Author: pagodapacers

Wednesday Night Runs: February Locations

by pagodapacers

We run every Wednesday night–year round–at 6:15pm. Come join us. All paces welcome. No membership required.

–FEBRUARY 5: Wyomissing High School, 630 Evans Ave, Wyomissing, PA. Post-run gathering in West Reading (TBD).

–FEBRUARY 12: Giant Supermarket, 2104 Van Reed Rd, West Lawn, PA. Post-run gathering at Ganly’s.

–FEBRUARY 19: Alvernia University, Greenway Terrace and Veronica Parkway, Reading, PA. Post-run gathering at Mimmo’s.

–FEBRUARY 26: Weis Supermarket, 2020 N. 13th Street, Reading, PA. Post-run gathering at Northeast Taproom.

Race Results (January 2020)

by pagodapacers

Email race results to Race Results Coordinator Karen Rule at raceresults@pagodapacers.com.

National Cross Country Championships
6KRaine Fussner27:23
10KJeff Fussner47:30
Ice Scraper 5K
Raine Fussner22:15
Frostbite10K- Tennessee
Kristin Schimp1:09:53
Katelyn Miller1:10:28
Phunt 50K
23/91Diane Grim5:48:282nd Female
Phunt 25K
320Barbara Raifsnider3:50:05
325Donna Hey3:50:52
331Steven Holgate3:52:00
345Tony Agentowicz3:53:29
Kris Kringle 5 Miler
28Curt Minich33:072nd M50-54
29Dee Koutsourais33:081st Female
36Jon Durand34:252nd M30-34
38Greg Kellenberger34:48
43Don Mengel35:271st M60-64
50Dale Wiest35:562nd M60-64
57Laura Yoder36:221st F50-54
64Beth Kohl36:441st F35-39
76Duane Renninger37:08
92Kristen Jacoby38:131st F60-64
128John Thompson40:39
208Bill Buchanan44:07
221Janine Beidler44:30
234Ann Gery45:21
311Kristen Rothenberger48:42
323Ellie Alderfer49:13
372Julia Hager53:12
386Barbara Raifsnider53:57
407Ellie Vanderbeck55:14
414Karen Sinnen56:06
485Rose Hagy1:02:501st F70-79
Dirty Bird 30K
15Dale Wiest3:09:301st M60+
Dirty Bird 15K
119Tony Agentowicz1:51:03
161Blair Hogg2:00:11
190Barbara Raifsnider2:07:07
202Lisa Domeshek2:15:05
Shiver by the River 10K- January
6Curt Minich41:25
12Mark Yourkavitch43:08
13Raine Fussner43:17
14Scott Thomas43:23
15Jeff Fussner43:44
19Matt Brophy46:06
21Laura Yoder46:32
68Mike Yoder58:38
83John Thompson1:02:28
84Barbara Raifsnider1:02:35
85Steven Holgate1:02:39
Shiver by the River 5K- January
52Kristen Jacoby23:04
103Janine Beidler26:31
114Kristen Rothenberger27:38
149Aaron Kreider29:07
180Larry Drogo31:30
184Jeff Snook32:01
194Ellie Alderfer33:06
197Yuriko Beaman33:42
207Lauren Massaro34:33
222Julia Hager37:00
237Rose Hagy38:49
251Ellie Vanderbeck40:56
274Whitley Cooke47:38
280Helene Horn52:11
281Joanne Patti52:15
287Blair Hogg57:48
288Charlie Crowell, Sr59:00

Shiver by the River: Race #3 Coming Up!

by pagodapacers

Thank you to the 288 5K runners and 107 10K runners and the many volunteers who helped us have another successful Shiver by the River on Jan 12th.  

Shiver #3 will be held on Feb 9th. We are always hoping to draw more Pacers to this race.  Those that participate have very positive feedback. To those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to join us, we would like to know what (if anything) we can implement or change to entice you to become one of our runners. Please feel free to pass any comments on to the race directors, either in person or email. We are very open to suggestions.  

Looking ahead, our 4th race in the series will be held on March 8th.   The awards banquet will be at the Temple Fire Co, immediately following the race. It is free to all runners who completed 3 or more races and free for volunteers; there is a $10 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. We plan to send thank you notes 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 also need more volunteers during the March race so we can compile results for the awards. We very much appreciate the Pacers who come out month after month, year after year; however, we have a few hundred members in the club, so if you haven’t volunteered for a race lately, consider helping at Shiver #3 and/or Shiver #4.   

