January 2026 – Pagoda Pacers News

Kicking off 2026 with smoother, more social, and intentional meetings

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

We’re starting the year with two updates designed to make our monthly meetings easier to attend, more social, and better planned.

TL;DR version

We’re kicking off 2026 at Tobias Frogg Berks (Food 6:30 PM | Meeting 7:00 PM) and rolling out a central RSVP link so you can RSVP in just a couple clicks. The link will be available each month via email, the newsletter, and the Facebook event — we really hope you’ll join us and be part of the conversation.

First up: a new home for our meetings

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

This spot gives us room to spread out, settle in, and treat the space like ours for the night. 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.

Next: Centralized RSVP

We’re streamlining RSVPs to make it simple for you and to help us plan space and food more intentionally. Here’s how it works:

Each month, you’ll get a dedicated email with the RSVP link.
Follow the link and answer a couple quick questions: are you coming, and if so, will you be eating? That’s it — just a couple clicks. There’s even a way to RSVP for someone else!
The same link will also appear in the Facebook event and the newsletter. You only have to RSVP once/month.

Why the switch?
A. Efficiency for all – for you and for the club. One link does it all: clean, streamlined, and simple to submit and collect. No more hunting through comments, messages, emails, or “Going” clicks to see who’s coming. One link, one clean list, easier planning for everyone.

B. Food planning matters. Out of transparency, the new location could cost a bit more than the old one. In the past, we weren’t always sure who was simply attending the meeting versus who planned to eat. This new system gives us clear insight into both, so we can order responsibly, avoid waste, and make sure everyone is fed.

C. Intentional invite. This is our way of giving every member a personal tap on the shoulder, so you know you’re invited, and we really hope you’ll come.

When more people show up, we get stronger decisions, more voices, better ideas, and a clearer direction for the club.

A couple clicks from you = a huge help for everyone.

Heads up: As with all change, this could feel a bit clunky at first while we adapt and dial in the kinks. This is new to us too, so thanks in advance for rolling with it while we refine the process and hopefully make an improvement.

Ready to try it out?!?!

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

Kris Kringle Update – 2 Kris Kringles Coming Your Way in 2026!

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

December weather: 2 | Pagoda Pacer December races: 0

As you know, last week’s Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run was postponed due to icy conditions.

We’re still working out a new date and will share the details as soon as everything is settled. Stay tuned!

Even though we couldn’t hit the course (literally, Blue Marsh closed their trails), we weren’t about to let our runners miss out completely. We invited everyone to swing by, grab their much-anticipated hoodies, and enjoy coffee and donuts with us. A little race-day spirit goes a long way, and we think it helped show that our club is dedicated to our runners and that canceling was a tough call, one we didn’t take lightly.

All in all, it turned out to be a successful day anyway. Donuts were eaten, plenty of hoodies found their happy homes, and we’re hopeful that most runners will stick with us for the rescheduled race. Because let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want two Kris Kringles in 2026?

A huge thank you to all who were set to volunteer; we appreciate you! And a special shout-out to the small crew who still showed up to help hand out hoodies and donuts. (P.S.–you’re not totally off the hook. I’ll be reaching out again once we have the new date to line up volunteers for the rescheduled race.)

Fleet Feet’s “Teddy Bear Trot” on 2/7/26

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Join Fleet Feet West Reading for the 8th annual Teddy Bear Trot!

The Teddy Bear Trot is the perfect blend of running and giving back to our community. All participants are asked to bring a brand NEW Teddy Bear to the event.

New this year: At Eight-Twenty at the Mills, we will have a teddy bear tag-making station for you to write something special to the kids who will receive your bear. We will also have a photo shoot area to take some pictures with your donations.

Participants then join us as we run the bears to the Opportunity House in Reading, for them to use in their Learning Center. This year we will be welcomed into the Opportunity House Early Learning Center to say “Hello” to some of the kids who attend the Center. The kids who come to welcome us will not only be benefitting from our donations, but will get to take a bear home after the event. After making our donations, we will continue en route to finish our 3-mile fun run. This is not a race, but rather a social group run to give back to our community. Once back at Eight-Twenty at the Mills, we will have a Deluxe Hot Cocoa station for you to get warmed up after your run.

The proceeds for this event will be donated to Opportunity House as they continue to serve our homeless community. Additional monetary donations will be accepted at the event and will be given to Opportunity House to support their endeavors. We will also be collecting non-perishable foods and blankets at the start of the run at Sly Fox to donate as well.

Everyone will have a chance to wear/test Karhu shoes, an exclusive Fleet Feet product. Karhu is Finnish for the word “Bear,” making their brand a perfect partner for this event!

Runners will be sent to Opportunity House to make our donations in 3 groups. Groups will depart at 10:00, 10:10 and 10:15 to donate the teddy bears. Please take a look at the pace ranges for each group and sign up for the time that best suits your abilities. Our goal is to get to the Opportunity House at the same time to give them the bears and for a group photo. We will then continue on our 4-mile loop. There will be group leaders to help direct the runners/walkers.

10:00am – Walkers and 13+ minute milers

10:10am – 10-12 minute milers

10:15am – 8-10 minute milers

Angel Island State Park:

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

An ideal spot to train when visiting the San Fransico Bay area

by Tom Chobot

One of the many benefits of the club (and more specifically, the newsletter and Facebook group), is that we get to share the running experiences we encounter as we visit distant lands and places, with the idea that others might one day enjoy what we discovered as well.

