Register NOW for the Oley Valley Country Classic to Guarantee a Shirt!

by pagodapacers

This year’s Oley Valley Country Classic will be held on Sunday, November 2nd at the Oley Valley High School (17 Jefferson Street, Oley, PA). The 10-miler will go out at 9 a.m. and the 6k run/walk around 9:05 a.m.  Don’t forget that this is the 1st day after Daylight Saving Time ends, so you’ve got an extra hour to sleep in before coming out.

As many of you now know, this year we are honoring and remembering the original and longtime OVCC Race Director Barry Goodhart who passed away this past winter.  

Fall is well under way and the October 17th pre-registration date to guarantee a shirt is fast approaching!!!! Our pre-registration numbers are nearly 2x last year’s count at this time, and we’re getting super excited!!! So don’t wait: sign up today, join the fun, have a great time, and get a fabulous piece of swag!!! 

click to register

If running November 2nd is not in your plans, we’d love to have you come out and help with the race.  There are still nearly 30 volunteer slots that need to be filled, and we can’t pull this race off without volunteers. 

CLICK TO VOLUNTEER

Course distances are 10 miles and (new this year) 6K, so both races will start & finish in front of the high school. Given the usually perfect early November running weather, this is a great opportunity to work your 10-mile PR or PR a new distance (it’s only 1 more K). If you’re planning for a late fall marathon, the 10-miler course is a perfect way to tune up. If you’re looking for a nice Sunday morning long/short run or country walk, this event is just for you. Getting ready for the Shiver 5K/10K series or the Kris Kringle 5-miler? The 6K is a great place to mark a baseline pace. Both courses are set in the picturesque Oley Valley, where the leaves will likely be near peak color, making for a beautiful late-fall run. The routes have been finalized and can be found here for the 10-miler course map and here for the 6K course map.  

Registration/Cost:  The mail-in print application is on Pretzel City Sports here, and on-line registration is here.  Fees are $40 for the 10-miler and $35 for the 6K if completed/received/postmarked before October 17th with shirt guarantee (afterwards, fees will be $45/$40 with no shirt guarantee). Online registration closes on October 31st, but day-of race registration will be available.

SWAG: This year’s swag is a long-sleeved shirt like previous years, but now with a hood!!! …. AND….. it’s available in both men’s and women’s sizes!!!! Additionally, instead of the usual hex sign, this year’s logo pays tribute to Barry. Note: the initial printing of the car image did not turn out as well as we liked, so we re-ordered. Check out the samples below!

AWARDS: 5 year age groups (including 80+) are available in both the men’s/women’s categories of each race, and the 6K has added an under-14 category.  Also, the 10-miler is an RRCA Eastern Regional Championship, so there’s a chance of double awards for some people. And…. Door prizes will be given out to random bib numbers, for each race, at the end of each awards ceremony, so keep following the Pacer social media for details as the date gets closer!!!

Post Race Spread: There’ll be light fare consisting of Philly soft pretzels / bagels / fruit / water.  Also, Munchiez and Fresh Frenchy’s food trucks will be on-site for other food item for purchases.

WNR: Come check out portions of the course in advance on October 8th — the Pacer Wednesday Night Run will be at the Oley High School (we’ll meet in the parking lot) with 5K/10K routes to run, and post-run refueling at Bella Italia!

See the Swag for the ’25-’26 Shiver Series!

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Dates:  2nd Sunday:  Dec 14th, Jan 11th, Feb 8th, March 8th

Time:  10 a.m.; Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

Location:  Jim Dietrich Park, Muhlenberg Twp.

Come out and join us for the best winter series in the area!! If you have never run a Shiver race, or it’s been a few years, this is a great reason for running through the winter, not to mention seeing runners you haven’t seen for years! If you are one of the many runners we see year after year, we look forward to seeing you again.  

Online registration for the series is open and can be found via Pretzel City Sports.     

We are not mailing apps; however, we will accept mail-in registrations.  Apps can be printed from the Pagoda Pacers website or can be picked up at one of the many races timed by Pretzel City Sports. Pre-registration is only available for the series; however, we will have race-day registration for both the series and individual races.   

This year’s swag is a great running waist belt!

Each race includes a post-race buffet of soup, pretzels, and snacks. The end-of-series party includes a hot and cold buffet, plus lots and lots of door prizes; overall awards and 5-year age-group awards. As always, this buffet is free to any runner who registers for the series or runs at least 3 races. (There is a nominal charge for all others.)

Come out and join us for our 36th season!!!!!!

Race Directors,

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

Race Results (September ’25)

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Want to see your race results in the newsletter?

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

Pine Creek Challenge 100-Miler

24:28:07Ben Lego

Labor Pain 12-Hour Race

30 miles in 7:29:49Michelle Foley

Third Thirsty Thursday 5k

28:43Michelle Foley3rd F 40-49

Harrisburg YMCA Half Marathon

1:45:38Nick DiMascio

Hear Our Voices: Team Holly 5k

29:02Michelle Foley3rd F 40-49

Conestoga Trail Run–10 Tough Miles

2:33:57Matt Brophy

Next Weekend 10-Miler at French Creek on 10/25/25

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Our next Weekend 10-Miler will be at French Creek State Park!

