We’ll meet at the Trexler Nature Preserve’s Environmental Center parking lot (4935 Orchard Rd, Schnecksville) for a group long run on Saturday, August 16, at 8:30 a.m.
The route will be posted on the Facebook Event closer to the day of the run.
This will be about a 10-mile, hilly trail run, with options for shorter routes.
Post-run lunch spot is TBD.
Hope you can join us!
Our mid-week group runs have at least two different distance options (3-4 miles and 5-6 miles) with an appointed leader for at least one of the two routes. Each run will have its own Facebook “event,” and the routes will be posted a couple days before the run. After each run, those who can will stick around for food, drink, and good conversation, either at a nearby restaurant or a club member’s residence. Come for the run; stay (if you can) for the fellowship. (If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries–just come run with us!)
All runs start at 6:15 p.m.
** Please let us know if you will attend, so we can plan for food.**
We submit a headcount on the Monday before the meeting. You can mark yourself “Going” to the Facebook Event, comment on the event, or contact president@pagodapacers.com.
Mohnton Fire Company Social Quarters
100 E. Summit ST
Mohnton, PA 19540
https://goo.gl/maps/fukZK8BEGAsXUjDv5
The meeting is upstairs. Enter the front door and the stairs are on your left. No need to ring the buzzer for entry.
Food and drink at 6:30pm
Meeting starts at 7:00pm
All members welcome. Members are responsible for purchasing their own beverages.
Pagoda Pacer A.C. Monthly Membership Meeting
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Mohnton Fire Company
Steven Vida presided
Jennifer Pierdomenico recorded minutes
21 members in attendance
CALL TO ORDER at 7 pm
Minutes from the June meeting were accepted as posted.
REPORTS
Treasurer Report (Prepared by Shaun Luther, presented by Steve Vida)
Run for the Ages Report (Blair Hogg)
NEW BUSINESS
Oley Race (Jennifer Pierdomenico, Danny Cabrera)
Charlie Horse Race (Steve Vida)
MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:26 pm
When the newsletter went fully online several years ago, I created a public Google calendar that I update with all club events, including meetings, group runs, races, and social events. But apparently I did a poor job of letting people know it exists, as I found out at last month’s meeting.
The easiest way to find it from here is to click on the link at the top of the newsletter site. Scroll to the top and click on “Calendar” to check it out!
If you’d like to bookmark the public URL, here it is: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=e10t3jnolnlhbm8m8rgpvij06k%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York
If you’d like to integrate this calendar into the calendar app on your smartphone, here is the iCal format: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/e10t3jnolnlhbm8m8rgpvij06k%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
And if you’re organizing an official club event that’s not already on the calendar, send the details (date, time, location, brief description) to me at Matthew.L.Brophy@gmail.com, and I’ll make sure to add it.
President, Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club
Come out to the Pagoda Pacer Picnic on Saturday, July 19th, and hang out with some friends you haven’t seen in a while. It’s been several years since we held a club picnic. This is at a new location with a new format that includes options for a “fat-ass” run in the morning and overnight camping.
Please recognize that we are pulling this together on short notice and squeezing it into this summer’s calendar, instead of waiting until next year. It’s not a thoroughly planned event, but we hope to try something new and build on it for next year. If you have ideas for additional picnic activities – that you are willing to implement – please email me at president@pagodapacers.com. Direct communication will work better than trying to hash things out via Facebook comments.
LOCATION
The picnic will be held on the property of the South Mountain YMCA Camps. A few years ago, we held Wednesday Night Runs that started at Galen Hall and covered both sides of the YMCA property. The picnic will be limited to the eastern side of the property, which includes Cushion Peak, the infamous pet cemetery, and a 3-mile trail loop.
Here’s the address to put in your GPS: 201 Cushion Peak Rd, Wernersville, PA
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
9 a.m. Fat-ass Run
3 p.m. – 7 p.mm Picnic
Overnight Camping
Can I Bring…?
Dogs, kids, and alcohol are allowed (though we discourage letting the kids or the dogs drink the alcohol).
Dogs must remain leashed at all times while on the property.
COST / SIGN-UP
This event is largely self-supported, with people bringing their own food and drinks. The club is covering the cost of renting the site, so we set a fee for non-members. Everyone should sign up using the link below, even if you are not making a payment. You can indicate which parts of the event you will attend, which will help us to prepare.
FAT-ASS Details
We will mark a 2.5 mile loop and set up an aid station table at the start. Click HERE to see a map of the loop.
Please bring a shareable contribution for the aid table. We’ll supply water. Running will start at 9 a.m., but you can jump in whenever you arrive. There is no cutoff time; you can run all day if you want.
PICNIC Details
Bring chairs. Picnic activities are planned from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. The club is not providing or cooking food because we don’t know how many people will attend. Please bring whatever food and drinks your family would like to have. I’m sure many people will bring shareable dishes as well, and we will set up a table for those items.
You can bring a camp stove or grill if you want to cook your food that way. The site has electricity, but it is limited and will NOT support multiple crock pots. So don’t plan to heat your food that way.
