I'm currently a D2 college junior. Since I got to college my performance has decreased immensely. Around mile 2 of my races, specifically 8k's, my legs starting burning really bad and breathing becomes 10x harder. These feelings don't seem to change when I increase or decrease my pace. I went out in 5:45 pace, something I should definitely be able to handle, and died to 6:05 for my third mile. This weekend, i went out in 5:25 pace, and died to 6:10 for my third mile. My legs don't really feel fresh during races or before races. Often times on warmups my legs start to burn.
My current training is 60-70 mpw. There are usually two workouts per week: 3-4xmile repeats and 5-6k tempo runs. I don't think my training is very difficult. In HS I was doing less mileage, but the workouts were more intense (than college).
During the summer I ran a 16:30 5k, and now it's a struggle just to hit 17:20 for my 3 mile split, in an 8k. I also ran an 8-mile road race averaging 5:40 pace.
The people who I have been training with are destroying me in races by 1:00-1:30. People who are behind me in practice are beating me by a minute.
Highschool PR's
5k- 16:15
1600m - 4:23
800m - 1:58
College PR's:
8k - 28:05
mile - 4:40
800m - 2:04
5k - 17:20