The official route for this run will be a 10k course featuring “Skinner’s Loop.” For those looking for something longer, you can run the course multiple times or add on the “Ski Loop,” which is 7 miles.
More information about the run can be found via Facebook.
This month’s “Weekend 10-Miler” will double as a Blues Cruise Training Run — and runners will have many options to run shorter or longer distances.
The details:
Mark your calendars for a Blues Cruise training run July 27, 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Justa Road Parking lot off Brownsville Road.
The route will be a 5 mile “figure 8-ish” loop, with about 700 feet of climbing.
This event will be a fat-ass style run, meaning it is an informal gathering in which participants bring snacks to share. There is no registration or awards. We’ll have cold water and Gatorade and mark the loop. You can run it as many times as you like! The beauty of this system is runners of all paces can enjoy a long run together at their own speed, while intersecting each other multiple times during the event. Bragging rights available to those who complete the most loops or distinguish themselves in any other way that catches our fancy!
Here’s a TENTATIVE course we are considering. Don’t miss out on the chance to see the mysterious Fugawi Aid Station location before race day!
***THERE ARE NO REST ROOM FACILITIES AT JUSTA ROAD. Nearest bathroom is at State Hill Boat Ramp; plan on stopping there on your way in.
Bring a snack to share, hydration vest or belt, reusable cup, lawn chair, and some dry clothes if you don’t want to leave sweaty. Post run refueling at Ganly’s Irish Pub! https://ganlysirishpub.com/
Neil Armstrong. Jackie Robinson. Sandra Day O’Connor. Barack Obama. Kathrine Switzer. What do these people have in common? They were the first of their kind and now they’re legends. What if I said you could be a legend, too?
This year we’re excited to announce the inaugural Pagoda Pacer Triple Trail Challenge 50.3. To complete this challenge and gain celebrity and fame forever, one must complete the three following Pagoda Pacer trail races:
Charlie Horse Trail Half-Marathon* (May 26, 2024): The majority of this half marathon takes place on the Horse-Shoe Trail and benefits the Berks County Special Olympics. The later portion of the course always offers a *unique* little twist (iykyk), and it will definitely leave you with some good stories to tell.
Run For The Ages 10K (June 30, 2024): Let’s just say, this is NOT your average 10K. Its age-graded start times allow for a level of competition that you can’t really get anywhere else. If you’re an older runner, it’s your chance to show up those young whippersnappers. If you’re a younger runner, show everyone what it’s like to throw down some speed and not hobble to the car afterwards.
Blue Cruise 50K* (October 6, 2024): Fantastic 50K for first-time ultra runners and seasoned runners alike. The course offers a beautiful, very runnable loop around Blue Marsh Lake and some of the best aid station volunteers (and food!) around.
After completing the challenge will the masses build a shrine in your honor? No.
Induct you into the trail-running Hall of Fame? Nope.
Will it make your non-running coworkers care about your running stories? Also, probably not.
But will you get a sweet bit of extra special runner swag, bragging rights, and the chance to say you liked it before it was cool? Yes, absolutely!
Registration for Charlie Horse and Blues Cruise is already open on Ultrasignup. Run for the Ages registration will be opening soon on Runsignup. Check out the Pagoda Pacers’ website, Facebook page, and any of the race pages for more details.
*Please note: in order to successfully complete the challenge, runners must finish the longer distance at Charlie Horse (not the Dirty Pony 5K) and the full Blue Cruise 50K (not the relay/team option).
This month, the Pagoda Pacers Long Run Committee has teamed up with the Blues Cruise race directors to offer a group long run on the Blues Cruise course!
Runners will have the option of completing the 22-mile “lower loop” on the southern portion of the lake border trail, or a 16-mile point-to-point route, ending at the Stilling Basin.
Those planning to do the 16-mile route should meet at theLOWER parking lot at the Stilling Basinat 9:10 a.m. in order to carpool to the start on Old Church Rd.
For those who have time, we’ll get together at the Blue Marsh Italian Restaurant / Pizzeria after the run.
Leftover Blues Cruise swag from previous races will be given away at this run–for free!
Updated details about the run will be posted to the Facebook Event Page as they are worked out. Hope you can make it!
Two great volunteer opportunities are on the horizon!
The Pacers RaceMates program helps athletes from IMABLE to experience the completion of a 5k race. We use 2 or more volunteers to push each athlete in a “race chariot.” The final race of 2023 is September 10th at 630 Evans Ave in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. We race at around a 10-minute mile and are in need of 3-4 additional runners for this event. Please see our post on the Facebook Discussion Group and email Dale at Racematesrunning@gmail.com or contact Michael Whalen (bluescruiserd@gmail.com).
Blues Cruise is also in need of volunteers for the October 1st 50k trail race at Blue Marsh Lake. Volunteers can work as many hours as desired for this all-day event. Free t-shirts will be given to all who register to help. Go to https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=100611 and click the volunteer tab. Choose an activity that interests you, and Elaine Cook (co-race director) will be in contact to discuss times and duties.
