Hey,
I have a background as a 800 m guy (1.53).
This was almost 15 years ago but I still feel stronger when the distance is relativley short (around 1 km). I am now 35 yo and have been training on and off thru the years, as (much as) work and studies have permitted.
In training I have always felt that I am stronger in the shorter reps/intervals and especially on the track. This might come as no surprise. The longer - the more I suffer.
In the recent past (past year), I have raced twice. One time in the Autumn and now again a couple of weeks ago. The races were cross-country races involving some hilly parts (not my prefered terrain!). The distances were around 1,9 miles and 4,8 miles.
The funny thing is that when I checked up my VDOT value for the most recent race (the 4,8 mile race), and put it into a calculation-system, the system predicted my time for the 1,9 mile race and it was almost spot on! (Only some seconds wrong). Almost scary I would say. The terrain etc on both these courses were actually not very similair, if one compares in detail.
Anyways, it seems that I peak in mid-dist TRACK races (800/1500) and that my ability drops for every meter beyond the 1500 m and the track I go.
So how should I train if I want to focus on the 1500 m and reach my potential?
My plan is to use the VDOT point I acquired frorm the cross-country races as Threashold and Interval pace since I do all my T and I training on trails similair to the one´s I raced.
And then for faster stuff I will have to use my experience and go more by feel (I suppose) since my current VDOT does not compare well to my 800/1500m.
Any thought on this? Would be most grateful for advice and help!