Warmer Conditions Promised for Charlie Horse & Dirty Pony

We might be buried under ~12 inches of snow, but believe it or not, your favorite Pagoda Pacer half-marathon is right around the corner. That’s right, Charlie Horse (& Dirty Pony 5k) is just under 4 months away. If you’re looking for some motivation during this seemingly unending cold snap, sign up today and be ready when warmer weather finally returns. In case you need more incentive, proceeds are donated to an incredibly worthy cause—Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Team Berks. What is better than trail running AND supporting other athletes in our community?!

Early bird pricing ended 1/31, but even if you missed that deadline, it’s still a great deal (only $55!! for Charlie Horse, with pizza and adult beverages included at the finish line for those that wish to partake!)

Charlie Horse Trail Half-Marathon & Dirty Pony 5K – May 24, 2026

If you’re like me and appreciate a bargain, check out the Triple Trail Challenge. ICYMI, Triple Trail Challenge gives a little extra swag, recognition, and bragging rights (at no extra cost!) to those brave enough to sign up and finish all three of the Pagoda Pacer trail races (Charlie Horse Half, Run for the Ages 10k, & Blues Cruise 50k). If you love trail running but aren’t quite up for the distance, Triple Trail Starter Pack is an option, too. Look for Triple Trail Challenge registration on Ultrasignup to receive a price break on all three races.  

Triple Trail Challenge 50.3, TT Starter Pack – May 24 – October 4, 2026

See you on the trails, 

Kelly, co-RD

Race Results (January ’26)

Want to see your race results in the newsletter?

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

Shiver by the River #2, 5k

22:31Nicholas DiMascio
34:21Yuriko Beaman

Key West Run Fest 5k

27:57Michael Whalen
29:41Tom Chobot
37:21Gwyn Chobot

Key West Run Fest 10k

57:16Michael Whalen
1:06:35Tom Chobot
1:23:07Gwyn Chobot

Key West Run Fest Half Marathon

2:08:00Michael Whalen
2:36:29Tom Chobot
3:00:19Gwyn Chobot

Next Membership Meeting: 2/12/26

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 Super Bowl Sunday!

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

Kris Kringle Rescheduled for Sunday, April 12

First, thank you for your patience and understanding following the postponement of this year’s Kris Kringle Race. We know how much planning and anticipation goes into race day, and we truly appreciate your flexibility as we worked to finalize the details.

We’re happy to share that the race has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 12.

If you were registered for the December race, you should have received an email with a link to a fillable form outlining your options moving forward. Please take a moment to let us know your plans so we can properly update your registration. If you missed the email, please let us know by emailing kriskringlerace@gmail.com.

If you were not registered for the December race—good news! Online registration has reopened and can be found here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Leesport/KrisKringle5MileRun

Either way, we hope to see you there! Please note that we will not be placing a new hoodie order—registration is for the race only.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the new date, please reach out to Michelle at mhenry.pacers@gmail.com.

Fleet Feet’s “Teddy Bear Trot” less than a week away!

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

LAST CHANCE to apply for the 2026 Pagoda Pacer Scholarship!

Applications are still being accepted until the end of the month 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

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting (January 8, 2026)

Pagoda Pacer A.C. Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Tobias Frogg:  2613 Hampden Blvd.  Reading

Michelle Henry presided

Jennifer Pierdomenico recorded minutes

35 members in attendance

CALL TO ORDER at 7:00 pm

Minutes from the November meeting were accepted as posted.

NEW MEETING LOCATION (Tobias Frogg)

-New monthly club meeting RSVP process (Michelle Henry)

  • Individual invites to all PPAC 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)

  • 2025 Year-end report:
    • Total Income:  $99,784; Total Expenses $94,782; Club Profit $5,002
    • New Target balance set to $84,936
    • Account balance is $101,496 (119.5% or target)

Oley Race Report (Jennifer Pierdomenico)

  • Final financials:
    • Total Income $12,540; Total Expenses $6,628; Total Raised $5,916
    • Thank you again to all runners and volunteers

Blues Cruise (Mike Whalen)

  • Registration to open mid-February

Kris Kringle (Lisa Domeshek)

  • Rescheduled date now Sunday April 12th.  Thank you to everyone who helped on the 28th with hoody handout.

Shiver (Sue Jackson)

  • Thanks to everyone who came out and ran/volunteered for the make-up date this past Sunday (about 200 runners).  The 2nd race is Sunday January 11th.

NEW BUSINESS

Berks Nature Donation (Brandon Beane)

  • Original thought was to have a Neversink mountain run.  However, due to course route over 3 townships (Reading, Alsace, Cumru), logistics are more involved than originally thought.
  • Berks Nature hoping to get donation by end of January to receive matching grant.
  • Motion:  “The club to donate $2,000 to Berks Nature for Neversink Mountain Trail improvements.”
    • Motion approved.

South Mountain Spring FatAss (Brandon Beane)

  • Date blocked off with South Mountain (April 24-26) with details under discussion.

