Blues Cruise 50k: Sunday, October 6th

by pagodapacers

This year’s Blues Cruise Trail Ultra will feature the same amazing course with the same amazing aid stations, but NEW swag and NEW awards! Register NOW on UltraSignup!

Victory Bell for 1st Male and Female Overall!
Paddle yourself to an Age Group Award; Steer your ship to a Finisher Award!
Long-sleeve PATAGONIA tech shirt for ALL participants!
Reversible runner’s beanie–also for ALL participants!

Follow the Blues Cruise 50k Facebook Group for updates and news on training runs.

Not racing Blues Cruise this year? You can still be part of the fun as a VOLUNTEER!

Volunteers are needed at individual Aid Stations as well as at the Start/Finish and on the course. Aid Station captains can be contacted directly for help. Most have put up requests on Facebook. The captains this year are as follows:

  • Steve McGuire (Blues Brothers)
  • Jane Setley (Margaritaville #2)
  • Polly Corvaia (Margaritaville #1)
  • Jeff Hills (Rats Nest)
  • Dave Gallen/Shaun Luther (Fugawi Tribe)
  • Caroline Hill (Oktoberfest)

Of course, volunteers for race day are desperately needed. They can contact me at dgovern1@comcast.net. I will assign them.

Volunteers are needed for the following :

  • Parking
  • Photography
  • Start/Finish Setup
  • Registration
  • Re-Sale Stand (Trying to sell old Blues Cruise stock)
  • Help with awards/timing
  • Help with food/setup
  • Clean-up help
  • Sweeping (Will be from Aid Station to Aid Station)

We will also need people for Course Marking on Saturday, October 5th at 3PM at the Lakeview Pavilion. People who are interested can contact Mike Yoder directly at 610-207-4247 via text or phone call. 

See you in October at beautiful Blue Marsh!

Race Results (August 2019)

by pagodapacers
August 2019
On the Rocks 16.7k trail
54/76Paul Makurath2:56:541st M70+
Burning River 100 Miler
135/294Laura Yoder29:21:062nd F 50-59
Radsport Mt. Penn Hill Climb Bike
38/67Michael Whalen12:56
Radsport Run to the Pagoda
11/15Michael Whalen14:34
3/4Jackie Snyder16:553rd Female
Run for Taylor 5K
5/113Jimmy Blandford19:381st M45-49
9Brock Kline20:313rd M35-39
17Donny Mengel22:481st M60-64
21Duane Renninger24:342nd M50-54
46Tania Salaneck31:082nd F35-39
51Ruth Machamer32:161st F45-49
54Jim Demsko32:27
113Michael Ranck54:43
Gring’s Mill 5K
6/208Grant Kellenberger20:371st M14 &U
70Mark Mazurkiewicz29:48
81Mary Boggs30:54
82Aly Costello30:55
88Barbara Raifsnider31:131st F55-59
99Larry Drogo32:20
115Sue Jackson33:522nd F60-64
149Yuriko Beaman37:00
181 Rose Hagy43:162nd F70-74
185Jeff Borelli44:36
190Judy Anttonen47:102nd F75+
Gring’s Mill 10K
9/146Dee Koutsourais43:142nd F30-34
19Jess Gockley45:222nd F35-39
30Ryan Watts47:303rd M40-44
32Duane Renninger49:091st M50-54
35Donny Mengel49:253rd M60-64
38Patrick Boggs49:59
62Tony Agentowicz56:14
73Janine Beidler58:50
107Heidi Moebius1:04:401st F 75+
108Aaron Kreider1:04:45
111Julia Hager1:05:47
115Blair Hogg1:06:31
139Cynthia Borelli1:18:00
Half Wit Half Marathon Trail
25/215Dale Wiest2:11:311st M60-67
71Donny Mengel2:33:224th M60-67
107Tom Chobot2:45:11
164Paul Makurath3:13:49
170Barbara Raifsnider3:17:44
Eastern States 100 mile trail
65/133Rhoda Smoker32:12:05
116April Zimmerman35:12:08
Avalon 5 Miler
33/174Karen Rule38:192nd F40-49

Minutes from the General Meeting (August 2019)

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General Meeting Minutes

Date: August 8, 2019

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Blind Hartman’s Tavern

Treasury Report – Shaun Luther—111% of target; down since last month due to expenses for Blues Cruise and payment for mailing for the fall. Question asked about comparison of races to last year: Shaun says most races are up for revenue-to-expenses.

