Graham Blanks has a crucial decision to make

Calm the f down. Dude just got 9th in the 5k at the Olympics last year, ran 12:48 and just doubled back from running a 3:57 last lap of the the 10k after making his second USA team in a year. Damn.

*mile. Running in the USA trials is tough.

What I stated was that Blanks is a very fine 10k but if he chose to move on to the marathon I think it would be a success. No disrespect meant. Oh and by the way, grow up.

There are few easier ways to incur the wrath of people on these boards than to suggest someone who’s young move up in distance before they’re washed up.

But not from me — I think Graham should jump straight to the half and full marathons.

If the U.S. wants to compete with the top Kenyans in marathons, we need to have young people diving right in. Plus, there’s plenty more room for money and fame if you that rather than slog it out on the track with 5000s and 10,000s in hopes of…getting a WC medal (but probably not)?

You’re better off winning the Boston Marathon, man!

I agree. From a personal standpoint, when I was a 'proper' runner I only ever wanted to be a marathoner. I guess I still look at it that way. That being said I like Blanks as a runner and as a personality - he seems and appears like a very smart, good guy.

Bump.

Another tactical race in which Graham Blanks falls well off the pace in the last lap.

He cannot kick, period. He will never contend for a medal on the track. The best career decision he can make is moving to the marathon.

Next year is an off year anyway. Why not try a fall marathon build?

Dumb.

He just qualified for DL final; only American.

He's good right where he is.

He’s way too good to spend what could be the best years of his career as a global also-ran in the 5k and 10k.

Based on his NCAA XC success, his 5k/10k PRs, and his Gibby training, he profiles as someone who could potentially run 2:03. In terms of talent, Mantz is the only American marathoner who is in the same galaxy as Blanks. Again, 2026 is an off year—Blanks should try a marathon build. The upside more than justifies it.

also ran?

The guy is making Olympic, World and DL finals. He can make a nice career this way even if he never medals.

No guarantee he's any better or wealthier moving up to marathon.

It’s certainly not a guarantee. Never said it was. But he clearly has more upside as a marathoner than as a 5k/10k runner. He wasn’t even competitive in the USA 5k this year.

There is a lot more money to be made in the marathon than in the 5k/10k. And if it doesn’t work out, he doesn’t have to stay in the marathon.

That’s Just because Nico Young and Grant Fisher don’t over race like Graham does. Not to mention others too

Blanks is a hobbyjogger who couldn't even win an olympic 5000 in 13:13.

10k/5k is a tough double. He ran great in the 10k. This is his first year as a pro and ran sub 12:50 twice getting 3rd in a DL and beating Nico. He also made his second USA team after graduating from Harvard in May. You guys need to calm down a little.

If someone's having great success in starting in one thing they're not just gonna jump off into another thing that's unknown and could possibly have negative effects on his career if it doesn't work out. If there's someone who isn't particularly great at the track but wants to try the marathon, I say go for it! I'd like to have good track people and good road people. Mantz knew he wasn't gonna be the best at the track but he knew he could at the marathon and look how that turned out for him. Blanks has much more of a kick than Mantz ever had.

Sorry, Nico Young also made DL final.

Blanks showed plenty of potential to contend in DL circuit races and fast championship races, if there are any by running 12:48/12:50 and getting 3rd in Paris. He will likely need to make the long drive home from 800 like Mo Farah did, and even then he'll really need altitude to be fresh for the final kick because he doesn't seem to have the kind of gears Mo had. But then Nico Young was long known to lack the speed for the kick, until Mike Smith built his aerobic engine and fiddled with his mechanics. Expect Graham to get there as well.

Won't be shocked if he'll be struggling to kick in the 5k again next year vs. a more experienced Langon and Martin. That 10k double is gonna kill his legs every time. Don't get me wrong he's killing everybody in a 12:40 race except Nico and Hocker. But if Hacker and Knevelbaard are running 13:03-13:04. Where does that put Birnbaum, Green (I know I'm pushing it), Langon, and Martin with another year of experience...all in the 12:50's except maybe Green.

And again we're producing new top tier talent every year...somebody else is coming. The 5k is going to turn into the 1500m fellas, trickle up track economics. Can't wait. So many people on here are so used to the same guys making the teams every year. Replace Teare and Hunter with more experience versions of the college guys I named, and they would be kicking past Fisher and Nico in a slow 13:30 race we just saw.

12:50 is very difficult. Sub 12:50 is more difficult. There have only been 3 USA guys break it. So my point is let’s wait and see more from the college guys when it comes to running those times.
I would argue that the USA 5k is already a 1500. It’s always been that way. Do you wonder why the USA always gets smoked in international competition? it’s because we run a sit and kick race every year and send the wrong guys. But that’s what you get when the 10k is two days proceeding the 5k.