Siuslaw Vikings cross country coach Chris Johnson at least practices what he preaches.
Running is not a sport, it's a way of life.
Life continues next week with the annual Siuslaw Dune Camp — Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Honeyman, Tuesday at Sutton and Thursday the Siltcoos Lake Trail.
"Siuslaw Dune Camp is a great opportunity to get our feet a little wet before the official season starts," Johnson said.
The season starts in two weeks — Monday, Aug. 19 — and will be more than a few laps around the renovated track at Hans Petersen Field.
You also will have to watch out for runners on Kingwood and Oak and other town tributaries as the Vikings work out the summer kinks.
Not that summer was time off for the heart of the Vikings order, the seven boys and six girls who participated in the Steen's Mountain High Altitude Running Camp.
The week-long endurance test was capped by an uphill 5,000-meter run, with seniors Brendon Jensen and Hannah Rannow turning in the top boys and girls times for the Vikings.
The Lady Vikings were a strong third place among the eight scoring teams, while the Vikings boys were fifth of eight.
Meanwhile, Johnson is not taking a pass on life as a runner, teaming with some local runners in the upcoming annual (Mount) Hood to (Oregon) Coast relay run.
"We plan to dominate," Johnson said. "Ha!"
STEENS MOUNTAIN HIGH ALTITUDE
RUNNING CAMP UPHILL 5K
Boys (97 runners)
Finish—Athlete, year, time
Girls (87 runners)
Finish—Athlete, year, time
SIUSLAW 2019 SCHEDULE
2019 VARSITY ROSTER (from athletic.net)
Boys (11)
Freshmen (3)
Jacob Blankenship
Kyle Hughes
Sam Ulrich
Sophomores (1)
Chad Hughes
Juniors (2)
Ryan Jennings
Jaxsen Jensen
Seniors (5)
Jonah Jarman
Brendon Jensen
Kiger Johnson
Isaiah Jones
Jared Northrop
Head coach: Chris Johnson
Assistant coaches: Rachelle Campbell, Steven Moser
Girls (8)
Freshmen (0)
None listed
Sophomores (2)
Rylee Colton
Masie Jones
Juniors (2)
Brea Blankenship
Gracie Freudenthal
Seniors (4)
Bryn Clement
Chloe Madden
Hannah Rannow
Anne Wartnik
Head coach: Chris Johnson
Assistant coaches: Amy Flora, Neil Wartnik, Rachelle Campbell