Across the River and Through the Woods: The Second Annual Nike Camp Hits the Trail in New York City

I’m a city girl. There is little doubt about it. And a lady from New York. My mantra is “New York or nowhere.” Drop me off in any borough (except Staten Island, with respect) with a $10 MetroCard and I’ll find my way home. But in case you take me to the great outdoors, things can get somewhat dicey.

To be clear, I appreciate nature and its beauty (especially fresh air and an unobstructed sunset in the countryside), but the wilderness has never been my thing. Unless it’s about camp.

As a baby, I actually liked camps. I used to be lucky enough to attend a sleepover camp, which was mainly a secluded plot of land where teenage counselors made the rules. We slept in cabins in the forest and told scary stories around the campfire. I used to be a non-singing child who joined the camp choir. I used to be in seventh heaven. Sleepover camp was my first experience away from my parents for a “longer” time frame, so it matured me in a way.

Fast forward to the present: I used to be invited to the second annual Camp Nike. My fond memories of the camp, combined with a touch of nostalgia, made attending it a no brainer for me.

Camp Nike is a two-and-a-half-day experience (for adults) in upstate New York. The itinerary includes wellness activities: mountain climbing, trail running (or walking), and community constructing, with clear information that this trip is meant for runners, non-runners, and the like. Being in a bunch of dedicated runners may be intimidating, so relinquishing the responsibility was definitely a relief.

Slightly about me: I’m a three-time marathon runner, but don’t let that idiot you. I would not dare call myself an actual “runner.” From my viewpoint, the title has far too high expectations. I need to remain lively by getting in some weekly workouts, but these may or may not include running. Marathons were my goals that I strived for – I didn’t necessarily run simply because. Since Camp Nike offers loads of opportunities to spend time actively (in comparison with running), I planned to make use of these few days to get back into the rhythm of sports.

Welcome to Camp Nike.

The group of “campers” met at Nike’s headquarters in midtown Manhattan, quickly modified outfits and were bussed from the hustle and bustle of the city on to the upstate trail. That’s after we went on our first hike.

While I appreciate the outdoors, I can count the variety of hikes I even have done (in my life) on each hands. Honestly, I loved mountain climbing. For me, these are glorious walks with a view. However, I quickly learned that this was the furthest thing from the truth. The initial seven-mile hike was humbling, to say the least. I arrived on the trip wearing light glam makeup and per week’s price of silk presses. I believed I’d finish the hike looking (reasonably) intact. Unfortunately, I used to be delusional. As we climbed to the top of the trail, I used to be literally panting and dripping with sweat. Be clear: you can be training at Camp Nike.

During our many hours of mountain climbing, the group literally crossed streams, boulders, and so on. Skipping on various rocks appeared to be a team-building activity. We supported one another, allowing different campers to take the lead at different points in the hike. We cheered one another on, checking when the camper went silent or someone slipped. We learned about one another by asking questions like inquisitive people. I’m pleased to report that the entire crew made it through the first hike (albeit out of breath) with out a scratch. Shout out to Nike Zegama 2 shoes— they’ve phenomenal grip and got us through the uneven and slippery terrain in one piece!

After a harrowing trip (somewhat dramatic, yes, I do know), we rested well in our luxurious cottages on… Wild flower farms Farms (let’s go camping, but let’s make it spectacular. OK?!). On the second day, back on the trail. We began with a light-weight run that covered slightly below three miles. The group chatted at a leisurely pace (whatever that meant to the individual) and there have been occasional photo stops along the way. The trip was enough to stimulate the circulation in our blood.

Healthy body, healthy mind. Later, we had a non-public yoga lesson led by a Nike Well Collective trainer Tochi Anueyiagu. Yoga is not only about stretching while burning incense – in fact, the practice is deceptively difficult. In this class, I activated muscles I didn’t know I had, but I used to be also challenged to attach my body and mind. Needless to say, I didn’t manage to do all the asanas (poses) perfectly, but I attempted. I stumbled a bit and kept trying. The reward for our efforts was a number of moments of quiet meditation. We were silent and still, and our only task was to hearken to the respiratory. I see how a daily yoga practice is usually a transformational practice.

The physicality of the journey strengthened me, and the easy conversations fed my soul. The connections were honest and uninhibited. Over dinner, we reflected on our childhood camp memories and laughed together while making s’mores around an open fire (in any case, would camp be camp without s’mores?). My childhood sleepaway camp will all the time hold a special place in my heart, and many years later, Camp Nike will too.