Someone remarked (above) that people are injecting their own ideas into this discussion of the SoM. I think it'd be useful to re-read the man's work:
http://pih.bc.ca/summerofmalmo.html
Doing the tempo run *on the track* certainly makes it easier to get a feel for tempo pace, that you can then duplicate off the track. (I think Daniels also recommends doing this.) But for me, the main thing is George's point about working with a group. People seem to let that go, the same way that a lot of people let go of Lydiard's *varied* speeds, including a fartlek session, during the base period.
If you put a good group together, and guys are mature enough not to race (and if you're really putting in the doubles/total mileage, racing in training won't be very tempting), then you'll sort of work it out on a group basis. I'd urge people to re-read the example that George gives of two fit guys working with two who are "getting there" and two who are just plain out of shape.
Get used to running with others, preferably close enough so that you could extend an arm and touch someone. You need to be comfortable running in close quarters--that's a specific skill, and this is the time to develop it.
Get used to sorting things out as a group, with some give and take from everybody. Learn how to get useful Goldilocks training (not too hard, not too easy) while still accommodating others. Studies have shown that the best *competitors* are those who are comfortable with other people, not the "lone wolf" types.
Different things work for different people, but I think the Summer of Malmo can work for a *lot* of folks, if they actually buy into the entire thing and not just bits and pieces. If you haven't read it in a while, seriously: read it again.