’s pregnancy, and to find that she was not paid for that? No way! Add this to their history of child labor etc. I’m done supporting them with my $$$.
On the human side, as a sexual abuse victim myself, I am sooo sorry Kara. There IS a silver lining, however, so many of us humans have been hurt, as as we support each other, we can find meaning and healing. Blessings

My head is still exploding

Full disclosure: I have always loved Kara Goucher. I reluctantly arrived in the running world (if I can even straight-faced call it that) later in life, and in 2015, so I missed a whole lot of her incredible journey. But I’ve been around for the rest of it, and cannot even wrap my brain around the grit, tenacity, and courage it took for her to survive Nike’s repulsive, Neanderthal culture. But listen up, you trolls, she’s changing the game with her truth! And maybe some day our daughters won’t even think to crawl into the cave of self doubt and victim blaming because of women like Kara. This book is a spectacularly written bombshell, and I could not be more proud of Kara for sharing it all in such a raw, vulnerable way.

Also, Nike running shoes are absolute garbage and even if they paid me millions, I’d never wear whilst running. But now, I certainly won’t ever buy another tank with a swoosh.

You’re a legend Kara, and you’re so, so loved! Screw the haters!

Thank you

Keep telling your story. It is so important for the world to understand the dynamics that allow abusers to hide and how stacked the deck is in so many areas.

Great read!

I love running and this was a great read and infuriating that this woman endured so much from Nike. Took a lot of courage to come forward! bravo Kara!

Captivating first hand revelation of Nike Oregon Project

Much has been said, shared, and documented about NOP, but there is nothing as gut wrenching as hearing it first hand from Kara. She bravely describes the life of a female elite athlete and the difference in treatment. Highly recommended.