Volunteers for registration should plan to arrive around 8:00-8:15; volunteers for the road should plan to arrive by 9:15-9:30 and look for one of the race directors.  

Please help us by patronizing our sponsors: Shillington Family Chiropractic Center; Fleet Feet – A Running Start; and Kohl Pharmaceutical Research.

Sue, Kelsey, Georgine & Tiffany

Race Report: Kris Kringle, 2019

by pagodapacers

by Polly Corvaia

The Kris Kringle 5 Mile Run was the largest running event in Berks County in 2019. We had 621 registered runners and 560 finishers. Way to go!

Overall winners:

  1. DEE KOUTSOURAIS 33:08 (TOP FEMALE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW and counting)
  2. JEN ESPOSITO 33:26
  1. JAKE UNDERWOOD 27:28
  2. JUSTIN OBRIAN 27:51

Southwest Airline Ticket door prize winner was Rachel Ulrich from Governor Mifflin High School. 

Thank you to our sponsors:

Ted, Lori and Mark Andrus- Southwest airline tickets.

Kohl Pharmaceuticals – Door prizes and awards

Fleet Feet – Award gift certificates

Thank you to our wonderful volunteer crew. If you did not receive a hoodie, let Polly know

Proceeds Benefit The BERKS COUTY CROSS COUNTRY COACHES ASSOCIATION. 

Please share any feedback (positive or negative) with Polly at SPCORVAIA@MSN.com.  

Minutes from the General Meeting (January 2020)

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General Meeting Minutes

Date: January 9, 2020

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Blind Hartman’s Tavern

Guest speaker: Fred Sylvester of New Hanover Chiropractic spoke about heart rate monitors, heart rate, and exercise. He gave a comprehensive and informative discussion of running and the principles of stress and adaptation.

Treasury Report – Shaun Luther—A break-even year, even with the trailer expense. RunSignup is now doing electronic transfers, along with PayPal.

Races:

  • Charlie Horse—Shaun Luther—Boxes of horse shoes are being repurposed as race awards. A section of the trail is being professionally logged, between aid stations 2 and 3, so currently the trail is impassable for the event. Hopefully, the logging will be completed by race time. Correction to last month’s minutes—even though a bridge is likely to be in place, the directors will NOT be using it in the race.
  • Run for the Ages—Donna Hey—The race is open for registration online. Construction on the education center, which we use for pre-registration and bathrooms, is scheduled to start on June 1, and will not be completed by the race date. This will create a potential problem for parking and registration. Donna will update as more is known.
  • Grings Mill—Jane Setley—The directors are finishing up the race applications. Orangetheory Fitness, new in Wyomissing, has offered to be a sponsor.
  • Blues Cruise—Mike Yoder—no update.
  • Oley Valley Country Classic—no update
  • Kris Kringle—Polly Corvaia—Polly found out that Kris Kringle was the largest race in Berks County of any of the races in the year. She reviewed the 1st and 2nd male and female finishers. 620 pre-registered with 560 finishers. Schuykill Valley EMS did not show up this year as scheduled, again. There was one email from an angry driver who had to wait “25 minutes” at Rebers Bridge Road, although this length of time was disputed. However, Polly will keep this in mind for next year, and plans to place signs next year to announce possible delays. Also, Polly will reevaluate the position of the mile markers, as she got some feedback that they might be incorrect. Next year’s race will be on Sunday, 12/27. She is considering moving the start time to 10 a.m., versus 11 a.m. The Southwest tickets (Ted Andrus) may or may not be available next year. Polly will consider some additional ideas for meaningful raffle prizes. Jason Manbeck, Mike Whalen, Tiffany, and Jane were much appreciated volunteers. Fleet Feet and Kim Kohl made donations. Polly is looking for assistance—she would like to do for this for the next few years and then pass it off at year 10. Profit was good, and 49% of it was donated to the Berks County Coaches Association, plus the additional online donations.
  • Shiver by the River—Sue Jackson—run #2 this Sunday. Runners and volunteers always needed. Mike Whalen will bring the trailer, which has been a huge help. Could use additional trailer haulers, so the burden doesn’t fall on Mike. (Steve is working on this.)
  • Jr. High Cross Country event—no update
  • Race director comments—no update

Committee Reports

Social Committee:

  • The Pacer event at the Reading Royals is Saturday, Feb 22, cost TBD, but will probably be about $20 per person, with the club will subsidizing the remainder of the cost. The tickets will likely be available for up to 40 people, pending final details.
  • Wally Ball, is scheduled for Friday, Feb 21, at Colonial Fitness, making this a true Pacer weekend.