Races:

  • Charlie Horse—Libby—directors need to have a meeting. Going well otherwise
  • Run for the Ages: No report
  • Grings Mill—Caroline Hill—406 total runners registered/354 finishers. More this year in sponsorships allowed for some excellent prizes. Better control of expenses equaled much better profit for this year. Some felt the 5K was a little longer than 5K. Probably would like to wheel measure next year. Caroline thanked the volunteers.
  • Blues Cruise—Dan Govern—registration at about 200 right now. All swag is ordered: going with Patagonia long-sleeve shirt (women’s and men’s cuts), and Headsweats hat with logo. Dan is upping the swag to attract more runners. The finishers’ medals are in. The overall male and female winners will receive ships’ bells for awards. Dan is going three deep for the age-group awards. He has some donations of Gu gel, 2Toms anti-chafing lube, and some towels. He is trying to get some other free items, and is using UltraSignup and Constant Contact advertising, and is considering a Facebook ad. He is thinking about some training runs, “fat ass” style, but he would need help with this.
  • Oley Valley Country Classic: No report
  • Kris Kringle—Polly Corvaia—starting to get artwork together for hoodies. Has more gnome figurines to give as awards. Permits to start in September. Application on line is available, paper format will be out soon. Possibility of chip timing discussed with PCS. One issue last year was parking which was congested getting to the start, so she is looking at some different start options. Looking for some assistance with the different aspects, where a volunteer would own a certain portion.
  • Shiver by the River—Sue Jackson—dates confirmed with the township, Muhlenberg. App will be out soon. Second Sunday of each month for the series. Working on the shirts. 
  • Jr. High Cross Country—Tom Chobot—Oct 19, (Fairgrounds) and Oct 15 (Kutztown, Tuesday) is the Senior High Event. 
  • Reading Hospital Friends Half Marathon, 5K, Fun Run—Ellie Alderfer—Oct 13, requesting Pacer volunteers for aid stations and to help with parking, which this year is near the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Drivers have to be kept out of the employee and visitor parking areas for the hospital. Aug 28, a Wednesday night run, will be a preview run for this event.

Committee Reports

Social Committee: Nothing definitively planned, due to the summer.

Communications Committee:

  • Newsletter—shout out given to Matt Brophy for taking over the newsletter. He has adapted the newsletter to a new web page format. 
  • Facebook—stats: about 1500 likes. There were a lot of post shares with the Special Olympics donation photo from the Charlie Horse race. 

Community Service: no report

Charity Committee: no report

Membership committee: No report

Old business

  • Membership promotion at the Grings Mill race—Jane Setley—she was not able to get a membership table for event, just too much going on for that day. Would still recommend a separate effort to do this at each race, though, just not to have the race director try to coordinate.
  • Trailer: Steve Maguire—still need to pick one out. Mike Whalen is available to assist. Goal is to get before Blues Cruise.
  • Trail maintenance: Mike Whalen is doing some clearing this weekend. Then possibly 2 weeks prior to Blues Cruise to have a more formal event. Bridge in our area is in poor shape, so will need to address further.
  • Phil still needs help with Sunshine Committee.
  • New signage: Mike Whalen—showed some options that can be printed out for about $5 each. He can supply the chloroplast and the wires, so he will take care of this. 

New business

  • Jim Cramer, loss of our fellow runner—celebration of his life on Aug 25 at Camp Swatara (tentative).
  • Andrea, a new member: she is involved with Girls on the Run. She would like more involvement from the Pacers, such as sponsorship, especially to fund scholarships that provide the cost to some of the worthy girls who want to do the program, or as volunteers at the event. This will be brought to the board. Tom Chobot will follow up with Andrea for what Pacers can do to assist.
  • Issue of a free entry to races will be address at the next race directors meeting.

Gring’s Mill 5k/10k — Sunday, August 4

by pagodapacers

GRING’S MILL RUN

RACE DAY: SUNDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2019
ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS MIDNIGHT, 7/31/19
On-line registration ends on Wednesday. To be guaranteed a shirt you must register by Wednesday.

If you prefer to wait and see how you feel that day, same day registration will be available. Same day entrants will receive shirts while available.

Location is starting at the Berks County Heritage Center (1102 Red Bridge Road, Reading PA  19605), entrance from 183. There is plenty of parking.

The course is mostly flat, beautiful and scenic with a nice downhill start toward the Red Bridge. Post race food includes, pulled pork, bagels, pizza from Mangia Pizza, and ice cream and sorbet from Sweet Ride Ice Cream.

Gift bags guaranteed to all who are pre-registered for the half-mile kids’ run, Same day entrants will receive gift bags while available. There is an extra special surprise in the kid’s bag this year. 

If you are still undecided, here are a few other reasons you may want to run: All runners will receive 2 free raffle tickets (more can be purchased, so bring cash).  

Donors of door prizes include: Chester County Running Store, The Farmhouse Kitchen, Blind Hartmans Tavern, Running Start, Uberendurance Sports, Pagoda Pacers, Mimmos Restaurant, The Village Salon, Bella Italia Pizza, Root, Weis Markets, 1787 Brewing Company, Pretzel City Sports, Ganly’s Pub, Trooper Thorns, The Market at Boyer Junction, Massage Envy Spa, Van Scoy Jewelers, T8, Tino’s Pizzeria & Bar, Beulah’s Bodywork, Road ID, The Auto Spa, Sly Fox, Sweet Ride Ice Cream and Yogo Crazy. 

