PORTLAND -- How do you top the Olympic Games?

For Portland’s Kara Goucher, the answer is a new challege: the marathon. Goucher is training hard in Portland to get ready for her debut at the 26.2-mile distance in November at the New York City Marathon.

What a year of competition for Goucher, who was a hero at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene this summer.  Kara finished second in the 10,000 meters and won the 5,000 meter race.

Frank Mungeam

Kara Goucher leads the field in the finals of the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

“One of the very top, if not the top highlight of may athletic career so far”, says Goucher. “It was just awesome. I loved the trials, obviously. It was a great experience for me and to go to the Olympics it’s been a really good year for me.”

Slideshow: Goucher blazes at Trials

She has the perfect coach to guide her to success in her latest challege - legendary marathoner Alberto Salazar, a three-time winner of the New York City Marathon.

“I told her that, you know, Kara you have a chance at medaling at the 5 and 10 if you stay there, but in the marathon, you can be the best in the world. I think she is that good and that suited for it,” Salazar said.

Kara just turned 30 this summer and is excited about the challenge, but taking everything in stride.

“For this particular marathon, I really don’t care what the time is. I just want to be as competitive as possible and finish well. It’s a long way,” she said.

It certainly is and the road to the future is wide open for Kara, because many of the best marathoners have their best times in their mid to late 30’s.

“I just feel real lucky, honestly, I feel so blessed, I love running,” says Goucher. “Aside from my husband, my family and my friends, running has been the greatest passion of my life. Seriously, I love running. I love competing.”

At the Olympics, Goucher placed 9th in the 5-thousand and 10th in the 10-thousand with a personal best time in the 10-thousand. Now, she is taking the giant step to the marathon and 26 miles, 285 yards of racing. She will make her debut in the New York City marathon on November 2nd.

“You’re out there for hours daily and it’s more of a mental game just staying sane while your doing it,” Goucher says laughing, “It’s been different, but it’s been very rewarding. I’ve enjoyed it. I feel real good. I recover well and I actually can’t believe the stuff I’ve had my body do it’s been pretty awesome.”