POULSBO — This is what it’s all about for North Kitsap’s cross-country squad. Months of training and a September full of meets has led up to the postseason, and the Vikings couldn’t be more excited.

“Even when we are getting really tired at workouts, and it’s that time where you just have to push through and get to the next level, we start talking about state and the championship season and it gets us through,” said junior Nick Cameron.

Cameron is one of three Vikings on the boys’ side whose shoes have state experience from last year. He along with senior Cody Bradwell and junior Paul Coulter will lead the way for the NK men as the postseason begins.

North’s girls, on the other side, are laden with experience as five Vikings — Kelly Cates, Jennifer Gregg, Erika Warkus, Nicole Bazar and Shawna Williams — have competed at the state level.

Now, all eight are starting back at square one, with a new cast of understudies in 2006, as they step up to the starting line of the Narrows League Championship Oct. 18.

“Most are so experienced with championship racing that I don’t need to say much,” said NK coach Lee Hodin. “I just show them again and again on paper, this is why you match up, this is why you belong.”

Hodin said as the regular season closes, most of the physical work has been done and now races are won in runners’ minds. Therefore, the Vikes are focused on keeping sharp through mental relaxation and visualization exercises.

The Vikings’ past four meets have also given them a visualization of where they stand among the teams they will see at the league, and possibly district and state meets.

Two weeks ago, Sept. 30, the Vikings traveled to the prestigious Sunfair Invite at Yakima and ran into a preview of what the state meet could look like.

“When you look at the top 13 teams in the state, 10 of the 13 were there,” Hodin said. “You definitely get to see where you are at (Sunfair).”

However, it’s a tough meet in contrast to state as some races don’t start until 2 or 3 p.m. As a result, when runners leave the starting line, they are beginning with already heavy legs.

North felt the burden, but persevered nonetheless with the ladies capturing 15th place and the boys’ team racing to 26th.

“The door is open,” Hodin said of the championship season. “Both teams have a chance to go to state, but they will have to do their jobs and get it done.”

“Last year, our goals were more set on making it to state. This year, our goals are more set towards getting top 10 at state,” Cameron said, noting that the Vikes must not get too far ahead of themselves. “(We) have to have the confidence in ourselves to say this is what we set out to do and now we’ve got to accomplish it.”