Communications Committee: no update

Community Service: no update

Charity Committee: no update

Membership committee: no update

Old business:

  • Blue Marsh Trail maintenance, our efforts are appreciated and count towards the park’s budget. They will be having chain saw training (next on Jan 26), which must be attended, since any injury while maintaining the trail will be under their insurance. Looking for a good mechanism for volunteer tracking.

New business:

  • Find a suitable cadre of people to haul the trailer to events.

Wednesday Night Runs: January Locations

by pagodapacers

We run every Wednesday night–year round–at 6:15pm. Come join us. All paces welcome. No membership required.

–JANUARY 1: New Year’s Day holiday run from Nolde Forest (Sawmill parking lot), 8:30am. No PM run.

–JANUARY 8: Antietam High School, 100 Antietam Rd, Reading, PA. Post-run gathering at Klinger’s on Carsonia.

–JANUARY 15: West Reading–meet at VF Lot. Post-run gathering at Sly Fox Taproom.

–JANUARY 22: Wilson Southern Middle School, 3100 Iroquois Ave, Reading, PA. Post-run gathering at Bar-B-Q Pit.

–JANUARY 29: Stoudts Ferry Park, 4220 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Rd, Reading, PA. Post-run gathering at Crossroads Family Restaurant.

Letter from the President (January 2020)

by pagodapacers

by Steve Maguire

It’s the end of a decade, the beginning of a new year. You’d think I’d have this wealth of content to write about.   I got squat.   The Pacer Christmas Party was a blast; Shiver Race was fast and warm; Tiger Woods turned 44 today; the Eagles squeaked a clinch of the NFC East; and Wawa opened in Wyomissing.  I tried Google and the best I get with highlights for 2019 is how to cover my grey with tints of brown and amber.  

We’re supposed to have this list of resolutions–call it a plan–a path to goals we tell friends that acknowledge we all want to be a bit better.  Really I’m just trying to walk through the kitchen without opening the cookie jar for the umpteenth time.  How am I to make this list? This is important. It’s going to be 2020–the year of the optometrist.  You know they’re like Santa; they can see things we can’t.  

(Fun fact: Herman Snellen developed the eye chart in 1862 with only 10 letters.  C, D, E, F, L, N, O, P, T, and Z.) I’m going to do better next time, now that I have the answers.

…. Excuse the pause–I had to get a cookie. I think I have something now. You see tonight I was with a few people who are teachers.  Various ages, various districts, but there was one common concern or frustration pushing many towards retirement or leaving the profession. As Aretha Franklin told it like no other, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”  I doubt this is something new, and I’m sure my classes tested the fortitude of the faculty.  Those times however were different and there were repercussions, some following the phrase “when Dad…..”

Our choices and what we support as a club have influence, and maybe there’s a resolution to write.  As a club, through various events, we support healthy lifestyles, which I believe the various 450+ members do with character, enthusiasm, and empathy.   

Maybe the word “model” or “mentor” should be added.  I’ll reference Lance Armstrong, his 7 Tour wins, and the reality that his publicity gained as the product of deceit still brought tremendous viewership to cycling. The same World Anti-Doping Agency that couldn’t or chose not to detect Lance for years this November voted to ban Russian athletes from the Olympics and World Cup competition. I think it’s important, but time will tell how ESPN, CBS, etc. treat the various sports if the WADA ban stands.  

At the local level, however, seen in the recent 600ish Kris Kringle runners, we have tremendous youth athletes and support at many levels from the County Coaches.   Polly Corvaia, Jason Manbeck, and a great turnout of volunteers put on a tremendous event where pride in the logo may be as warm as the fleece of the hoodie.  

In the October meeting we had a presentation from Girls on the Run. In November Dale Wiest presented a program for adaptive athletes he’s developing with IM ABLE.  I’m not sure what 2020 will bring, but maybe that resolution might include volunteering, support, and modeling those roles worthy of respect.

Wishing you all the best for 2020.

   Time to quit typing, got to run……. Steve