Ben Blankenship hasn't raced since January 8th of 2020 according to his IAAF. I just prowled his social media and it doesn't look like there is any acknowledgment of injury. Does anyone know what is his competitive situation? If he's healthy, will he be racing soon?
I might have spotted him on an otherwise empty Great Northern freight car out of Cheyenne a few weeks ago. All he had was a rubber poncho, a can of beans and a harp. He was playing some good tunes.
Big Rock Candy Mountain wrote:
I might have spotted him on an otherwise empty Great Northern freight car out of Cheyenne a few weeks ago. All he had was a rubber poncho, a can of beans and a harp. He was playing some good tunes.
I think I might have seen him too. He appeared to also have a bag of Uncle Ben’s rice. I thought there might have been an axe in the vicinity. No idea what that means.
I saw Ben Blankenship at a grocery store in Sedona about six months ago. I told him how I admired his racing, but I didn’t want to bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
LakeErie wrote:
I saw Ben Blankenship at a grocery store in Sedona about six months ago. I told him how I admired his racing, but I didn’t want to bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
This reads like a scene in a movie. If you’re trolling, 9.5/10
I saw a guy who looked like Ben running the Lady Bird Lake trail in Austin about 6 weeks ago. He was wearing Nike running gear, a headband, but a full-on red flannel long-sleeved shirt, completely buttoned up. It was like 90 degrees.
He was running fast though, seemed to be cruising right around 5 minute mile pace. I think it was him.
I heard he cut his hair shaved his beard and pretended to be Sam Parsons at the German trials?
9/10 overall response to this thread. Lol.
Still, I also, am curious as to where he's gone.
I saw him running from the liquor store with a 6-pack of PBR and some Slim Jims stuffed in his shorts. Not sure what that was about, but he did run a 24s 200m split. Good closing speed. Expect great things!
LakeErie wrote:
I saw Ben Blankenship at a grocery store in Sedona about six months ago. I told him how I admired his racing, but I didn’t want to bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
post of the week^
Bumping. Someone in another thread said they saw Ben at a Hobby Lobby in Hoboken, NJ recently. He was reportedly shopping with Konstanze Klosterhalfen.
Well he has declared for the trials so I guess we will get an answer in a few days
colibear410 wrote:
Ben Blankenship hasn't raced since January 8th of 2020 according to his IAAF.
He raced the 3000 in August 2020 at one of the Big Friendly meets. I was there:
https://www.portlandtrack.com/2020-friendly-5-resultsI have it on good word that Blakenship has retired.
WatchedInPerson wrote:
colibear410 wrote:
Ben Blankenship hasn't raced since January 8th of 2020 according to his IAAF.
He raced the 3000 in August 2020 at one of the Big Friendly meets. I was there:
https://www.portlandtrack.com/2020-friendly-5-results
Ben ran a 28:08 10000m eight days after that 3000m. My sources indicate he then polevaulted 18 feet “just because I can.”
Bro.
He will be there in the final with 200 meters to go like always.
Don’t sweat it, bro.
Once a Democrat wrote:
I have it on good word that Blakenship has retired.
Yeah, "retired", aka heading overseas to finish the work he started back in 'nam and rescue some of the POWs.
I'm undecided to include him as my third pick in the prediction contest or not.
Will any other runners be wearing an experimental bandana during their race?
I bet Ben's aroma tuns some fellow competitors off, yet some Eugene women find it oddly appealing. Yes, there are still tree-huggers in the world where time seems to be stuck in the sixties for some.
Good luck Ben, we're rooting for you to make the team. We need you in Tokyo to put a scare in all those vaccinated runners who have never dared to miss a daily shower. Little do they know that this avoidance of personal hygiene has been your secret weapon to build your immune levels to astoundingly responsive levels.
Film Rep wrote:
Bro.
He will be there in the final with 200 meters to go like always.
Don’t sweat it, bro.
Who's progress will he impede this time?
colibear410 wrote:
Ben Blankenship hasn't raced since January 8th of 2020 according to his IAAF. I just prowled his social media and it doesn't look like there is any acknowledgment of injury. Does anyone know what is his competitive situation? If he's healthy, will he be racing soon?
You can find him commenting on all of Colleen Quigley's posts