This xc season was very different from previous seasons. The training was primarily just a ton of 200m, 300m, and 400m, repeats. We rarely did any repeats that were 800m or longer. I can only remember doing around 12 repeats over the whole season that were 800m or longer. I also did not feel very fit to race 8k. Is this bad training? or just a different way to train?
What did your other runs look like? I suppose if you have a good hard long run every week in addition to at least two decently paced aerobic long-ish runs you'd be in okay shape.
Obviously longer intervals and tempos would be of more benefit when your in season. Those workouts sound more of the likes of a beginning of the season or offseason sharpening style workout.
What were the results of your races? Were they very different from previous seasons?
my easy runs were ~11 miles @ 7:10-7:30 pace. Long runs were 13-14 miles also @ 7:10-7:30 pace. I was a 26:00 guy last year, thought I could be around mid 25's. We would also do 15 - 20 minute tempos once every two weeks.
I did a lot more consistent and higher mileage over the summer. I have always been more of a 800m/400m runner. Never broke 17 mins for 5k in high school. Finally decided to run consistent mileage the summer before my sophomore year and ended up around 26:00. Last summer I did even better mileage and was running much faster in late summer workouts, but once the season came up I was still at 26:00.