Charlie Horse: May 28, 2023

Register for the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon today

Join us Memorial Day Weekend for the 26th running of the Charlie Horse Trail Half-Marathon to benefit Berks Co. Special Olympics. The majority of this race will be run on the Horse-Shoe Trail in Brecknock Twp, PA. It is well supported with 3 strategically placed aid stations.

Packet pickup will begin at 7:30 AM Sunday morning. Day of registration will also start at 7:30 AM Sunday Morning. The Half-Marathon start will be at 9:00 AM in front of Sleepy Hollow Athletic Club.

And don’t forget the Dirty Pony 5K. This race gives friends and family a chance to experience part of the Charlie Horse course while you are doing the Half Marathon. The Dirty Pony will start at 9:15 AM near registration.

Oley Valley Country Classic Gets a New Sponsor

Welcome a new supporter to the Pagoda Pacer family: IMG Physical Therapy of Fleetwood PA.

IMG representatives Eric Parish (Master of PT) and Christopher Gordos (Doctor of PT and Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist) will speak before our May 11th monthly meeting from 6:30-7:00 p.m. about sports injuries and treating orthopedic injuries. Their practice offers a wide range of treatments and services for all orthopedic problems. Come before the meeting, and they will be happy to answer any questions you have or address any nagging running injuries you want to ask about.

IMG will be supporting the Oley Valley Country Classic race in November; look for their booth and information at the race.

For more information about IMG, visit their website or call their office (610-801-1750). Thank you, IMG, for your support, and see you on the treatment table!!

Run for the Ages 10k Trail Chase Will Knock Your Socks On

Run for the Ages -where anybody might win the race!

Come out for a quite different kind of trail race on Sunday, June 25, 2023!

Run For the Ages has an age-graded start. Top age group performers have a legitimate shot at the overall title. 

What’s an age-graded start? Those who have more than a few gray hairs or have yet to hit puberty will get a head start based on age and gender. Typically, the oldest female wave starts first. Then the next wave will start, based on 5-year age groups, working back toward the younger (faster?) folks. Wave starts will bounce back and forth between sexes, as the handicap derived from the World Masters Association dictates.

Even if you aren’t out to win, the race is run on challenging (yet very runnable) trails in beautiful Nolde Forest, has great schwag (this year it’s socks), and virtually no bottle necks. Challenge your families and coworkers to come out and compete on a “level” playing field.

Hey ringers: Here’s a chance to show off a little by passing the whole pack!

Run For the Ages is held annually in BEAUTIFUL NOLDE FOREST – READING, PA with a portion of the proceeds going to the Friends of Nolde Forest, a non-profit group helping to maintain Nolde Forest.

Use the below QR code or visit: https://www.pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Run-for-the-Ages-10k-Trail-Chase.aspx for more information or to register.

USATF-MA sanctioned race

Donna Hey, race director

’22-’23 Shiver Wrap

The 33rd Shiver by the River is complete. We had 431 individual runners, with 185 runners completing the series. In looking at all of the months, our fastest runners for the series were Jonathan Thrush (15:57 5k at the January race); Bryanna Urban (18:24 5k at the March race); Brendan Shearn (32:52 10k at the December race); and Mikaela Smith (40:47 10k at the February race).  We thank every runner and volunteer who joined us!

In March we had 229 5K runners and 60 10K runners. Congratulations to the top M/F 5K runners Daryl Weaver (17:21) and Bryanna Urban (18:24); and the top 10K M/F runners Mihai Sanchez (35:37) and Dixie Bonner (43:58).  

Results of each race, plus the series results, can be found on pagodapacers.com. Awards that were not picked up at the banquet are at Fleet Feet (705 Penn Ave, West Reading), and can be picked up any time during normal business hours, until mid-April.  

As always, THANK YOU to all the Pacers who participated either by running, volunteering, or both! We sincerely appreciate all of our volunteers, whether you helped us at one race or every race; whether you have helped us for years, or this was the first time you volunteered for Shiver. Everyone was so willing to do whatever was needed to make this series another success! I don’t want to mention specific names for fear of forgetting someone, but volunteers, you know who you are, and runners, you know who they are – you see so many of the same volunteers parking cars, at the water stop, at the same registration table, at the same intersection, or inside the farmhouse supplying soup and pretzels. THANK YOU!!!!!!!  

Thank you to Andrea Thrush who created and hid small rocks along the course, each with a Shiver by the River design.

The awards ceremony was again held at the Temple Fire Company, in Muhlenberg Township.  THANK YOU to the following for the donation of door prizes:  

Rose Hagy 

Joanne Patti 

Ron Horn & Pretzel City Sports 

Donna Hey (Run for the Ages race)

Michael Oetting 

Fleet Feet 

Lisa Domeshek

Victor Emmanuel 

Isaacs Restaurant

Larry Drogo

Joy & Space (Yuriko Beaman)

Alecia Bradley

Janine Biedler

Giant Food Markets (Mihai Sanchez)

RUSeen (Amy Bird)

Red Barn Bakes (Chantel Paulino)

Gary Stern

Andrea Thrush

THANK YOU to our sponsor:  

Dieffenbach’s

Please contact Sue Jackson at shiverdirector@pagodapacers.com if any door prize donors were missed.

If anyone has any comments, concerns, or questions concerning the series, please feel free to contact one of the race directors. We do value your input and we do read the surveys, making modifications when possible.   

Once again, thanks for all of the Pacer support, both runners and volunteers!!!!!!!!! We hope to see all of you next year.

