Graham Blanks’ Top 5 Summer Routes
Footpath athlete Graham Blanks took to the global stage this summer, representing Team USA at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he finished 11th in the 10,000m final.
While the race didn’t unfold the way he hoped, Graham approached it with the same honesty and self-awareness that have fueled his rise in the sport. Afterward, he reflected on the mental side of racing at the world level and shared that it was time to take a short break to reset and refocus, a mature move for any athlete chasing longevity and growth.
Earlier in the season, Graham punched his ticket to Tokyo with a personal best of 26:57.30 at The TEN in California, marking another milestone in an already impressive debut post-collegiate year.
We recently caught up with Graham to look back on his five favorite runs from the summer leading up to Tokyo, including the workouts, trails, and moments that shaped his season.
1. Minenohara CC Course
“An awesome hilly cross-country course at altitude camp in Japan. It had both grass and a rubberized track surface, so it was a great place for a longer run.”
2. Running around the facilities @ altitude camp
“Beautiful trails around the facilities at our altitude camp in Japan. Great for an easy run to enjoy the scenery.”
3. Zurich Long Run
“An amazing long run route I did the day after the Diamond League final in Zurich. It is mostly dirt and flat, with great views of the Limmat River.”
4. Lausanne Long Run
“Another great long run route, the day after my Diamond League race in Lausanne. This one had some neat singletrack trails along Lake Geneva with some tough climbs.”
5. St. Moritz is beautiful!
“One of my favorite runs in St. Moritz. All dirt, and at the far end of the route, you start climbing up towards a glacier. Incredibly beautiful.”
Huge thanks to Graham for letting us in on these memorable routes. If you head out on any of these runs, take a photo and tag @footpathapp, or email [email protected] so we can see it through your eyes. And remember, we’re always routing for you. 😉
If you haven’t tried Footpath yet, now’s the time — download the app and start mapping your next adventure.