March 2026 – Pagoda Pacers News

Dr. StrangeBurrito, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Loop

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

As many of you know, I hate road running. For me, a single mile stretches into eternity and, while power-hiking is a staple in the woods, walking up a hill feels wrong on the roads. (I still do it; I just feel guilty about it.) So how did I find myself running countless loops around a single quarter mile block in West Reading for half of January?

This year Burrito League* came to West Reading, thanks to the great folks at Fleet Feet (plus Comalli Taqueria and MountToCoast for donating prizes), and I ended up loving it more than I ever thought possible. The first day of the “challenge” I ran about 6 miles with fellow Pacer Brandon Beane, and as we finished our last loop, I joked that even running 10 feet into the next loop we were halfway done and might as well finish another. It’s wild how prophetic those words came to be.

One of the things I love most about running is the meditative state one can achieve. On a good day, miles blend seamlessly into the next; on a great day, miles blend seamlessly into the next, you feel good the entire time, your soundtrack doesn’t have a misstep, and you get to see some beautiful scenery along the way. I have a very hard time getting out of my own head when I’m pounding the pavement, but remarkably, doing 600 Burrito Loops was not the repetitive drag I anticipated; rather, it became a thoughtless, relaxing trance. (Sorry, I’m going to humble brag right now… or maybe not so humble…but if you didn’t do the math, I want to point out 600 loops is ~150 miles around the same quarter mile block, over the course of two weeks.)

When I wasn’t zen-fully zoned out, there were so many community members cheering me on. I cannot emphasize enough how fantastic the staff at Fleet Feet is; they were/are so encouraging and welcoming. (It’s also never a bad thing to have an aid station every quarter mile.) I made friends in the most unexpected places, whether it be employees at the funeral home, bars on the block, residents in the alley, or the Sisco man making his weekly restaurant delivery. I was surprised by how many people were watching me run endless loops around this single block, and while they didn’t necessarily understand the compulsion to run during some of the coldest weather we faced this year, they were supportive, nonetheless.

Saying it’s been hard to get out on the trails this winter would be a huge understatement. Burrito League gave me something to look forward to during some of the roughest times. I ran plenty of loops with long-time running friends, but also met and ran with awesome people I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. (Shout out to Brandon & Curtis, who each did a crazy number of loops, and Alex, who took the unofficial win with 700 loops.)

I know Thomas, Jason, and the whole Fleet Feet crew have some big plans in mind for next year, so if you get a chance and feel like getting a little loopy, keep Burrito League on your calendar. Even if you don’t go all in, just a few loops with like-minded people can be a wonderful reminder of why we run in the first place. I highly recommend it.

The 2026 Pagoda Pacers Passport Is Here

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

We’re excited to roll out the 2026 Pagoda Pacers Passport, a fun and intentional way to encourage connection, participation, and community all year long.

This passport will run from January 1 through December 31, 2026 and is designed to celebrate what makes the Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club special: showing up, giving back, and spending time together.

How It Works

To complete your Passport, you’ll participate in the core experiences that define our club:

Register for 1 Pacer Race
Support one of our signature events as a participant.
Volunteer for 2 Pacer-Organized Events or Races
We host many events throughout the year, and they only happen because members step up.
Attend 3 Monthly Membership Meetings
Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month (January–November). Stay informed and involved.
Attend 4 Pacer Social Runs
Includes weekly Wednesday Night Runs, weekend long runs, and holiday morning runs. Run, walk, hike or bike–all forms of participation count.

After completing each activity, your passport must be signed within one week. Snap a photo of your completed passport and submit it.

If you are physically unable to complete a requirement, please reach out to club leadership to discuss an alternative. We want this initiative to be inclusive and accessible.

Click below to downloand and print yours out today, so you can start playing along. We can’t wait to see how many Passports get stamped in 2026!

2026 PPAC Passport – Print at home Download

Pagoda Pacers Trail Maintenance Team Back in Action!

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Legal Disclaimer:
PPAC does not condone running with chainsaws

As reported at the February club meeting, Blue Marsh Lake is creating a more organized trail maintenance program. Our team was invited to a kick-off “Managers Meeting” to discuss how the lake can manage all the volunteers and volunteer organizations. Attached is a 2-page form that needs to be completed by anyone that plans on volunteering at the lake. Please complete the form and send it to BluescruiseRD@gmail.com or bring it to the March Pacer meeting.

