Run for the Ages on 6/28/26

June 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

A trail run for all ages!

The Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club is excited to present of one of very few trail races on the east coast with an age-graded start. Race directors Blair Hogg and Kristen Rothenberger are experienced trail and ultra runners and long-time members of the Pagoda Pacers.

Top age group performers have a legitimate shot at the overall title. Even if you aren’t out to win, you can enjoy challenging yet very runnable trails in beautiful Nolde Forest with virtually no bottlenecks. Challenge your families, friends, and coworkers to come out and compete on a “level” playing field. The top 10 overall finishers in recent years have been a good mix of men and women in many different age groups.

What’s an age-graded start? Those who have more than a few grey hairs or have yet to hit puberty will get a head start based on age and gender. Typically, the oldest female wave starts first. Then, each following wave will start, based on 5-year age groups, working back toward the younger (faster?) folks. Waves start bouncing back and forth between sexes, as the handicap derived from the World Masters Association dictates. The youngest runners also get a head start. The actual handicap for each age division is posted at http://www.PagodaPacers.com.

More information about the race:

The top ten overall finishers, regardless of sex or age, plus the fastest uncorrected time, earn awards specially crafted by Nolde Forest Pottery. If participation numbers merit, medals are awarded to two fastest M and F in the following age groups: 12 & under, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+. Gift certificates from Fleet Feet (West Reading) for overall top three: $50/$30/$20. Team Award for any group of 3 or more (you define family).

REGISTRATION/ENTRY: Race-day registration will be available if the race limit of 250 entries is not reached. The race fee is $35 and includes race swag. Swag guaranteed if registered by June 1st. After June 1st, swag is not guaranteed. We race in rain or other inclement weather. The race director reserves the right to delay the start of the race due to mega foul weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Check http://www.pagodapacers.com for postponement info if the weather is hurricane-like on race day. Award ceremony held at 10 am.

YOU GET: Two water stops, finish place posted immediately & results on Pretzel City Sports, UltraSignUp, and http://www.pagodapacers.com in 1-2 days. Follow our Facebook page for updates about race swag!

COURSE: A well-marked 10K course over the beautiful trails in Nolde Forest. VERY pretty and scenic with fewer ankle-busting rocks than most other Berks parks. You’ll scramble over some rocks and go off trail to get dirty, too. The race will start in front of the Environmental Education Building and head directly into the forest after minimal time on pavement. Most trails are wide enough for easy passing. The finish will be right near the start by the Nolde Mansion. A map of the course is on the Pagoda Pacer website and will be available before the race.

LOCATION: Race held in Nolde Forest, Cumru Township, Berks County, PA, just south of Reading, PA. The race will start and end near the Nolde Mansion. Note: Enter via Main Entrance, NOT the Sawmill Parking Lot!!

DIRECTIONS: 6 miles south of Reading, on PA Rt. 625 (New Holland Rd). 2 miles south of PA 724 and 3 miles North of PA 568. Address: Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, 2910 New Holland Rd. Reading, PA 19607

PARKING: Parking near the mansion is extremely limited. Please, please, please carpool and get there early! We will have volunteers directing you where to park to use every available space. Please follow their directions.

IMPORTANT NOTES: The Pagoda Pacers strongly discourage the use of headphones during any race. Also, parents: If your child is under 18 and wishes to run, you MUST be present for the duration of the race. You may also run (we encourage it!). In the unlikely event your child gets hurt, medical personnel can ONLY treat him/her with your permission. As this is a PA state facility, alcohol is prohibited. Follow our Facebook page for additional information at https://www.facebook.com/RunForTheAges

Triple Trail Challenge

Runners who already completed the Charlie Horse Half Marathon (or Dirty Pony 5k) should register for this race, along with the Blues Cruise 50k (or relay) if they want to be eligible for the Triple Trail Challenge (or Triple Trail Starter Pack).