While visiting family in the San Fransico Bay area over the holidays, we discovered what we think is a runner’s paradise with regards to a great place to train and enjoy the outdoors. Angel Island is conveniently located in the Bay–just north of (and in sight of) the city, and it’s just a short ride from the ferry terminal.

There is much history to the island. Aside from a small Coast Guard and ranger station and a few buildings, it is currently almost entirely an uninhabited state park with plenty of hiking and biking trails which range from very easy and flat to fairly technical and challenging. The most popular trail is paved and follows the roughly six miles of coastline. The interior has a high point of 733 ft. of elevation with plenty of trails and options to customize a workout with distance, hill work, difficulty, and challenge.

On the day that we visited, it was cold (around 50 degrees), with light rain. Kinda like Pennsylvania weather on a good day, but miserable by local folks’ standards, as they are used to pristine conditions about 10 months a year. As a result, we had the entire island to ourselves, except for the rangers and one other couple. For us, it was perfect, with breathtaking scenery, a satisfying workout, and just a great day to be in the woods. This is a must-visit for any runner visiting the Bay area.

A word of caution: they tell us it can get crowded on weekends and nice weather days. Oh, and the websites say that lockers are available near the ferry docks. This is incorrect. There aren’t any, so prepare accordingly.

Bottom line, would we go back on our next visit? In a heartbeat.

Take care, be safe, and see you on the trail.

Two Months Left to Apply for 2026 Pagoda Pacer Scholarships!

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Applications are still being accepted for two different cross-country scholarships being offered by the Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club (PPAC). High school seniors are encouraged to apply for a scholarship as a cross-country runner or as the child of a PPAC member who is in good standing with the club. Two of each scholarship type will be awarded. Please refer to the PPAC Scholarship page for details which can be found at: https://www.pagodapacers.com/Scholarships/About.aspx

All applications must be postmarked by February 28, 2026. For more information, please email scholarshipcoordinator@pagodapacers.com

Back-to-Back Shivers This Month!

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Let’s try this again.

This month we have 2 Shiver races. The December Shiver had to be postponed and is now Jan 4^th. The January Shiver is scheduled for Jan 11^th.

We apologize for the last minute cancellation of the December race, but we had about 5” of snow, not the predicted 1-2”. We knew Jim Dietrich Park would not be plowed, and just think of that hill!!!!! We did send an email to all pre-registered runners who had given us an email address, along with posting a message on the Pacer website and the Pretzel City Sports website and Facebook messages. We hope we reached everyone.

So this month we have back-to-back races!

Dates: Sunday Jan 4^th and Sunday Jan 11th

Place: Jim Dietrich Park

Registration: 8:30

Race start: 10:00

Swag: Running Waist Belt

By the time you read this, pre-registration is closed; however, race-day registration is available for the series and individual races.

If you choose not to run the race, please consider volunteering. We need volunteers before the race – for parking; during the race – on the road, at the finish line, and in the farmhouse; and after the race – for cleanup. We also need a sweep. Since we have a 40-minute cut-off for a runner to start the 2^nd loop, the sweep will start running at 40 minutes and follow the last 10K runner; therefore, the sweep can still run the 5k. To help us with volunteer assignments, we prefer that volunteers contact us prior to race day. If you have not already talked to one of us, please reach out to Georgine at Facebook or Instagram or gmmccool56@comcast.net.

If you can help prior to the race, please plan to arrive between 8:00 – 8:15. If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30. Look for one of the race directors somewhere around the farmhouse. Thank you in advance for your support!

Remaining race dates: Feb 8^th, Mar 8th

Hope to see you there!!!

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

A Note of Thanks from Jules, Our Pacer Party Planner Extraordinaire!

January 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Thank you to everyone who attended the Pacer Christmas Party!

There were familiar faces and some newcomers, and a great time was had by all.

If you missed it this time, mark your calendars for Friday, December 4, 2026!

If you have any suggestions for the 2026 party, please let me know. This party is for you, the members, and I want you all to have a memorable night.

This party happens because of the help I receive from club volunteers. Whether it’s helping me set up and clean up, or checking in guests and selling raffle tickets during the party, every bit is helpful and appreciated! So thank you to the following folks for helping out this year:

Jen Pierdomenico

Donna Hey

Keith Mooney

Katie Beane

Blair Hogg

Shaun Luther

Jerry Ashway

Sue Jindra

Matt Brophy

Yuriko Berman

Steve Vida

Sue Jackson

Georgine DiPaolo McCool

Michelle Henry

Beth Kohl

Lisa Domeshek (an extra round of applause to Lisa and Fabric Mart who saved me behind the scenes in addition to helping out at the party)

There are a few others who helped clean up at the end of the night, and I apologize for not remembering who all helped out, but thank you so much for all of your time and efforts!

We had a number of businesses donate goods and/or services for raffle prizes, and I’d like to give them with a shout-out:

Van Scoy Jewlers www.vanscoy.com

Pretzel City Sports www.pretzelcitysports.com

Laura’s Head Turners www.laurasheadturners.com

City Girl Juice www.citygirljuice.com

The World Famous Pike Cafe www.pikecafe.com

Fleet Feet West Reading www.fleetfeet.com

The Anger House www.theangerhouse.com

Stretch Zone West Reading www.stretchzone.com

Reading Distilling Guild www.facebook.com/ReadingDistillingGuild

Catering was provided by

Fat Pineapple, LLC