Lilac to Kiceniuk, Kiceniuk to River, River to Lilac. In 1984 with a wife, five kids and one on the way, Tom Eisenhart was told by his boss that he still had a job, but it was now in NJ. He might as well have said Alaska to that South Florida born and raised man. To say it took a leap of faith to get here was an understatement. To say “here” was different…maybe even more so. But NJ, our little slice has some incredible appeal, and among it is the “5 mile loop”, a phrase he coined to describe the Lilac / Kiceniuk / River Road stretch that he’d run around his house during marathon training, the place he’d teach his children to ride their bikes running alongside, and someday run step for step. I can’t remember my exact first time around the 5 mile loop, but it was likely 1987…I was six years old. And if I had to bet, at the time of this writing, I’ve probably averaged at least one run around it, every month, ever since. It’s a “happy place” of sorts, one that’s provided me enough open road to gain strength and find focus, and in many ways, a part of my story. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to think that it also played a role in shaping part of ours.
It was 2013 and I was training for another Boston Marathon. As I had done countless times prior, I took the right at the T-intersection of Kiceniuk and River road, but this time at the exact time that a familiar face was coming down the hill from my left. We weren’t exactly friends, but John and I recognized one another and quickly settled into a pace…step for step. How could I not recognize him? He was that old dude beating me at all the local races! We got to talking and as it turned out, we were both training for Boston, me typically by myself, and he with a small local group of runners. And before we parted ways on Lilac, he invited me to join him and his friend Dan for a track workout that coming week.
Dan was one of those guys you couldn’t help but love. The only thing bigger than his mouth was his heart and he had us laughing during our mile repeats, at least whenever the pace would allow. It was a successful workout and before long, the three of us began loosely training together. Turned out they were the President and Vice President of a local running club, the same club that Kristen, Mark, Mike W. and the rest of our small contingent of runners called “the crew from the other side of the tracks”. We of course were not a sanctioned club, just a group of endurance enthusiasts with a vision and some infrastructure at BaseCamp. So when they invited me to run Boston under their club name, I was reluctant but agreeable so long as they knew I’d already committed to wearing our team jersey, something I had great pride in.
It turned out to be a great race for me. Perfect conditions and I shaved two minutes off my previous personal best, albeit still two minutes from my true goal of breaking the 3 hour barrier, So when my coach Julie (nice to have an olympian oversee your training plan) called after, asking if I was ok, I didn’t realize she wasn’t talking about my race performance and instead meant “ok” as in “out of harm's way”. When she proceeded to tell me of the bombing that just had taken place, all of a sudden the sound of sirens and helicopters a few miles in the distance became crystal clear. I was ok, thank God, and on my way out of town, but I hadn’t yet heard from my new friends John and Dan.
The next 24-48 hours are a bit of a blur. John, Dan and all I knew in the race were ok, but we were all pretty shaken up. So we did what we knew how to do, got members of the running community together for a few miles around the track in solidarity. It may have been that night where Dan first popped the question.
“Hey, John and I have been talking… you guys have a nice contingent and with the established not for profit and facility… what do you think about our club coming in and merging under BaseCamp?”
Of course, I loved the idea. It was mission synonymous with BaseCamp’s pursuit of “Healthy community through shared human experience”, and the synergies were pretty undeniable. At least that’s what most people thought. Things were progressing fast, the running club would keep its identity but would operate as a group under the BaseCamp not for profit umbrella, and BaseCamp’s existing members, at least those that were runners, would join the group, and all would officially have a home for the growing healthy community. Unfortunately, and somewhat surprisingly, “most people” did not include “a few people”, and this few were VERY loud and frankly, downright insulting, in opposition.
I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty difficult for us to sit and listen to others speak poorly of us and our intentions in our own home, but as they say, the greatest challenges often bring forth some of the greatest opportunities. And after it was decided that the schism was growing too wide to close, the group in favor of collaboration decided it was time to start anew.
In late 2013, with the support of some of “the originals” Kristen, Mark and Mike W., along with Dan, John and some other key members from the “other side of the tracks” that included Frank, Alysia, Eric, Tim, Tom and Jim, BaseCamp Athletic Club was formally launched. With roots in endurance sports, and most specifically running, this group of pioneers saw a greater vision - something that has led our members down trails, up mountains and around tracks. We move on two feet, on two wheels and at times through water. We’ve grown to compete on roads, fields, into gyms, and onto mats. We’re not all world-class, but no less athletes. In pursuit of our best and in support of one another’s, and on Saturdays you’ll find us out on the 5 mile loop. We’re a community, in constant motion…strong…happy… and healthy. Join us.
-Eric E.
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