Author: pagodapacers

Fat Ass and New Trails Planned for Neversink

by pagodapacers

Berks Nature and a few members from BAMBA joined us at a general membership meeting earlier this year and shared some information about a trail project that’s being discussed for the Neversink Mountain Preserve.

They are applying for public grants and trying to raise funds on their own to fund the project. At our January meeting, we will be voting on an amount to donate to the cause. Additionally, Brandon Beane is working with Berks Nature and a private landowner nearby to plan a January Fat Ass as a fundraiser.

Look for details for the Fat Ass on the Pagoda Pacer Facebook Discussion Page. 

Volunteers Needed for Kris Kringle Race on 12/28/25

by pagodapacers

Volunteers Needed

We can’t pull this off without you! We’re looking for help with:
Registration, Parking, Course Volunteers, Course Sweepers, Kitchen Help & Clean-up.

If you can lend a hand, please email Michelle at mhenry.pacers@gmail.com with your preferred role and availability. We’ll confirm all assignments ahead of time and send race-day details that Friday.

Thanks for keeping this classic Pacer event going strong year after year!

❤️ Lisa Domeshek & Michelle Henry
Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run Race Directors

Lace up & join the Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run
Sunday, December 28, 2025 | 10 AM
Berks County Agricultural Center, Leesport, PA

Ready, set, register!

The Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run is back for its 39th year, bringing all the festive feels — think crisp winter miles, cozy hoodies, and donuts waiting at the finish line. 

This race is a Berks County favorite for a reason: great vibes, great people, and a course that’ll make you earn those donuts. Bring your friends, family, or your whole running crew and make it a yearly tradition. Proceeds support the Berks County Cross Country Coaches Association, so you’re running for a great cause, too.

Registration Details

  • $30 online until Dec 15
  • Day-of: $30 (race only, no hoodies available)
  • Online registration closes Dec 15 at 11:59 PM EST

Fleet Feet’s “Run Santa Run Scavenger Hunt” on 12/7/25

by pagodapacers

‘Tis the season to be Merry!

Join Fleet Feet West Reading for a Christmas adventure run through West Reading and Wyomissing! The Run Santa Run Scavenger Hunt, organized by Fleet Feet West Reading, is back for its 4th year. You will be given a list of riddles and questions to find the locations to run to and earn your raffle tickets. Because answering riddles and running is better with friends and family, start gathering your group of merry runners. There are no official teams, and this can be done as an individual as well. You may also partner up with someone at the start of the festivities. Be prepared to sing, dance, decorate a tree, take a selfie, and eat some cookies as part of the challenge! 

You will earn tickets for raffle prizes on the hunt. In addition to the raffle prizes, we will have fun prizes for the best Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus costumes. Participants will receive a custom Fleet Feet West Reading holiday-themed ear warmer headband. 

We will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the food pantry at Bethany Lutheran Church. Please consider donating non-perishable food items that can be dropped off at the beginning of our adventure!

The riddles for the locations will be handed out starting at 9:30 a.m. Participants will be sent out at 10:00 a.m. and will have exactly 1 hour to get to as many locations as they can to earn their raffle tickets. Anyone who returns to Sly Fox after 11:00 a.m. will have to hand their raffle tickets over to the Grinch. You may only return with the raffle tickets you earned, not your entire group’s tickets.

Hoka will be joining us this year with their Clifton 10 and Arahi 8 to demo during your run and some free give-a-ways and raffles.

The event venue is at Eight-Twenty at the Mills, located behind Sly Fox and next to Kimberton Whole Foods.

sign up!

Applications Still Being Accepted for 2026 Pagoda Pacer Scholarships!

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

Shiver #1 Set for Sunday, 12/14/25

by pagodapacers

Date:  Sunday Dec 14th

Place:  Jim Dietrich Park

Registration: 8:30 a.m.

Race start:  10 a.m.

Swag:  Running Waist Belt

Pre-registration is only for the series. Race-day registration is available for the series or individual races. Series runners can pre-register online at www.pretzelcitysports.com until midnight on the Wednesday before the race. You can also print and mail the app with a check. Apps can be printed from our website www.pagodapacers.com.  

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 someone to sweep. Since we have a 40-minute cut-off for runners to start the 2nd loop, the sweeper will start running at 40 minutes and follow the last 10k runner; therefore, the sweeper 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 a.m. If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. Look for one of the race directors somewhere around the farmhouse. Thank you in advance for your support!

