One other important thing for coaches at any level. While the training is remarkably similiar for 800/1500 as for 5000/10000, the actual work going on is different. True 800m men have ALOT more fast twitch fibers, and you are trying to teach those fibers to LAST. in Fatigue, their form will break down, and I've seen time after time of going to the calves to keep the pace together in workouts -- it might look like they are "sitting" in their stride a bit like you would at the end of a race. This is dangerous--you are putting alot of strain on the lower leg, and I've seen pulled calves, achilles, tibia/fibula stress fractures take 8-10 weeks out of training. Constantly remind them in distance work, and the long intervals "HIPS FORWARD" running only.
For the longer distance folks, you are trying to make a runner with predominantly slow twitch fibers powerful. I've seen some break down, but it is usually funky injuries above the knee (groin strains, back, IT band symdrome), or plantar fascitis which is really a fatigued core injury (gripping at footstrike with the feet instead of thigh/glut). Usually with the distance runners I ran with they would get sick first as a precursor, and really only got injured if they tried to run through it.
This is a big generalization, but for the biggest threat to running well (injuries) I haven''t really seen a number of the coaches discuss it -- I think durability is taken as a "given" at that level, but we all know it takes about half of your career years out. I would love more discussion on this as well if anyone is game...