CAMPING Details
Bring your tent and gear.
The “World’s-End-and-Laurel-Highlands Double” seems to be my thing. In 2022, I completed the World’s End 100K and Laurel Highlands 70.5 mile races on back-to-back weekends. In 2024, I completed the World’s End 100K and Laurel Highlands 50k on back-to-back weekends. This year, I completed the World’s End 50k and Laurel Highlands 70.5 mile races, but there was a 2-week gap. Why would one do such hard races in close time frames? Well, there is no real reason except that I can!
World’s End 50K
I have done the 100K 4 times, with 3 finishes and 1 DNF. This race, in my opinion, is one of the hardest out there. The terrain, the hills, and mud make this one a handful. This year, with all of the rain, the mud was the worst I have seen. There was nary a dry spot on the course, and the stream crossings were as high as they’ve ever been. The temps, however, were cool, which I think helped out a bit. The race itself went rather well, and I set no hard goals for this one. I kind of hung back at the start and waited until I got in a groove. That groove ended up being so groovy, that I missed a turn and tacked on almost 2 extra miles! I had to re-pass a bunch of people I had passed, and, with 3 miles left, I turned on the gas and passed at least 10 people who had had enough of this race! I did have one, nice, headlong fall in the mud, which added to the “spice” of finishing with my slowest 50k time of 7hr 37 min. The elevation gain for this bad boy was 6339′!
Laurel Highlands 70.5-miler
This was my 4th year doing the 70.5 miler, with 3 finishes and 1 DNF. I also have done the 50k one time. This is an old school, classic, point-to-point race, which runs the entire Laurel Highlands hiking trail. This is the 46th consecutive year, and it’s just a fabulous race. The mountain laurel is always in bloom this time of the year, and, unlike World’s End, every stream crossing has a wooden bridge. The terrain is fairly technical, and the elevation gain is 11,500′ for the 70 miles. Another cool thing about this race is it crosses over the PA Turnpike via a special bridge for the trail.
This particular day wasn’t really hot, but the humidity was OFF THE CHARTS from the start. I drank over 5 gallons of fluid during the race. I finished with my slowest LH time (18hr 44min), but it was another rewarding day of perseverance. I couldn’t remember a time during the race when I had any real low points. As for now, it’s rest time for the summer, as I enjoy some more casual and recreational running.
Thanks for reading!
The Pagoda Pacer Wine and Cheese Party is back for 2025 at the Barn at Cacoosing (9 Evans Hill Rd, Sinking Spring)!
This fun event will be held on Saturday, September 6th from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and is a great way to relax and mingle with fellow Pacers.
Your ticket includes wine, beer, soda, a large variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, desserts, and more. The main event will be in the barn, but if it is nice weather, please feel free to bring a chair to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Tickets are $20 each for Pacer members and $25 for non-members through 8/25. After that, prices go up: $25 for members and $30 for non-members, so buy yours NOW and save $5!
Tickets must be bought in advance online; we will not be accepting cash at the door. Advance ticket purchase makes this much easier on club volunteers by helping us get an accurate head count for food and alcohol.
Also, you must be 21 to attend; please leave the little ones at home, so you can enjoy an evening out with your friends. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join Fleet Feet West Reading and Asics for a high-energy night celebrating strong, unstoppable women in sport! Move Her Mind kicks off Friday, July 25th at 6:30pm with a cocktail hour meet & greet at the vibrant Eight-Twenty at the Mills, followed by an inspiring panel discussion led by keynote speaker Sam Snukis, and a powerhouse lineup of women athletes, coaches, and a sports psychiatrist. During the cocktail hour we’ll have Swedish meatballs, vegetarian spring rolls, and hummus dip. There will be a cash bar, but the first drink is on us.
We’ll dive into what drives us, how we overcome barriers, and what keeps us moving. Moderated by Ken Singleton, with panelists Sorita Averill, Jess Cammauf, Aimee Kohler, Jess Wayashe, and Alexandra Kyros, expect honest stories, laughs, and lasting motivation. BLiNCK Studios will be providing professional quality audio/video production for our guests.
You’ll also receive sweet swag bags and opportunities to win raffles—including prizes from Shokz Headphones, Amphipod Safety Lights, Asics shoes, and other gear to keep you safe on a run! Bring a friend and get a chance to win a Philadelphia Half-Marathon bib.
The inspiration continues Saturday morning with a group trail run at Brentwood Trailhead featuring ASICS shoes to demo. All paces and faces are welcome, even if they didn’t join us on Friday.
Why come? To connect. To grow. To move—together.
Come for the stories, stay for the sisterhood.
Want to see your race results in the newsletter?
Send them to newsletter editor Matt Brophy at Matthew.L.Brophy@gmail.com!
World’s End 50k
| 7:37 | Andy Styer |
Laurel Highlands 70-Miler
| 18:44:43 | Andy Styer |
Run for the Ages 10k
| 1:10:44 | Jackie Snyder |
Coal Cracker 10k
| 45:49 | Matt Brophy |
Pagoda Pacers News 