Cam Levins - racing is not up to his expectations. states he has "lost his endurance" after Pre Classic

Invoicing wrote:

TrackCoach wrote:

...

Every year we see athletes who beat up on NCAA level competition and reach the threshold of their capabilities at that point and time and think they are going to automatically keep getting better. Cam is not like H.S. kid who gets better for no other reason than the fact that he is growing an inch year.

Wait a second, didn't Cam have a 4 second PR in the 1500m and a new 5000m PR in the last 45 days?

Seems like he is still improving....

he's a mileage hog, that's it. He won't feel right until he's got the big miles in the log, to guys like that performance is secondary.

He's an Ultra runner, he just doesnt know it.

Why is everyone ignoring the context? He was sick and has had ongoing lung issues since before the Olympics.

Cam is super talented, but maybe a bit nuts.

He's not confident unless he's running 25 miles a day?

Cam, rearrange your beliefs about training and racing, and you'll be a contender. Maybe your coach can help straighten you out.

He was having breathing issues. Good grief. Try listening/reading and then come to your conclusions. I know, it's not as fun, but really.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

Salazar never figured Webb out. He doesn't seem to have Ritz figured out.

Er....what? Webb was actually doing well again before he flew AlSal's coop. Did you see Ritz's marathon from last year?

Cam was on antibiotics during the 5k at the Olympics, again during the WXC champs this March, and once again at the Canadian track champs in June. I don't know what's wrong with his lungs but it's got to be next to impossible to see big jumps in improvement when you are always sick. Despite his chronic illness problems, he set PB's at 2 miles in Feb (8:14), 1500m (3:36) and 5k (13:15) this year. What could he do if he was completely healthy for a year?

This year he has run 8:14i, a significant jump from his 3000m runs last year. This year he has run 3:36, (with a bold last lap move that may have been too early), a significant jump from last year. He ran an unhappy 13:15 (just missing A standard and CR), but it is a PR nontheless.

After a few years of different training in a different location and altitude, there will be an adjustment period, when things won't feel right. But even during this, HE IS PR-ing, people!

Good grief.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

[quote]

Salazar never figured Webb out. He doesn't seem to have Ritz figured out.

What??? Webb wasn't with Salazar long enough to get "figured out". And it seemed to me like Webb actually started improving under Salazar.

And Ritz is running well under Salazar. He's doing about as well as you could expect, considering the fact that Ritz has poor speed. He just doesn't have the kick to ever be a real factor on the track at the world level. Not much Salazar can do about that.

Guys, guys, guys! Don't forget that Salazar's "supplementation program" takes time to implement. I am more than confident that he will get the good stuff working soon.

Pffft

The way he was running last year though... he was in scintillating form, closing his 5k and 10k PRs in 55 and clearly having more left in the tank. This year he hasn't looked nearly that good, in any race.

petesakes wrote:

Cam was on antibiotics during the 5k at the Olympics, again during the WXC champs this March, and once again at the Canadian track champs in June.

The antibiotics are destroying his body.