We are less than 10 weeks away from the Blues Cruise 50k ultramarathon, and the management team is working hard to produce another great Pagoda Pacer event. We have close to 140 registered racers, and the number has been climbing daily. Please considering running this exciting race. Sign up at by clicking the link below!
The race is Sunday, October 1, 2023 with start/finish activities located at Blue Marsh Lake’s Dry Brooks Day Use Area.
As the club’s most logistically ambitious event, we need 100 volunteers to create a safe, smooth, and fun event. Volunteer tasks includes trail maintenance the entire month of September, food shopping and prep, trail marking the eve of race day, final course check, photographers, lots and lots of help on race day (volunteers can schedule themselves 1–12-hour shifts), and post race help putting all the equipment and supplies back into service. This is a great opportunity for “first time” Pacer volunteers! We will sign your Pacer Passport for any work you provide!
To ease the task of volunteer management, we are ask all volunteers to please pre-register at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=100611. You DO NOT need to be a member of Ultrasignup to register as a volunteer, and there is no fee. The page is set up by category; feel free to sign up for several tasks that interest you, and we will be in contact to place you in a position that fits you well. If you are not running and cannot volunteer, consider spending 30 minutes along the course cheering on our runners!
We will be posting practice runs at Blue Marsh that are open to anyone. We will be posting additional race information on the Pacers’ Blues Cruise 50k Facebook page. Please contact Elaine Cook or Michael Whalen with any questions (bluescruiserd@gmail.com).
We will run in a clockwise direction this year. It’s like a whole new race! We haven’t had the opportunity (Thanks Covid!) to run in a Clockwise direction since 2018. In my opinion, this direction is easier. You get the hills out of the way early in the race. The “flat” side comes in the last half of the race.
Your donations at work! We expect to have a section of the course between miles 19-20 reworked by Dave’s Dirt Sculps by Race Day. The money donated by you will go directly to updating this section of the trail. Over the years, this section has seen a lot of erosion. The repairs to this section will cut down the grade to protect against future erosion and give runners a better view. Thanks for your donations!!
Have questions on the course this year? Check out our website for specific information. Click this link: Blues Cruise 50k Course Information
That Blues Cruise Swag!
2022 Blues Cruise Microfleece by RUSeen
This year’s swag is a micro fleece, quarter zip jacket with the Blues Cruise logo on the left side and the Pagoda Pacer logo on the back. Purchased and manufactured locally at RUSeen Reflective! Check out our Facebook page for updates like these, as well as other announcements on this year’s Cruise!
It takes an army of volunteers to make a 50K run smoothly! Without volunteers this race doesn’t happen! So Please let me know if you can help.
We are in need of setup in the morning, parking help, registration help, photographers, post race food and cleanup/packing the trailer back up. Once you e-mail me you can tell me which task you prefer. I will try to assign you that task. I may have to assign you to another task so please be open to that possibility.
Of course, volunteers for race day are desperately needed as well. They can contact me at dgovern1@comcast.net. I will assign them or you can request a spot you feel most comfortable with.
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, Transportation (Drop Bags), Sweeping (Will be from Aid Station to Aid Station).
We will also need people for Course Marking on Saturday, October 2nd at 3PM at the Lakeview Pavilion. People who are interested can contact Michael L. Yoder directly at 610-207-4247 via text or phone call.
We will have shirts from RUSeen this year that have some reflective aspects to them, as well as winter gloves that are reflective.
New hats from HeadSweatsOur 2021 Finishers Medal w/nautical theme of course
Everyone who enters the 2021 Blues Cruise race will receive a customized reusable cup from UltrASpire in their swag bag! The 7oz. UltrAspire Cup greatly reduces the amount of waste generation and environmental impact of a paper cup. It also reduces the number of touchpoints to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID or any other nasty viruses. It’s our way of reducing waste and protecting you and our environment. No grabbing cups this year. Just ask Aid Station volunteers to pour.
Other COVID-related precautions:
Aid Stations will have “normal” Ultra running selection of aid but runners will have to ask volunteers for their aid requirements when arriving at an aid station. Volunteers will then provide aid on a small bowl or plate. No more grabbing with your hands in to bowls or use of community spoons
Volunteers at Registration, Aid Stations, and Post Race Food will be asked to mask-up.
The race directors for our summer races have announced that, sadly, both races must be canceled due to the ongoing public health crisis.
The Run for the Ages 10k Trail Chase (originally scheduled for June 28th) and the Gring’s Mill Run (originally scheduled for August 2nd) will hopefully resurface next summer, once the spread of COVID-19 is under control.
The next Pagoda Pacers race in 2020 currently on our schedule is Blues Cruise (10/4/20). Race directors Dan Govern and Mike Yoder have not made a final decision yet about whether or not this race will take place. The Army Corps of Engineers has NOT ruled out events for the fall at Blue Marsh, but there is a good deal of uncertainty about what specific restrictions will be in place by October. Please stay tuned for more information, and be sure to follow the Blues Cruise Facebook Page for updates.
Pagoda Pacers News 