PHOENIX, AZ -- (January 14, 2011) -- One of the top U.S. marathon hopefuls for the 2012 London Olympics, Kara Goucher will make her return to road racing at the 8th annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & Half-Marathon on Sunday, January 16. The 2007 World Championships bronze medalist, who will run the half-marathon here, has not raced competitively since running the marathon at the World Championships in August of 2009, taking time off in 2010 to give birth to her son Colt on Sept. 25.

"We couldn't be more delighted that Kara decided to make her competitive return to road racing here in Arizona," said Matt Turnbull, Elite Athlete Coordinator for the Competitor Group. "From Haile Gebrselassie's half-marathon world record in 2006 to Deena Kastor's sub-70 minute outing last year, we know this event can produce fast times and great performances."