Join us at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 25 at Scott’s Run Lake for a 10(ish) mile trail run. This run will be led by trail guru, Shaun Luther, who never gets lost and never leaves runners behind.

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 (October ’25 Locations)

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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!)

The sun is now setting before 7pm — remember to bring a head lamp and to wear reflective gear!

All runs start at 6:15 p.m.

This Month’s Membership Meeting: 10/9/25

by pagodapacers

** 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.

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting (September 11, 2025)

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Pagoda Pacer A.C. Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Mohnton Fire Company

Steven Vida presided

Jennifer Pierdomenico recorded minutes

30 members in attendance

CALL TO ORDER at 7:01 pm

Minutes from the August meeting were accepted as posted.

NEW BUSINESS

Presentation on Neversink Trails

(representatives from BAMBA: Jude Mateo, Jeremy Haymaker, Todd Papich)

  • Presented a summary of the work being done on Neversink Mountain trail systems and grants that they’ve applied for.
  • In 2022 a trail study was done by International Biking Association and that was presented (also available on the BAMBI site under Trails and Preserve page).
  • Fall 2024 file burnt 140 acres of the mountain and now presents an opportunity to rework/close/make new trails on the mountain.
  • Group is out presenting for public awareness and looking for sponsors to help raise funds that will be matched by DCNR.

2025 Elections (Steve Vida)

Steve moved that: “the club shall conduct the 2025 election as follows:

  • Matt Brophy shall administer the election online in a manner similar to 2024.
  • Nominations shall be accepted until October 24.
  • Voting shall occur online from Nov 3 to Nov 13 at 5pm.
  • Results shall be announced at the November 13 membership meeting.”

Motion was adopted after debate.

Anyone that has been a member in good standing, for at least a year, is eligible to run.  Let Matt know if anyone is interested in running (4 Directors and President are up for election).

REPORTS

Treasurer Report (Shaun Luther)

  • Balance is $97,237 which is 91% of target.
  • Blues Cruise, Oley CC, Kris Kringle income coming in
  • Donation of ~$5K sent to BCCCA from 2024 Kris Kringle event

Run for the Ages (Blair Hogg)

  • 164 Registered runners, 148 ran race and finished.
  • 2026 race is returning to last Sunday of June and expect numbers to return to historical average.
  • Net profit of ~$1.8K which will be split between club and Friends of Nolde Forest

MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:11 pm

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

Race Report: Eastern States 100

by pagodapacers

by Kelly Ammon

I ran my first “real” trail run at Monocacy Hill on a Wednesday Night Run with the Pacers (probably 2019?). I ran my first ultra at the Pacer race we all know and love, Blues Cruise 50k, in 2021. And I DNF’d my first race ever at Eastern States 100 in 2025.

ES100 was on my radar since I first got into trail and ultra running. It’s a bucket list race for a lot of trail runners, and it’s relatively local, so a lot of my badass friends have run it or attempted to run it. I knew I didn’t want to jump straight into a 100M, so I spent some time running shorter ultras (ha) before I pulled the trigger and signed up in 2024. Then lovely Hurricane Debby spoiled our plans. Ok, so I guess I’ll run ES in 2025. 

Leading up to the race, my training went really well. I won’t say I felt confident, but I felt as ready as I could to run a hundred miles in the woods on a technical course with 20,000 ft of elevation. Even the week leading up to the race and the night before, I didn’t really feel anxious, but excited and ready to go. 

On race day, everything was completely fine. Not great, not good, not bad, not terrible. But fine. The weather was warm and humid, but not out of the ordinary for PA in the beginning of August. I got some hot spots/blisters pretty early on, but nothing devastating. My nutrition and hydration plans were working out, and I got through the first 43 miles without any major problems.

Steve Vida jumped in to pace me at mile 43, and by mile 45 the wheels were coming off. (I cannot stress enough that Steve is a wonderful pacer, and my downward spiral had nothing to do with him. He is truly great and all would be lucky to have him.)  

I found myself in a funk I could not pull out of. I cried for…..7 miles. Steve said it was only 2, but I know he was only saying that to be nice. Physically, I was fine. My legs were tired but no more than at other races. I wasn’t having stomach issues either. The biggest problem was my brain and convincing myself to keep going. 

My reason for running has always been because it’s fun. Yes, there are plenty of times I don’t want to keep going, but that feeling goes away by the next mile. Or rather, the end goal is worth the suffering, and that’s part of the fun. What do you do when your main reason for running goes out the window and no one is forcing you to go on but yourself? (And maybe also Steve when he won’t let you drop 8 miles earlier.) In the woods at ES, I looked at my watch and said, “I have to keep doing this for FIFTEEN to TWENTY more HOURS?!” and that’s where despair set in. So I quit. 

I’ve thought a lot about the race over the past three weeks. Do I regret dropping at mile 58? No. Would I have done a lot differently both leading up to and during the race? Absolutely. Am I someone who never finishes a hundred mile race? Maybe? I’m not saying never again, but I’m also not itching to sign up for a redemption race. Right now, I’m going to focus on races that I think will be fun. I guess if I had to sum up my feelings and experience of my Eastern States 100 DNF, I’d have to say “medium.”