Getting back to running form

If you had asked me a month ago how long it would have taken me to get back into running form I would have said at least two to three months. The results of the last week of training have made me review that to a much shorter one to two months - big grin. Last tuesday I went for the usual team track workout but with the idea of doing my training by myself - I certainly didn't want to get involved in any crazy latic acid workouts with my friends. So I warmed up nicely, did some plyometric workouts on the tribune steps and then started with a series of 8 x 800m at the quite leisurely pace of 3' 30" and a recovery of 1' 30". I did the first 6 quite easily and very contendedly but I was getting more and more frustrated to see my friends racing past me as they also did a 8 x 800m workout but in 3' flat. I couldn't stand it any more so I tagged on to the second lap of their seventh 800m just to see if I could keep the pace. To my surprise I stayed with them from the beginning to the end. One more to go. I couldn't resist. As they set off on their last 800m repeat I tucked in behind Marco to see how long I could hold on. The first lap was OK but I could feel myself tiring. As we entered the back straight I allowed the two of them to open up a gap of a couple of metres but tried to hang with it as long as I could. I could see that the gap was still the same as we entered the last curve and responding to my agonistic instinct I slightly lengthened my stride. To my surprise the gap diminished and as we exited the curve I was back on their shoulders. There was no way I could go outside and take them round the curve and I wasn't even thinking of doing so. I was just hanging on for my life. Then it happened. Massimo who was running on the outside moved to his right, Marco running on the inside moved to his left and a huge gap opened up between them. I swear I had no idea what I was doing - some ancient God of athletic tracks whispered in my ear and pushed me through the hole. My stride lengthened and I was flying down the last straight with andrenaline burning in my chest. I heard some probably not complementary comments as I maintained the pace and just let my legs go. The finish point came not too soon and I hit the stop watch button as I crossed it. 2 minutes 59". Thank God that was the last repeat of the evening. Needless to say I was walking on cloud nine when I got home.
The rest of the week went well with swimming sessions on Wednesday (1,8km) and Friday (2km) with a 5 x 100m session on two minute intervals where we were timing 1' 30" for the swim portions, and one hour of weight work on Thursday.
Saturday was a great 75km bike ride (Spring is really on its way back) in the hills for an average speed of 25km/h.
On Sunday I went for a 15km off road run, which was originally planned for 12km but just kept going since I was feeling so good. It was a beautiful morning with great visibility. To the north I could just make out part of the Alps (80 kilometres away), while to the south I could see all of the Apennine mountains (just 20km) crowned in glorious white snow.
I'm still taking it easy and I'm a little cautious but things really sem to be going in the right direction. Let's see what this week brings - last week of training before I have to go to the States and training will be wound down for ten days.