This should set up well for Graham. He’s definitely more of a strength guy and does well when the pace is fast as opposed to a slow 3k. He knows he’s not going to have to push this race. Should be interesting. Can’t wait.
I don’t think he’ll be close but I’d love for him to try to stick on the pace. If you’re gonna race the big dogs, may as well race them instead of running your own race. You can run your own race anywhere.
He said he was running a couple of races in Europe but didn’t say which ones. Would LRC implode if Nico Young steals the show and breaks the WR instead of one of the Ethiopians?
He said he was running a couple of races in Europe but didn’t say which ones. Would LRC implode if Nico Young steals the show and breaks the WR instead of one of the Ethiopians?
Nico v Blanks in an all out 5K is worth watching. I actually think Blanks wins it but it’ll be close
Nico v Blanks in an all out 5K is worth watching. I actually think Blanks wins it but it’ll be close
Nico in great shape right now
Graham ran 12:59 @ BU six months back in December.
Nico ran 12:51 @ BU three months back in March.
On condition they don't go crazy attempting to stay with the leaders running WR pace then have to crawl to the finish line, a new outdoor AR (something around 12:45) for Nico, with Graham about 10 seconds back in a new pb, might be achievable given perfect weather and groups to race with.
He could his last big workout before Philly was 2 x 2km then 2 x 1km
2kms in 5:15 (63 per lap 1 kms in 2:30
Great, leave on the track at practice. The 3k last weekend didn't go as well as his training went.
It wasn’t that bad, or at least it wasn’t that telling. He bungled the tactics a little, making a couple surges that he didn’t commit to and then had to settle back into a lesser position, and closed in 2:22 for the last K. I’m sure he was disappointed, as he should have been, but he may have fared better in a <7:40 race or even if he just had a chance to rerun it. Point is, one subpar race doesn’t warrant labeling him a “workout warrior” when he’s an Olympic finalist, 2x NCAA XC champ and has a high rate of delivering (see 12:59-7:29-26:57 this winter/spring).
Having said that, no, I don’t think he has any shot at the 5k AR in Oslo. It’s a different beast to run well in a DL race paced to the WR than at BU in a race set up for you, so a PB of any kind would be great, even if he is in low-12:50s shape.
Nico v Blanks in an all out 5K is worth watching. I actually think Blanks wins it but it’ll be close
Nico in great shape right now
Graham ran 12:59 @ BU six months back in December.
Nico ran 12:51 @ BU three months back in March.
On condition they don't go crazy attempting to stay with the leaders running WR pace then have to crawl to the finish line, a new outdoor AR (something around 12:45) for Nico, with Graham about 10 seconds back in a new pb, might be achievable given perfect weather and groups to race with.
To be fair. Those 5ks were VERY different. Nico drafted off Wildschutt the whole way and Graham ran solo the last 10 laps. And Nico was at altitude and didn’t ride his bike from his Harvard dorm.
It wasn’t that bad, or at least it wasn’t that telling. He bungled the tactics a little, making a couple surges that he didn’t commit to and then had to settle back into a lesser position, and closed in 2:22 for the last K. I’m sure he was disappointed, as he should have been, but he may have fared better in a <7:40 race or even if he just had a chance to rerun it. Point is, one subpar race doesn’t warrant labeling him a “workout warrior” when he’s an Olympic finalist, 2x NCAA XC champ and has a high rate of delivering (see 12:59-7:29-26:57 this winter/spring).
Having said that, no, I don’t think he has any shot at the 5k AR in Oslo. It’s a different beast to run well in a DL race paced to the WR than at BU in a race set up for you, so a PB of any kind would be great, even if he is in low-12:50s shape.
Well-said but the 26:57 kinda reveals it. He got beat pretty handily by Wildschuut, the New Mexico boys etc. Graham is tough as nails and really good but there’s no reason to believe he’s closer to Yomif/Aregawi than Ky Robinson or Cooper Teare. He should run his own race and try to bang home a sub-60 lap to run under 12:55.