Remaining race dates:  Jan 11th, Feb 8th, Mar 8th

Hope to see you there!!!

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

The Pacer Christmas Party is THIS FRIDAY–Volunteers Needed!

by pagodapacers

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Jules is going to need some help at this year’s Christmas party. This is a great way to get a volunteer signature on your Pacer Passport.

Thursday, December 4: 6pm-? Help is needed setting up tables and chairs, decorating, displaying raffle items, etc. It shouldn’t take too long. Many hands make light work.

Friday, December 5: Half-hour shifts, starting at 5:45 p.m.
3-4 people needed to help with check-in and raffle ticket sales.
8:30 p.m. – 2 people to pull and record raffle prizes.

If you’re able to help out, please let Julia Hager know (hagerj210@gmail.com)!

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Friday, December 5th
6pm-11pm
Grill Fire Company – 739 Mountain View Rd. Reading, PA 19607

CLICK TO BUY TIX!

Race Results (November ’25)

by pagodapacers

Want to see your race results in the newsletter?

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

Oley Valley Country Classic 10-Miler

1:17:27Matthew Brophy
1:38:25Jackie Snyder1st F 65-69
1:46:49Yuriko Beaman

Oley Valley Country Classic 6k

27:35Andy Styer1st M Master

PHLY Turkey Trot to Benefit Face to Face (5-miler)

36:46Andy Styer

Fire on the Mountain 50k

5:48:57Kelly Ammon2nd F Overall

Forbidden Run Fest 10-Miler

1:31:12Mark Ammon

Boxing Day Group Run: Rustic Park on 12/26/25

by pagodapacers

Our next group long run will be at Rustic Park in Birdsboro!

Join us at 9:30 a.m. on Boxing Day (12/26/25) for a 10(ish) mile trail run. This run will be led by our club treasurer, Shaun Luther, who has encyclopedic knowledge of Pennsylvania trails.

The run will start at the trailhead at 1314 Haycreek Road.

Longer option is 10 miles with 1670 ft of gain:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-fc9b003-9

A shorter option is 6.4 miles with 712ft of gain:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-78289d9-19

There will likely be a group heading out to brunch afterwards, as well, if you have the time!

Hope you can join us!

Wednesday Night Runs (December ’25 Locations)

by pagodapacers

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!)

Remember to bring a head lamp and to wear reflective gear!

Evening runs on 12/3, 12/10, and 12/17 start at 6:15 p.m.

Since the last two Wednesdays of the month are Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, we will run in the MORNING (8:30 a.m.) instead of the evening on those days.

Morning runs on 12/24 and 12/31 start at 8:30 a.m.

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting (November 13, 2025)

by pagodapacers

Pagoda Pacer A.C. Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Mohnton Fire Company

Steven Vida presided

Jennifer Pierdomenico recorded minutes

25 members in attendance

CALL TO ORDER at 7:02 pm

Minutes from the October meeting were accepted as posted.

REPORTS

Treasurer Report (Shaun Luther)

  • Balance is $92,110 and 86% of target.
  • A few Blues Cruise expenses came in
  • All Jr Hi Expenses are in
    • Still waiting for ~$300-400 of race entry fees
  • All Oley Income is in

Election Results (Matt Brophy)

  • Thank you Steve Vida for 2yrs of leadership.
  • Thank you Sue Jackson & Curtis Musser for stepping up to run again and congratulations on re-election to board.
  • Thank you and welcome to Julia Hager new board member
  • Thank you to Blair Hogg and Michelle Henry for stepping up to run for President.
  • Congratulations to Michelle Henry on election to Club President.

Oley Race Report (Jennifer Pierdomenico)

  • Thank you again to all runners and volunteers
    • About 22 club volunteers, 5 HS students and 3 Goodhart children
  • About 300 registered runners (41 day of sign up)
  • 280 Finishers (106 for 6K and 174 for 10M)
  • Winners (6K: Liz Sweeney 6K;  10M: Vince Ferrizzi – repeat winner from 2025)
  • Estimated Financials
    • Expenses ~$6.5K
    • Income ~$11.6K
    • Estimated funds raised ~$5K
  • Next year change end of course to all road race for both 6K/10M.

NEW BUSINESS

Charlie Horse (Shaun Luther)

  • Permit received from township
  • Special Olympics approached about including a Special Olympian event
    • May have a 3rd event next year wrapped in with Dirty Pony next year

MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:32 pm

This is the end of the December ’25 Newsletter. Continue scrolling if you would like to view older content.