We also have a live band! Music by the Rockman Blues Band beginning at 9 am. 

Registration/number pickup opens at 7:30 AM. 5K/10K starts at 9:00 AM, Fun Run approx. 10:15 AM. Clock at finish, water/aid on course, instant results, and all those great raffle items. Finish in front of the historic Red Covered Bridge.

Letter from the President (July 2019)

by pagodapacers

Up until a few days ago I thought I’d be writing about volunteers, upcoming races, and looking forward to seeing Matt Brophy’s touch on his first Pacer Newsletter as editor.

If you’ve been current with the Pagoda Pacers Discussion Group on Facebook, you are probably aware of what has been a tumultuous July. One of my experiences in my youth was being a pallbearer for an uncle. For me, the scrawny high school kid, he was a large man both in stature, but also in how he carried himself. He looked like Lee Marvin in The Dirty Dozen. He was a factory worker–a machinist. He was also an athlete. However, his time of youthful athleticism was taken by WWII. He never spoke of his wartime experience, which I believe for him and many others was a coping mechanism.   

Grabbing that brass rail was a first for me. Carrying that casket may have been one of the most formative points of my youth. The strain of the weight while I looked down upon the flag draped in front of me left an impression that remains with my soul. I’ve told many a person being a pallbearer is an important life experience. 

Now, as a club, we mourn the loss of James Cramer, and as I thought of touching on this point in the Newsletter, something hit me. You see my experience of carrying that casket was not singular; there were others. I did not bear that weight alone. My heart goes out to Jim’s family and close friends. My utmost respect and admiration go out to the family of trail runners that made multiple trips to the AT looking for a friend. Share the good stories of Jim, and remind everyone we need not bear this weight alone.

The weather has been brutal the last few weeks. Between the rain and heat, it’s a wonder anyone has had enough motivation to change the calendar, let alone run. I think typically August is supposed to be the hot month, so if you’re training for something, find a buddy and a really early start time. Mike Whalen posted some good hints a few weeks back on the Discussion group on “hyper-hydration” and managing water intake during the heat.  Well worth reaching out to Mike if you have questions. 

As I noted in prior months, the Charlie Horse race was very successful, and we were fortunate to present a check for $3,400 to the Special Olympics and meet a few of their athletes at our July meeting.   A similar motion was approved to present to the “Friends of Nolde” our 50/50ish split from the Run for the Ages. Up next is the Grings Mill 5k and 10k. 

Yep, as you read this we’re soliciting for volunteers and runners for Sunday August 4th at the Berks County Heritage Center. Spend a little time with friends and fellow Pacers at possibly one of Berks’ oldest continuous running races. The work of many lightens the load. See you on Sunday. 

Steve

Race Results: July 2019

by pagodapacers
Chobot Challenge 15K
10/166Ben Hatt1:11:14
39Don Mengel1:25:29
102Tom Chobot1:48:44
142Barbara Raifsnider2:05:17
145Paul Makurath2:05:59
Double Trouble 15K
36/189Scott Thomas1:37:50
82Katie Thomas1:56:122nd F0-29
113Tom Chobot2:06:32
133Paul Makurath2:16:322nd M68+
156Barbara Raifsnider2:27:07
184Gwyn Chobot2:10:022nd F60-67
Cheesy Chase 5K
3/174Jimmy Blandford18:471st M40-49
16Elaine Cook23:202nd F50-59
46Tom Chobot26:282nd M60-67
65Lauren Massaro28:241st Overall F Clyde
66John Thompson28:25
72Janine Beidler28:511st F Master Clyde
77Barbara Raifsnider29:09
81Lee Zechman29:35
82Doug Zechman29:36
110Blair Hogg31:35
145Yuriko Beaman36:26
156Rose Hagy39:361st F68-74
157Gwyn Chobot40:18
164Helene Horn44:04
Laurel Highlands 70.5 Miler
34/95Andy Styer17:13:33
Finger Lakes 50k
31/140Andy Styer6:35:18

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

Register for the 33rd annual Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run!

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Registration is open for the 33rd KRIS KRINGLE 5 MILE RUN on Sunday, December 29 at the Berks County Agricultural Center.

We got hoodies; we got airline tickets to give away; we got a great course that is part road, part trail, and all fun. Run CLOCKWISE this year, and kill the hill.

Click HERE to download a race application, or register online at PRETZELCITYSPORTS.com. You can learn more about the race at PAGODAPACERS.com.

Proceeds benefit high school runners through the Berks County Cross Country Coaches Association and also provide for college scholarships, free running shoes to students in need, and the sponsorship for the Junior High Cross Country Invitational Race.