Blue Marsh Permission Download

NEW: Anyone that plans on using a weedwhacker or other power tools MUST attend a 1-hour class at the Park office. No pre-registration is required.

Power tool training dates: 3/15 or 4/12

A Blues Marsh Lake 4-hour chainsaw operations course (only for those that already know how to use a saw) is MANDATORY for anyone using a chainsaw at the lake. Students must bring a chainsaw to the class and chaps, face-, eye- and head-protection. Course dates: 3/7 or 4/19. Must pre-register for the 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. class.

If you have attended the Blue Marsh class in the past, you do not need to repeat it! All operators must take the lake course, even if you are certified elsewhere.

Our team will receive credit for any time spent at the lake. If you run, hike, or complete maintenance, we get credit! When on the lake and you see an issue (trees down, high weeds…) email us and provide an accurate location and a photo if possible. Prior to working we need to coordinate with the lake to be sure no other team is prepared to mitigate the issue.

Starting in April, our team will meet at the Rt 183 lot aside of the Blue Marsh Italian Restaurant, below Plum Creek Creamery, on the 4^th Sunday of each month to complete trail work. Please RSVP if possible, since, on a few occasions, we will be working on the Horse-Shoe Trail instead.

Please email BluescruiseRD@gmail.com for more info and to be place on our notification list.

Thanks,

Michael Whalen

Girls Will Be “On the Run” at Penn State Berks on May 16!

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Check out this opportunity to support an important community organization–Girls on the Run Berks County–at their upcoming event!

From Andrea Adam (chair, BOD, Girls on the Run Berks County):

Lace up and join us for one of the most inspiring mornings of the season!

Girls on the Run Berks invites you to our Spring Celebratory 5K on May 16 from 8:00–11:00 a.m. at Penn State Berks. This joyful, non-competitive event is the culminating celebration of our season, where participants cross the finish line surrounded by family, friends, and an uplifting community of supporters. It’s a morning filled with confidence, connection, accomplishment, and LOTS of smiles!

Want to be a Community Runner?
Register here: https://www.pinwheel.us/r/2ogqDJm

Interested in volunteering as a 5K Buddy or Course Marshal?
Sign up here: https://www.pinwheel.us/r/2ogqDJm

Come be part of the magic as we celebrate every girl’s limitless potential — because at Girls on the Run, we can do hard things!

Next Membership Meeting: 3/12/26

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

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

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, March 8!

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

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting (February 12, 2026)

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Pagoda Pacer A.C. Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

Tobias Frogg: 2613 Hampden Blvd. Reading

Michelle Henry presided

Jennifer Pierdomenico recorded minutes

31 members in attendance

CALL TO ORDER at 7:00 pm

Minutes from the January meeting were accepted as posted.

NEW MEETING LOCATION (Tobias Frogg)

-New monthly club meeting RSVP process (Michelle Henry)

Individual invites to all PAC members go out about 1wk before meeting. Please RSVP by Sunday evening so club can get accurate food head count. Late RSVP’s are still welcome but food availability can’t be guaranteed.

REPORTS

Treasurer Report (Shaun Luther)

Balance is $88,882 which is 104% of target
Club still has constant contact access until June

Scholarship Committee (Katie Beane)

No applications yet and application window closes at the end of February.

Social Media (Danny Cabrera)

Ideas for more club visibility.
- While club posts events on its Facebook/Instagram pages members could also do the same to reach people not directly following the club.
- Going to start runner/volunteer/etc “get to know you/what’s your story” running profiles.

Shiver (Georgine McCool)

Last race is Sunday March 8^th (1^st day of daylight savings)
Extra volunteers needed to help with parking lot management during the race, race tally runner, etc.
Still looking for door prizes. Reach out to Georgine/Sue/Tiffany if you have something.

Charlie Horse (Shaun Luther)

Will be a slight course change this year but still a good muddy run (maybe a little less deep mud) thru Charlie’s section.

South Mountain Spring FatAss April 24-26 (Brandon Beane)

An ultra-signup page is going to be set up and cost ~$10.

