The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team by Kara Goucher
Reviewed By: Rebecca Cox, Business Manager
Genre: Non-Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About? Kara Goucher, an elite professional runner and Olympian, opens up about her experience on Nike’s special running team the Nike Oregon Project. The Nike Oregon Project was a “secret” and extremely well-funded group of Nike sponsored athletes that was disbanded in 2019 after coach Alberto Salazar was banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for violations. Later Salazar was given a lifetime ban after being found guilty of sexually assaulting one of his athletes. This book is the first time that Kara Goucher came forward publicly as the woman behind the sexual assault allegations and fully told her side of the story from the beginning.
My Review: While initially this book doesn’t exactly sound like a feel-good type of memoir, I think it is such an important book to read. I am a runner but I related to what Kara was going through as a woman more than I did as a runner. The types of discrimination that women are subject to and the pressure to “keep their mouths shut” is something that we have seen as commonplace until the last several years. Kara’s story, while at times uncomfortable to read about, ultimately is one of her owning her own story and finding the courage to do something about it. I think everybody can learn from her example and find inspiration in her story.
It is also an interesting behind the scenes look at what it is like to work with a huge company such as Nike. Their ability to turn a blind eye to illegal practices since they are getting the results on the podium that they want is frankly sickening. The last several years of following this story and now especially after reading this book has made me sure that I don’t want any Nike clothing in my running wardrobe.
Three Words that Describe this Book: Inspiring, Informative, Eye-Opening
Give this a try if you like… Choosing to Run by Des Linden, Bravey by Alexi Pappas, Good For A Girl by Lauren Fleshman
Rating: 5/5
