by Tom and Gwyn Chobot
Dear Pacers,
We wish to thank the membership for, once again, supporting this race for 17 years. We truly believe that this race has been instrumental as a community outreach endeavor in an effort to promote interest in distance running among the youth of Berks County. Everything starts with the youth, and we need to emphasize all the benefits of running including, but not limited to, the physical health benefits, the rise in self-esteem and self-confidence, and the fact that those who take care of themselves, tend to take care of the world around them. In other words, runners, by nature, tend to make the world a better place in their own unique way. Having each been running for more than 50 years, we have witnessed this enough to believe it with all our hearts.
This year’s race had 152 7th and 8th graders from 15 Berks County schools. Sadly, the numbers were down from an average of around 200 runners since the race’s inception. This appears to be a statewide trend, maybe even a nationwide one, as these young runners have more options and opportunities available to them. We don’t know what the solution is, but as a running community, at the very least, we need to be more aggressive in our efforts to attract young people to our sport which we know will enhance their quality of life for the rest of their life.
‘Nuff’ said.
Thank you to our Pacer volunteers, many of whom come out every year, and make the race a success, as well as make a great end-of-season celebration of these young runners’ cross-country experience. We might add that at the time of this writing, 15 of the 25 Berks County Senior High runners who qualified for the state championship meet, to be held on November 1, had run our race. This club is making a difference.
In addition to the junior high race, Gwyn and I have co-directed the high school Berks County Championship Run. Part of our responsibilities have been to recruit volunteers, and each year the Pacers have always stepped up. Even though this was our last year directing, the BCIAA (the governing body of Berks County scholastic athletics) has asked our club volunteers to return as they were impressed as to how well the Pacers orchestrate a running event. A feather in our cap for sure.
We are passing the torch, and hope the club continues to be involved in these worthwhile events which will shape the future of this organization, our sport, and the running community as a whole.
Pagoda Pacers News 