WNR at the Ballpark: July 1, 2026

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

This is a normal Wednesday Night Run that starts and ends by FirstEnergy Stadium. Post-run gathering will be at the ballgame. The club is NOT purchasing or organizing tickets for this. We can gather and socialize out on the left-field deck.

We are starting this WNR a little early at 6pm. Game time is 7pm.

The run will start from the parking lot on the SW corner of Front & Exeter streets. It is labeled as CarTech lot #10. It is NOT the lot across from Mike’s Tavern.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mzm1LQk9kdUNPrVh9

We are running a 3-mile loop outside the perimeter of Charles Evans Cemetery – same as last year:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-d465f14-7

Anyone wanting the longer distance can do the loop twice.

Rain date possibly July 29

The Big Run 2026

May 31, 2026June 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

There will be no traditional Wednesday Night Run on June 3, as the Pagoda Pacers will join Fleet Feet’s Big Run 5K at Trooper Thorn’s Irish Beef House in celebration of Global Running Day.

We’ll be setting up the Pacer tent around 5 p.m., and we encourage members to come out, wear their Pacer gear, and help represent the club. Events like this provide a great opportunity to connect with local runners, showcase our club and introduce future Pacers to everything we have to offer. Wear your Pacer gear, stop by the tent, and help us welcome runners from throughout the community.

A special offer is available exclusively to Pagoda Pacer members. Get 50% off registration using the discount code included in the email accompanying this newsletter.

Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. and the race starts at 6:30 p.m. We’ll also recognize the fastest male and female PPAC member participating in the race. Please stop by the Pacer tent before the start so we know you’re running. These prizes are separate from the event’s official awards.
See the Fleet Feet West Reading Big Run ad below for additional event details.

Celebrate five decades of running with Fleet Feet at The Big Run presented by Brooks. This community 5K on Global Running Day is all about summer vibes, shared memories, and the kind of runner’s high that keeps you coming back. Register today for The Big Run and let the good miles roll! Lace up, show up, and celebrate the joy of running!

Why You Can’t Miss This:

–Timed 5K with Pretzel City Sports keeping track of every stride
–Top 3 awards in each age group (M/F: Under 12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+)
–Epic raffle prizes: A Brooks Running top + bottom AND a $100 Fleet Feet gift card
–Local vendors and community partners to keep the celebration going
–Support Girls on the Run: Donate during sign-up to help empower young runners
–Finisher medals for all runners!

Global Running Day is about more than just miles—it’s about setting goals, showing up, and celebrating YOU. Whether you’re racing for a PR, jogging with friends, or walking for fun, this event is for everyone.

Running changes everything™—so let’s change the day together. See you at the starting line!

Fleet Feet West Reading | June 3 | Sign up now!

Wellness Corner: Curating a Positive Mindset in Today’s Society

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

by Andrea Thrush

What is Positive Psychology?

It is normal for the human brain to focus on the negative events, which is an evolutionary part of us that helped us survive as a species. In today’s world this tendency can lead us down the road to depression and anxiety (Seligman, 2011). However, we can help our brains see more of the positive in life and focus less on the negative!

Dr. Martin Seligman is considered one of the fathers of positive psychology. Positive psychology is about increasing our well-being and flourishing (Seligman, 2011). Well-being can be measured through our positive emotions, engagement, meaning, positive relationships, and accomplishment (Seligman, 2011).

“What Went Well?” – an exercise for savoring positive events and emotions

This article focuses on increasing positive emotion, through a practice called “what went well”. Becoming aware of and enjoying positive events and experiences is a skill that can be learned with practice.

Preferably every night about ten minutes before bed, write or type about three things that went well during the day. Big, small, and anywhere in between. Then include at least one of the following for each of the three things you listed:

· Why did it happen?

· What does it mean to you?

· What did you learn from writing about it?

· How did you or others contribute to it?

