The list of accomplishments appears impressive for Black Creek runner Cam Levins.
Yeah, okay, he’s run one of the fastest times in the world this year in the men’s 10,000 metre race, posting a time of 27 minutes, 27.96 seconds; just four seconds off the Canadian record. He won the “easy-smeasey” NCAA 5,000 and 10,000 metre championships in June, running for Southern Utah University.
And next week the 23-year-old will somehow drag himself to the starting lines at his first Summer Olympic Games, running for Canadian in both specialities. However, I think he’s lazy. Like, come on Cam, get off your butt and get busy!
I know, that sounds pretty harsh when you consider Cam only runs a paltry 240 kilometres a week. And, yes, I admit he does appear fairly fit, standing 5’10” and weighing in at a svelte 143 pounds.
But his laziness will be his undoing. I know this as “fact” because Cam last posted on his blog July 18 – it’s six days later and there’s no update!
Geez Louise Cameron, what are you doing? Eating poutine in some greasy dive? Chugging beers in Hooters? Come on now, get busy and get those fingers tapping on the keyboard – what else could be more important?
Oh, oh, I see here you are presently “training in Germany” in preparation for the Games. Sounds like an excuse. But don’t believe me, just read this portion of the blog and decide for yourself.
“I’m officially an Olympian!!!!!! I was very lucky that Olympic Trials went well despite the injury problems I was struggling with, but I am completely healthy now. I have gotten back into the swing of things in training and I’m confident I will be ready in August.
“Sorry I am not racing in Europe beforehand anymore; I was really looking forward to that London Diamond League meet. However, things rarely go exactly the way you want them to, and you just need to adjust accordingly.”
See, just plain lazy.
Nevertheless, this reporter will somehow find the energy, motivation and plain ol’ sheer will to click on the TV, plunk my butt into the plush leather couch and strain as I reach for the potato chips while Cam runs in London.
It will require great skill, energy and focus to keep mustard from dripping onto my clean white T-shirt as I scarf down that hero sandwich while Cam runs in the 10,000 metre final on Aug. 4, at approximately 1:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Then I’ll have a few more days sunning myself on Saratoga Beach – right near Cam’s family home – as I psych-up to watch him compete in the 5,000-metre heat. And let me tell ya, it’s going to take all my energy to watch Cam slouch through the heat race which begins Aug. 8, at 2:45 a.m. PST. However, I do hope to see this slacker make it to the final on Aug. 11, which starts at the much more bearable hour of 11:30 a.m. PST. And maybe, just maybe, right after he runs these races, Cam will tap into some unknown reservoir to muster the energy to update his blog (camlevins.blogspot.ca a.k.a. Thunder on the Track). All I can say is, you go Cam and hopefully my poor arm won’t fall off as I wave my little Canadian flag attached to the popsicle stick.
paulr@campbellrivermirror.com