Report states Kara Goucher has left coach Alberto Salazar

In an article released last night by Oregonlive.com's Ken Goe, it has been reported that Kara Goucher has left Alberto Salazar. Goe states that Salazar confirmed the status of their relationship via text when his message read:

"We can confirm that Kara Goucher has decided to make a change in coaches. We wish her all the best and continued success as an all-time great distance runner."

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Kara's departure from the Oregon Elite Project may come as a surprise to most as Alberto Salazar has been seen as the major source of revitalization to Goucher's career. While under Salazar tutelage Goucher won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka. She competed in the same event this year at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu where she placed 13th.

Since joining Salazar in 2007, Goucher set PRs in distances ranging from the mile up to the marathon. She earned top five finishes at three major marathons - NYC (3rd in 2008), Boston (3rd in 2009, 5th in 2011) - and a 10th place finish in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships. Her marathon debut in 2008 saw her as the first American on the podium since 1994. Her 5th place finish at Boston in 2011 came a few months after the pregnancy with her son Colt, the race resulted in a one minute PR (2:24:52) although she was disappointed to not finish higher.

Outside of the marathon this past year, Goucher has not set a major track PR since 2008 when she race 30:55 for 10k at the Beijing Olympics. This might be explained by her focus on the marathon distance. Goucher set PRs during 2009 in "off distances" with the indoor mile and 2k outdoors.

Most recently, her husband Adam (who had no longer been running with the Oregon Elite Project) qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials with his 1:04:52 clocking at the Philadelphia Half Marathon. The trials is the event that Kara has said will be her next focus.

There have been rumors on the boards that the Gouchers will move back to Boulder, Colorado where Kara and Adam attended college but nothing has been confirmed by either. We will update as we know more.