Tag: Group Runs

Pagoda Pacer Picnic (plus Fat-Ass and Camping) Set for 7/19/25!

by pagodapacers

by Steve Vida

President, Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club

Come out to the Pagoda Pacer Picnic on Saturday, July 19th, and hang out with some friends you haven’t seen in a while. It’s been several years since we held a club picnic. This is at a new location with a new format that includes options for a “fat-ass” run in the morning and overnight camping.

Please recognize that we are pulling this together on short notice and squeezing it into this summer’s calendar, instead of waiting until next year. It’s not a thoroughly planned event, but we hope to try something new and build on it for next year. If you have ideas for additional picnic activities – that you are willing to implement – please email me at president@pagodapacers.com. Direct communication will work better than trying to hash things out via Facebook comments.

LOCATION

The picnic will be held on the property of the South Mountain YMCA Camps. A few years ago, we held Wednesday Night Runs that started at Galen Hall and covered both sides of the YMCA property. The picnic will be limited to the eastern side of the property, which includes Cushion Peak, the infamous pet cemetery, and a 3-mile trail loop.

Here’s the address to put in your GPS: 201 Cushion Peak Rd, Wernersville, PA

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

9 a.m. Fat-ass Run

3 p.m. – 7 p.mm Picnic

Overnight Camping

Can I Bring…?

Dogs, kids, and alcohol are allowed (though we discourage letting the kids or the dogs drink the alcohol).

Dogs must remain leashed at all times while on the property.

COST / SIGN-UP

  • Club Members: Free
  • Non-Members: $10
  • Kids: Free

This event is largely self-supported, with people bringing their own food and drinks. The club is covering the cost of renting the site, so we set a fee for non-members. Everyone should sign up using the link below, even if you are not making a payment. You can indicate which parts of the event you will attend, which will help us to prepare.

Click to sign up

FAT-ASS Details

We will mark a 2.5 mile loop and set up an aid station table at the start. Click HERE to see a map of the loop.

Please bring a shareable contribution for the aid table. We’ll supply water. Running will start at 9 a.m., but you can jump in whenever you arrive. There is no cutoff time; you can run all day if you want.

PICNIC Details

Bring chairs. Picnic activities are planned from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. The club is not providing or cooking food because we don’t know how many people will attend. Please bring whatever food and drinks your family would like to have. I’m sure many people will bring shareable dishes as well, and we will set up a table for those items.

You can bring a camp stove or grill if you want to cook your food that way. The site has electricity, but it is limited and will NOT support multiple crock pots. So don’t plan to heat your food that way.

CAMPING Details

Bring your tent and gear.

Justa Fat-Ass Run on July 12, 2025

by pagodapacers

Instead of offering our normal “Weekend 10-Miler,” the Pacers are organizing two different Fat-Ass style group runs in July!

The first will be organized by the Blues Cruise race directors as a training run for the October ultramarathon.

Please note: this run is open to EVERYBODY–not just registered Blues Cruise participants.

The event will take place from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (must start final loop before 11 a.m.) on Saturday, July 12 at the Justa Road trailhead at Blue Marsh.

We are looking at a 5-mile figure 8-ish loop with about 700 feet of climbing. This event will be an informal, “fat-ass” style run, in which participants bring snacks to share and there is no registration or awards. We’ll have cold water and Gatorade and mark the loop. You arrive anytime during the event (as long as you start your final loop by 11 a.m.) and run it as many times as you like! We added time to this year’s event by popular demand.

The beauty of this system is runners of all paces can enjoy a long run together at their own speed, while intersecting with each other at 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!

Follow the Facebook Event for this run for updates. 

***THERE ARE NO RESTROOM 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!

Next Away Game: Horse-Shoe Trail, Brickerville on 7/26/25

by pagodapacers

We’ll meet at the Horse-Shoe Trail parking lot at 80 Pumping Station Rd in Brickerville, PA for a group long run on Saturday, July 26, at 8:30 a.m.

The route will be posted on the Facebook Event closer to the day of the run.

This will be about a 10-mile, hilly trail run, with options for shorter routes.

Two fun options for post-run: First, cool off with a soak in Hammer Creek. Next, join us for lunch at Pour Man’s Brewing in Ephrata.

Hope you can join us!

Wednesday Night Runs (July ’25 Locations)

by pagodapacers

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!)

All runs start at 6:15 p.m.

Next Weekend 10-Miler at Rustic Park on 6/21/25

by pagodapacers

Our next Weekend 10-Miler will be at Rustic Park in Birdsboro!

Join us at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 21at 1314 Haycreek Rd. 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!

Next Away Game: Darlington Trail on 6/28/25

by pagodapacers

We’ll meet at the Darlington Trailhead on Lambs Gap Road, near Marysville, PA–near the border of Perry and Cumberland counties–for a group long run on Saturday, June 28, at 8:30 a.m.

The route will be posted on the Facebook Event closer to the day of the run.

This will be about a 10-mile run on challenging terrain, with options to turn back early. Those who have the time will be welcomed to join us for lunch afterwards (location TBD).

Hope you can join us!

Wednesday Night Runs (June ’25 Locations)

by pagodapacers

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!)

  • NO PACER RUN ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4! Instead, we are encouraging everyone to check out Fleet Feet’s Big Run 5k in celebration of Global Running Day. Stop by the Pacer tent if you attend! (Race starts at 6:30 p.m.)
  • June 11: EARLY START TIME — 6PM — FirstEnergy Stadium; meet at the SW corner of Front and Exeter streets (CarTech Lot #10). After the run, stick around and catch the ballgame!
  • June 18: 1011 Floret Ave., Muhlenberg (Dani Smith’s residence) — post-run to follow at the same location
  • June 25: Rustic Park, Birdsboro — post-run at Italian Delite

Big Run 5k on 6/4 starts at 6:30 p.m.

Run from FirstEnergy Stadium on 6/11 starts at 6 p.m.

All other runs start at 6:15 p.m.

Next Weekend 10-Miler in Hamburg on 5/10/25

by pagodapacers

Our next Weekend 10-Miler (well, closer to 11 miles actually) will be in the mountains of northern Berks County!

We’ll also be starting at an earlier time to try and beat the heat.

Join us at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the Hamburg Reservoir for a 10+ mile trail run. For those who don’t want to go quite that far, the route can easily be cut in half. Check out the route on AllTrails.

After the run, join us for lunch at Copperz Brewing (once they open at 11 a.m.)

Next Away Game: Mason Dixon Trail on 5/18/25

by pagodapacers

We’ll meet at Lock 12 Historic Area in southeastern York County–on the western bank of the Susquehanna River–for a group long run on Sunday, May 18, at 9:30 a.m.

The route will be posted on the Facebook Event closer to the day of the run.

This will be about a 10-mile run on challenging terrain, with options to turn back early. Those who have the time will be welcomed to join us for lunch afterwards (location TBD).

Hope you can join us!

Wednesday Night Runs (May ’25 Locations)

by pagodapacers

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!)

All runs start at 6:15 p.m.