After a few tough workouts under our belts, the team is gradually getting back into the swing of things and for some, it is just beginning.  This week's workouts were tough already.  We had longer efforts on both steep and rolling hills, but to make things tougher, we worked out in no cooler than 88-90 degree weather and in humidity that was less than pleasant.  But, when you think about it, doing workouts in these conditions can be just as constructive as those workouts that cover the obvious basics like grinding hills, different types of terrain, different lengths and speed, etc.  Certainly, I would have preferred to do workouts sans an uncomfortably beating sun and repulsively humid air.  However, getting used to running with certain extenuating factors present, whether it be heat, humidity, time delays (any other external factors), adds just one more factor that you can add to your running experience library.  So, if it reemerges in the future, you are prepared.  No sweat-- you've been there before, gotten through it, and are prepared to handle it again.  Think of last year's open new england championships.  It was hot, surprisingly hot for a mid-october meet.  But, it was fine-- we had done several workouts prior to that meet (more during pre-season) in the heat and were prepared to run smart.  The most prominent example of using running experiences to enhance future performance comes from our 2006 cross country experience-- the epic NESCAC's race (which followed with some attractively red and itchy rashes).  I think running in those conditions, as crazy as they were that day, prepared the team for the marshy, strength-demanding conditions that we saw at National's just a few weeks later.  If not resisting the itchiness of the consequent rashes, running in those tough hurricane conditions prepared us and gave us confidence for what was to follow later.  So, when I think about the workouts we did this week, they were uncomfortable in that sweltering heat.  However,  our team will be able to give meaning to these tough, hot workouts if we have to overcome similar racing conditions in the future.  Overall, it's giving meaning to our workouts and giving justice to the pain we feel on that very last interval, in that very last 10 meters when all you want to do is stop but you keep going and finish.