Kara Goucher is about six weeks from her expected due date, feeling reasonably comfortable and still hitting the elliptical machine with abandon.

Without a summer track season to occupy her time, the third place finisher in the 2008 New York Marathon and 2009 Boston Marathon has been paying close attention to the progress of American distance runners in Europe – wishing on some days she was there with them – and getting ready to deliver a baby.

Kara was gracious enough to field some questions about what she’s going through, and about developments happening in the sport of track and field in 2010. (Edited for brevity).

TrackFocus: Have you missed traveling through Europe this summer?

Kara Goucher: I’ve missed it a lot. What’s funny is when we first started out I hated it. It made me so stressed out. How can I pack for a month with my one suitcase? I’m going to get home sick. And now, I miss it so much.

TF: Do you have a favorite meet, or venue, over there?

KG: I think Helsinki stands out for me, but probably because it was a race that changed my life (first 10,000 meters, in 2006). It wasn’t that glamorous, or packed. Adam wasn’t even there. But I always think of it.

TF: Do you think it hurts track and field that American audiences don’t get to see elite athletes perform in person in 2010 after July 3 (Prefontaine Classic)?

KG: I don’t think it’s good. This summer has been one of the best summers ever for American distance running, without a doubt. And unless you go and seek that out, go to Universal Sports or Track and Field News, you’ll have no idea. And people are doing amazing things.

TF: What has excited you this summer?

KG: So much! The American women in the mid-distance range have been unbelievable. There’s been too many people to even start naming, but, like, Erin Donohue and Morgan Uceny and Molly Huddle and Shannon (Rowbury) running 8:31, it’s been crazy. Molly runs 14:51 and it’s like, ‘What?’ And Alysia Johnson runs 1:57. And of course, Andrew Wheating. He’s just been golden.

TF: How do you feel about Lisa Koll joining the OTC Elite?

KG: Ahh, she’s awesome. And I wanted her on my side of the “house.” But she can’t fail with Jerry (Schumacher). I talked to her a lot trying to get her to join our side but I told her there was no way she could fail. Jerry’s an awesome coach and Shalane will be a great training partner. I think (Koll) is so talented. I don’t think people know how good she is. She’s been run ragged in the college system doing all these doubles and I think when she can actually select her races, with a proper taper, I think … she’s the next big star.
TF: How is pregnancy treating you, in general?

KG: It’s been hard. I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I’ve enjoyed taking a step back. I’ve missed racing, I’ve missed competing, but I’ve also enjoyed taking a deep breath and just being (at home) this summer.

TF: How are you feeling about this big change?

KG: I’m just scared and excited. Mostly excited but I am scared of it a little bit, not so much the delivery as much as no sleep when the baby comes home. That scares me more than anything, because I’m a sleeper. Although I haven’t been able to sleep lately, so maybe that’s the baby helping me get ready.

Adam Goucher: We’re so routine oriented and set in our ways the way we do things. Now we are adding a human being that demands everything. I spent the last 12 years of my professional career being very selfish, and as a husband, had (Kara) to myself for 12 years. This baby is going to be depending on us. But I’m so excited. I can’t wait to hold him and hug him and kiss him.

TF: This has certainly been the year to either get married or have a baby. It seems to be the year everyone in your group is making big off-the-track moves.

KG: Galen and Alan are getting married, Dathan and Kalin just had their second child, and Ari (Lambie) and Joaquin (Chapa) are getting married. The only one that’s having a normal summer is Amy. It will be so funny moving forward because it changes everything. We’re a family-oriented group now.

TF: What do you hear from Paula Radcliffe (due to give birth one day apart)? How is she?

KG: She’s getting down to it. She’s going to give birth before me. It’s her second time around and her body is already beginning to show signs that she’s getting ready. She’s doing great, still training a lot.

TF: How many miles a week are you running at this point?

KG: I don’t count miles at all any more. I call it running, but I don’t know (laughs). Saturday we ran 50 minutes and Sunday we ran for 30. Today (Monday) is off. But when I say off, I still used the elliptical and I’ll probably bike (stationery) tonight.

TF: What are you trying to gain from the work you are doing?

KG: For me, it’s more about sticking to the routine. When I’m biking I don’t go hard. My running is about being outside and keeping muscle memory. When I have lift sessions, it’s not really hard. It’s just my routine of going to the gym and being an athlete. The elliptical is the only thing I do hard any more.

TF: Have you set targets for racing again after you have the baby?

KG: I thought I was going to do this and this and this, and then I was running 80 miles a week in my second trimester and got a stress fracture in my back. So one thing I’ve learned is that I have to be realistic about is that my body’s in charge, not my head. I would still like to run a spring marathon (in 2011). I would like to run a really good half-marathon in March. And I’d like to do some indoor races in January and February. But I’m not going to hold myself to that and then do something stupid. I kind of feel like October and into November is a wash. Then November and into December will be sort of getting back into the routine. And if I’m running, like I used to, by mid-December, then I think all those goals could be realistic. The biggest thing I want out of next year is a really good race at World Champs.

TF: You must have fun listening to the baby’s heartbeat. Is he a kicker?

KG: Oh yeah, and we can see him moving around. He likes to move around a lot at night. During they day I’m so active that I think (the baby) kind of chills out, but at night when I’m finally relaxed, (the baby) comes out. And Adam loves it. For me it’s really cute for about 10 minutes, but then at 3 o’clock in the morning I’m like, ‘Seriously! Go to bed!’