Blues Cruise (Elaine Cook)

Registration opens Feb 14^th. Swag has been posted.
A runner’s insurance option will be available.

OLD BUSINESS

Berks Nature Donation (Brandon Beane)

A $2000 donation was made to BN and they were super appreciative!!

Trail Maintenance (Michael Whalen)

Will start in April, meeting the 4^th Sunday of each month at 9AM, to do something at Blue Marsh (tail survey, weed/tree/brush cleanup, etc). Every hour we spend on the trail doing something, BM gets money from the state. Reach out to Michael if you’re interested in helping (you don’t have to come every month).

NEW BUSINESS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Girls on the Run May Event (Andrea Adam)

May 16^th @ PSU Berks. Looking at all-time record participation this year and for PPAC help as course marshals and at club table.
Reach out to Andrea at chair@gotoberks.org if you want to help.

Ontelaunee Run (Tania Salaneck)

Will be hosting a FATAss (Jog for Tommy Memorial 5K FATAss Trail run) April 4^th at 12PM in honor of her uncle who recently passed away. Entry Fee is donation to American Cancer Society. Address is 397 W. Shore Drive Hamburg.

Pacer PassPort (Michelle Henry)

2025 Passport swag is now available. If you didn’t pick yours up at the meeting, please reach out to Michelle.
2026 Pacer Passport is now available (contact Michelle).

MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:50 pm

Final Shiver (and Awards Banquet!) on Sunday, 3/8/26!

March 1, 2026 by pagodapacers

Thank you to the 76 5k runners, 41 10k runners, and the many volunteers who braved the arctic cold in February to help us have another successful Shiver by the River on February 8^th. Admittedly, it was one of our smaller races, but given the brutal temperatures, we are thankful for each and every one of you who participated. To those who did race, you most likely got a low number of points to count towards the series awards!

Congratulations to the top M/F 5k runners, Charlies Fries (18:16) and Lisa Zwierzyna (23:49); and the top 10k M/F runners, David Hitesman (39:22) and Stephanie Bender (46:39). Thank you to runners and volunteers who continue to support us!!!!!!

Shiver#4 will be held March 8^th. Take note – this is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time!!!

As always, we need more volunteers for this race. Specifically, we need 3 or 4 people willing to take results off of the board, so that the race directors can calculate results as soon as possible. We also need the usual help with parking and registration, on the road, at the finish line, cleaning up, at the water stop, and within the house serving soup. Anyone helping with registration should plan to arrive at Jim Dietrich Park between 8:15 & 8:30; anyone helping during the race should plan to arrive by 9:30. 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 via Facebook or Instagram, or email her at gmmccool56@comcast.net.

However, for as much as we need volunteers, we would really like to see more PACERS run the race!!!!

The awards ceremony will be held immediately after the 4^th race at the Temple Fire Company, 4963 Kutztown Rd, which is about 3 miles from Jim Dietrich Park. This is the same location as the last couple of years.

We are looking for more door prizes. If anyone can donate personally, or secure a door prize, please bring it to the 4^th race. Donations can be given directly to any of the race directors or dropped off at the front table where we are selling old swag, etc. It would be appreciated if you could let us know in advance if you will be able to donate. To be eligible to win a door prize, simply complete the survey at the awards banquet.

A cold buffet, including a hot vegetarian item, will be served starting around 11:15, followed by door prizes and then the awards. Due to the costs associated with the party, we will follow the guidelines we established a few years ago.

The party is FREE to everyone who has either:

Finished 3 or more races in this year’s series – please bring your race number from the 4^th race to the party, it will be your ticket for free entry. There will be a sticker on your bib, indicating your eligibility.
Assisted with any of the races.
Paid for the series.

We will be charging all others (including Pacers who do not fall into one of the above categories) a $15.00 fee to help cover some of our costs.

Remember, to help us maintain accurate results, DO NOT COMPLETE ANOTHER REGISTRATION FORM if you already ran this year. If you paid for the series, registration is in the front room of the house. If you are paying race-by-race, we have a number for you at the “Single Race Registration” table in the 2^nd room. If you have not previously registered for the 2025-2026 series, registration is at a different table, also in the 2^nd room.

Thanks for all the support we have received! We hope to see many of you at the Shiver, either running or volunteering!!!!!

Sue, Georgine & Tiffany