I'm a D3 cross country runner. I run specifically for cross country (about 50 mpw) during the summer and cc season. Then I switch over to middle distance for track. Despite all my distance training, my indoor 400m and 600m are still significantly better than my 800m, which is better than my 1000m, and I fear if I ran the mile there would be an even worse drop off.
I train like an 800/1500 guy, running about 40 mile weeks during the track seasons, so why can't I take the innate speed I just seem to have and combine it with the distance training I do all year (My 8000 PR is 27:35) and run a respectable 800/1500? What could I possibly do to make my longer races as good as my shorter races, especially since I train for the long ones? I know my PR in the 8k isn't great, but does it really affect the 800 that much?
PRS
Indoor:
400: 51.0 (split)
600: 1:23.55
800: 1:58.66
1000: 2:44.00
1600: ?
Outdoor:
200: (Speed workout but @ a meet, with blocks, racing people) 23.77
400: 51.44 (open)
800: 1:56.75