Hi all, this is Tom, the newest member oN the Nike Spike bus. I'm a runner who grew up in upstate NY (I'm talking real upstate, with bears, four foot snowstorms, and all that). I started my running career at Queensbury High School, which is the greatest place ever to run, and has the coolest coaches in the world. 

But enough about me, lets talk about that sick bus. I've seen some baller whips in my time, but the Nike Spike Bus definitely tops all. I'm sure you are all aware of the fun and excitement of the bus when it is parked and the stage is open (and if you're not, I'm sure you will be soon!), but the bus is a completely different element of fun and excitement when its rolling. People are always asking about the bus, and checking it out, lane changing and merging are easy because people cant miss it! Does turning(especially right hand turns, BUUUURRR) and parking get tricky? TOTALLY! But thats all part of the fun, driving through traffic is like a big puzzle, and I like those. And by the way, if you think paying for gas in your honda stinks, trying waiting 20 mins to fill a hundred gallon tank, and then paying for THAT!

My first time taking out the bus, was to a crazy camp called Running Works at Lake Canadesis, PA. The camp had a lot to offer for trails to run on, entertainment, some very informative and FAST staff, and no lie the best hot chocolate I have ever had. I got a few good runs in but Group A got me pretty sore by the end of week and I bumped myself to group D for the last run. Things got pretty wild for the costume contest prior to trivia night, words can't even describe what I saw there, all I know is that the Bros of Cabin 17 looked good. 

The next stop was Briarwood Running Camp which was an adventure to get to, CRAZY WINDING roads! Single lane construction, SWITCHBACKS! Keep in mind the bus is a monstrous 40+ feet. But the skills I was blessed with got us to our destination in one piece. We showed up and got set up just in time for the cannonball contest, which Black Velvet himself got to judge. The campers were a great bunch, who even helped provide the bus with their own music, as in music they wrote! I hopped out for a quick run at the camp and got to enjoy some scenic rural country roads, which are always a pleasure.

The next week we found ourseves at Bennett running camp, named after one of the coaches of the illustrious CBA Lincroft XC team, who were a great group of guys to enjoy your meals with. At this camp I got to meet some stud runners like Jon Reilly, Jason Rexing (who is rumored to have ran 13:55 in trainers, backwards), and Chris and Tammie Bennett who all ran on the Nike farm team together. This camp, no questions asked had the best downtime activities and contest. Nowhere else could I team up with a camper to get 4^th in a potato sack race up a muddy hill, or could Black Velvet get second in a baby oil watermelon contest.

For the time being now I'm just washing and scrubbing down the bus so it's shiny for the upcoming XC season, which is going to be a blast because as well know XC is the best season ever. I can't wait to see what cool places the bus is going to be at. For those of you I have met, can't wait to see you again, for those I haven’t met COME CHECK OUT THE BUS!