Try it for just a week and build from there. The longer and more consistently you practice, the better you will feel. Doing this before bed can help with your sleep, but it can be done whenever is easiest for you.

If you would like, please share some of your entries with us on the Pacers Discussion Group page on Facebook over the next month! Disclaimer:

If you feel you might be suffering from anxiety/and or depression, please seek professional medical help.

References

Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish. Free Press.

For more information:

University of Pennsylvania’s website: Authentic Happiness https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/

University of Pennsylvania’s Coursera Class – Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization (I was able to audit this class for free in the past, but I do not know if it is still available for free). https://www.coursera.org/specializations/positivepsychology

Thank You, Pacers! (June ’26)

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

Thank You, Pagoda Pacers!

A heartfelt thank you to the Pagoda Pacers for your incredible support at our Spring 5K! We are so grateful for your partnership and for the many volunteers who helped cheer on participants, support the course, and create a joyful, encouraging experience for every girl and family who crossed the finish line.

Your energy, dedication, and community spirit helped make this season’s celebration truly unforgettable. Thank you for helping our participants feel strong, confident, and supported every step of the way.

Save the Date!
Our Fall 5K Celebration will take place on November 7 at the Berks Heritage Center. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again this fall!

Andrea Adam

Chair, Board of Directors

Finding Your Zen Zone with Spark Joy Yoga at hOMe PYM

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

PAID ADVERTISING CONTENT

Runners know a thing or two about creating space. You carve out time in a packed schedule, lace up, and step away from the noise of the day. That post-run quiet, the one that settles in somewhere around mile two, is something many of us are chasing well beyond the finish line.

As someone who runs and teaches yoga, I’ve been thinking a lot about what Thich Nhat Hanh calls a “breathing room,” a space without judgment, without the mental chatter, without the to-do list following you in the door. We have rooms for eating, sleeping, and watching TV. Why not a space just for breathing and peace?

For me, the yoga studio has always served that role, a personal Zen Zone. When I started practicing in 2010, I made a deal with myself: leave the worries outside. The studio became a worry-free zone. (My cat and dogs have absolutely no respect for the boundaries of my yoga mat at home, so finding that Zen Zone elsewhere has been essential.)

I’d love to offer that space to you.

Spark Joy Yoga is a Tuesday evening class at hOMe PYM in Berks County (154 Skyline Drive, just northeast of Reading), and the studio itself is something special. For those of us who love to connect to the outdoors, it feels like a natural extension of the trail. One entire wall is comprised of large windows, skylights fill the ceiling with natural light, and if you’re lucky (and I often am!) you’ll spot deer grazing nearby or catch a woodpecker making his presence known. It’s a genuinely idyllic setting for practice.

And speaking of the trail, yoga is one of the best things you can do for your running. Research shows it reduces musculoskeletal pain, decreases stress, and improves sleep quality, all of which supports better recovery and more consistent training. Improved flexibility leads to better form, a longer stride, and reduced injury risk, and hip-targeted yoga poses in particular can help prevent IT band syndrome and runner’s knee. And if you’ve ever struggled with sleep after a hard training week, there’s good news: a recent network meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials involving 2,576 subjects found that yoga ranked as the top exercise for improving sleep quality in people with sleep disorders. More rest, less tightness, a clearer head, yoga just makes you a better runner.

Class is all levels, so whether you’ve been practicing for years or have never unrolled a mat, you’re welcome here. If you’re brand new to yoga, reach out and I’ll meet you at the studio early to give you a preview of the class and help you settle into your practice. And if you don’t have a mat, no worries, mats are available to borrow.

We’ll move, breathe, and create a little space, for your body and your mind.

Cost: $15 per class

When: Tuesdays, 6:15–7:15 PM

Where: hOMe PYM, 154 Skyline Drive, Reading

Sign up: www.joyandspace.com/yoga

Hope to see some familiar faces on the mat!