Pacer PassPort (Michelle Henry)

  • 2025 Passport swag is a trunk organizer with pacer logo.  Michelle to reach out to passport finishers when it’s available.
  • 2026 Pacer Passport is now available (contact Michelle).

Girls on the Run May Event (Andrea Adam)

  • May 16th @ PSU Berks.  Looking for PAC help as course marshals and at club table.

MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:38 pm

Next Away Game: Horse-Shoe Trail on 2/14/26

We’ll meet at the IronSpire Complex in Adamston (not so far “away”!) for a group long run on Saturday, February 14, at 9:30 a.m.

The plan is to meet at IronSpire, then carpool to Charlie Crowell’s house in Plowville, and run back to IronSpire along the Horse-Shoe Trail. The total distance of the run will be about 14.5 miles, but runners can elect to be dropped off at a different starting point in order to shorten the distance. (10- and 7-mile options will be available.)

If trail conditions are not so great, we may pivot to a road run.

Updates will be posted on Facebook closer to the day of the run.

Post-run lunch spot will be at Columbia Kettle Works (which is right in the IronSpire Complex).

Hope you can join us!

Weekend 10-Miler: Antietam Lake on 2/28/26

A group long run, starting from Antietam Lake Park (Angora Rd trailhead), will take place on February 28, 2026.

Join us at 9:30 a.m. for a 10(ish) mile trail run. This run will be led by Steve Vida.

If trail conditions are not good, we will do a road run from the same location instead.

Check Facebook for posted routes closer to the date of the run.

There will likely be a group heading out to lunch afterwards (probably at Liberty Tap Room), as well, if you have the time!

Hope you can join us!

Shiver #3 Coming Up on Sunday, 2/8/26!

Our next race is Sunday, Feb 8th, at Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Twp.  Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.; both races start at 10 a.m. What makes us unique is that runners can decide at the end of the 5k loop if they are going to finish the day with a 5k or do a 2nd loop to complete a 10k. However, we do have a cut-off of 40 minutes to be eligible to start the 2nd loop. If you have never run this race, or maybe you haven’t run it for a few years, come out and join us and reconnect with runners you haven’t seen in ages!  

We had 2 races in January. Jan 4th was the reschedule of Dec 14th and Jan 11th was the scheduled January Shiver.

The January 4th 5k had 124 finishers, with 58 runners completing the 10k. 1st male and female finishers in the 5k were Aiden Igielski (18:29) and Lori McClure (21:01); with Jonathan Thrush (32:02) and Raine Fussner (46:29) finishing as top male/female runners in the 10k.  

The January 11th 5k had 146 finishers, with 64 runners completing the 10k. 1st male and female finishers in the 5k were Aiden Igielski (17:32) and Lori McClure (20:58). Jonathan Thrush (32:32) and Ty Diaz-Cruz (41:57) were the top male/female runners in the 10k.

 As always, we thank the volunteers and the runners who came out to support us!!!

Please remember to only complete the registration form ONCE during the series. As we have done in the past, we will have 3 separate areas for registration. We calculate the series results by bib#, so each runner will have the same bib# each month. If a runner completes more than 1 application, he/she will have more than 1 bib#. 

  1. Pre-registration is in the front room (for those runners who have paid for the entire series). 
  2. For those runners who are paying for each race individually, and who ran either of the two previous races, registration is in the 2nd room, at the table marked “Post-Registration Single-Race Entry.” We have a number with a label with your nameNo need to complete a new registration form. If you do, there is the potential of being recognized as a different runner when it comes time to calculate the series results. If any information needs to be changed, just let them know when you get your number; no need to complete a registration form with the changed information.
  3. For those runners who have not registered for the 2025-2026 Shiver, registration is in the 2nd room at the table marked “Post-Registration.”  

Looking ahead, our 4th race in the series will be held on March 8th. The awards banquet will be at the Temple Fire Company immediately following the race. It is free to all runners who completed 3 or more races and free for volunteers; there is a minimal charge for everyone else.  We are always looking for door prizes to be given at the awards ceremony. If you own a business, or know someone who owns a business, or you would like to donate something yourself, we would be very grateful for merchandise, gift certificates, gift baskets, or any small item that a runner would appreciate. Door prizes can be brought to either of the next 2 races or the February Pacer meeting. We plan to send a thank-you email to all of our donors, so if you donate or secure an item for us, we would appreciate knowing exactly what was donated and contact information for the donor.

We all know the weather has been brutal, and we don’t even want to mention this, but IF the race has to be postponed, we will send an email to all runners who have provided us with an email. There will also be posts on both the Pacer website and Pretzel City Sports website, along with Facebook posts. We make this decision as early as possible, but when the storm hits overnight, we may not make the decision until the morning. We appreciate your understanding.   

We hope to see more Pacers run the remaining Shiver races. If you choose not to run the race, please consider volunteering. We need volunteers before the race, for parking and registration; during the race – on the road, at the finish line, and in the farmhouse; and after the race – for cleanup. If you can help prior to the race, please plan to arrive between 8 and 8:15 a.m. If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. 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.  

Thank you in advance for your support!

Hope to see you there!!!

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja