As the bell rings for eighth period, a group of coaches grab their belongings and head out to the track. This time though, instead of coaching their athletes, they will be the ones running.

“The football season is very long and demanding,” Coach Tommy Neal said. “It is important to workout and eat right. It makes a big difference throughout the course of the season.”

The coaches started a regular routine of exercising every two weeks and taking a stroll on the track at the end of the school day. Now it has become a tradition.

“Coach Brian Burkeen and I have been working out for about a year now,” Neal said.

After some time, their regiment earned them some attention.

“When the new school year started we had other coaches who were interested in working out with us,” Burkeen said.

Family was Neal’s source of motivation.

“My wife was a big influence on my decision to start working out,” he said.

Football Coach Guy Humes had other reasons.

“I wanted to do it for two reasons,” Humes said. “I wanted to get healthy, lose weight and feel better about myself.”

Having a work out partner was valuable to Neal.

“I have people that will hold me accountable,” he said.

Burkeen said exercise has always been a part of his life.

“I enjoy working out and running. It has become part of my routine,” Burkeen said. “I couldn’t imagine life without it.”