Yuriko Beaman

Joy & Space, LLC | Yoga Teacher | KonMari Consultant | Genetic Counselor

References:

Research: Yoga and Sleep — “Which exercise prescription is most effective for patients with sleep disorders? A network meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials” (2025): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40988902
Research: Yoga for Runners — overview of flexibility, injury prevention, and recovery benefits: www.vitacost.com/blog/the-benefits-of-yoga-for-runners
Thich Nhat Hanh – https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/blog/2018/1/11/breathe-remember-return

Race Results (May ’26)

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

Want to see your race results in the newsletter?

Send them to newsletter editor Matt Brophy at Matthew.L.Brophy@gmail.com!

York YMCA Marathon

3:55:58

Jennifer Pierdomenico

3 Days at the Fair (72-Hour Race)

162 miles

Tania Salaneck

2nd Female

Breakneck Point Trail Runs (21k)

3:09:35	Cody Harris
3:40:59	Steve Vida
3:55:27	Matt Brophy
5:02:07	Brittni Harris

Next Membership Meeting: 6/11/26

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

Tobias Frogg Berks
2613 Hampden Blvd, Reading, PA 19604
Food at 6:30 PM | Meeting at 7:00 PM

NOTE: This meeting will take place in the upstairs loft area!

Come early, grab a drink, stay after—it’s easy to chat, catch up, and socialize as a club before and after business. And if you need to skidaddle right after the meeting, that’s OK too.

Please remember to RSVP no later than Sunday, June 7!

Here’s your June RSVP link: https://forms.gle/EKmSaf1njUN6e5vB6

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting (May 14, 2026)

May 31, 2026 by pagodapacers

Pagoda Pacer A.C. Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, May 14th, 2026

Tobias Frogg: 2613 Hampden Blvd. Reading (upstairs in loft)

Michelle Henry presided

Jennifer Pierdomenico recorded minutes

27 members in attendance

CALL TO ORDER at 7:00 pm

Minutes from the March meeting were accepted as posted.

REPORTS

Treasurer Report (Shaun Luther)

Balance is $87,288 which is ~102% of target
All Kris Kringle expenses are now in.
Scholarship awards will be going out.
Charlie Horse shirts/swag expenses are coming in.
All income/expenses for South Mountain Throw Down are also in,

Kris Kringle (Lisa Domeshek)

After expenses are paid, $7802 will be split between the club and XC coaches’ association.
There were 502 preregs, and 26 day-of, but only 225 finishers due to rescheduled date. Many coupons were given out to runners who couldn’t make the rescheduled date for next year’s race.
Next year will be the 40^th anniversary and looking to do something special to celebrate.

South Mountain ThrowDown Lite (Brandon Beane)

37 runners and runner feedback was very positive
Next year will possibly include 2 events (10/12hr and 24hr) and plan for 150ish runners.
Have permission to camp out for next year’s event which is needed for 24hr option.

Charlie Horse (Shaun Luther)

Registration numbers are similar to this time last year.
Trail maintenance this Sunday (3Hrs planned)
Still needing volunteers, particularly at road crossings.

Run for the Ages (Blair Hogg)

June 28^th and registration is open for runners & volunteers.
Current registration is at 42 runners.
Course setup is June 27^th from 4-6PM (tying ribbons to trees)

Trail Maintenance (Cody Harris)

Will be every 3^rd Sunday beginning in June along Blue Marsh trail. Details to follow.

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

An Equipment Borrowing Agreement is available and is now required to fill out if members want to borrow club equipment. See Michelle for form.

Meetings will continue to be upstairs in the loft area through the summer.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GOTR at Penn State Berks this weekend and they are planning for nearly 1100 runners.

Blues Cruise training runs (will all be Facebook events)

7/11 Justa Road Fat-Ass
8/15 Skinners Loop and optional ski loop
9/12 Backside of lake (Stilling Basin to Church Rd)

Can the calendar link be added back to the Pacer web page?

MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:27 pm