Sue, Georgine & Tiffany

Final Shiver on Sunday, March 12

Thank you to the 146 5k runners, 68 10k runners, and the many volunteers who helped us have another successful Shiver by the River on February 12th. Congratulations to the top M/F 5k runners–Aiden Konetsky (17:28) and Kahlin Giresh (19:36); and the top 10k M/F runners–Mihai Sanchez (35:49) and Mikaela Smith (40:47).  Thank you to ALL runners and volunteers who continue to support us!!!!!!

New for February, we had someone “sweep” – our esteemed President Michelle. We hope to continue this each race, so volunteers can continue to direct and cheer on the runners, without wondering if the last runner has passed.    

Shiver #4 will be held March 12th.   Take note – this is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time! Get to bed early the night before!  

As always, we need more volunteers for this race. Specifically, we need 3 or 4 people willing to take results off of the board, so that the race directors can calculate results as soon as possible.  We also need the usual help with parking, registration, on the road, at the finish line, clean up, water stop, and within the house serving soup. Anyone helping with registration should arrive at Jim Dietrich Park between 8:15 & 8:30; anyone helping during the race, should arrive by 9:30; either way, look for one of the race directors and we can find something for you to do.  However, for as much as we need volunteers, we would really like to see more Pacers RUN the race!!!!   

The awards ceremony will be held immediately after the 4th race, at the Temple Fire Company, 4963 Kutztown Rd, which is about 3 miles from Jim Dietrich Park. This is the same location as the last couple of years. We are looking for more door prizes. If anyone can donate personally, or secure a door prize, please bring it to the 4th race or the March Pacer meeting. Donations can be given directly to any of the race directors or dropped off at the front table where we are selling old swag, etc. To be eligible to win a door prize, simply complete the survey at the awards banquet. A cold buffet, including a hot vegetarian item, will be served starting around 11:00, followed by door prizes and then the awards. Due to the costs associated with the party, we will follow the guidelines we established a few years ago.   

The party is FREE to everyone who has either:

  1. Finished 3 or more races in this year’s series – please bring your race number from the 4th race to the party; it will be your ticket for free entry.  We will place an additional label on the back of your number which will indicate your eligibility.  
  2. Assisted with any of the races.
  3. Paid for the series.  

We will be charging all others (including Pacers who do not fall into one of the above categories) a $13 fee to help cover some of our costs.

Remember, to help us maintain accurate results, DO NOT COMPLETE ANOTHER REGISTRATION FORM if you already ran this year. If you paid for the series, registration is in the front room of the house.  If you are paying race by race, we have a number for you at the “single race registration” table in the 2nd room.  If you have not previously registered for the 2022-2023 series, registration is at a different table, also in the 2nd room.  

Thanks for all the support we have received! We hope to see many of you at the Shiver, either running or volunteering!!!!!

Sue, Georgine & Tiffany

Next Shiver: Super Bowl Sunday!

Come out and burn some calories before consuming food and drink during the Super Bowl!!!! GO EAGLES!!!!!

Shiver #3 is Super Bowl Sunday (February 12th). If you have never run this race or maybe you haven’t run it for a few years, come out and join us and maybe reconnect with runners you haven’t seen in ages! The race is at Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.; both races start at 10 a.m.

The January 5k had 162 finishers, while 65 runners completed the 10k. 1st male and female finishers in the 5k
were Jonathan Thrush (15:57) and Arynne Moody (20:58); Brendan Shearn (32:59) and Emily O’Neill (41:00)
finished as top male/female runners in the 10k. As always, we thank the volunteers and the runners who came out to support us!!!

Because the rental agreement for the farmhouse requires us to leave the building by noon, we ask that runners
who complete their first loop in over 45 minutes NOT go out for the 2nd loop.

Looking ahead, our 4th and final race in the series will be held on March 12th. The awards banquet will be at the Temple Fire Company immediately following the race. It is free to all runners who completed 3 or more races and free for volunteers. There is a minimal 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 if 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 or the February Pacer meeting. 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 hope to see more Pacers at the remaining Shiver races. If you choose not to run the race, please consider
volunteering. We need volunteers before the race (for parking and registration); during the race (on the road, at the finish line, and in the farmhouse); and after the race (for cleanup). If you can help prior to the race, please plan to arrive between 8:00 – 8:15. If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30. Look for one of the race directors somewhere around the farmhouse. Thank you in advance for your support!

Hope to see you there!!!
Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

Shiver #2 Only Days Away!

The first Shiver of the ’22-’23 series is in the books! Race day lived up to its name –off/on rain with temps in the low to mid 30s. As always, we thank the volunteers and the runners who came out to support us!!! The volunteers and runners are who make this race a success!!! 131 runners completed the 5K, with 64 completing the 10K. Results are posted on both our website and Pretzel City Sports’ website. 1st male and female in the 5K were Daryl Weaver (17:34) and Cassandra Miller (21:01). In the 10K, our 1st male and female finishers were Brandan Shearn (35:52) and Mikaela Smith (42:49).

Now we are ready to move onto race #2 on Sunday, Jan 8th.  We need RUNNERS!!!! We need VOLUNTEERS!!!!! Come out and help us get our numbers back towards pre-Covid.  

If you have never run this race or maybe you haven’t run it for a few years, come out and join us and maybe reconnect with runners you haven’t seen in ages! The race is at Jim Dietrich Park, in Muhlenberg Township. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.; both races start at 10:00 a.m..  

Please remember to only complete the registration form ONCE during the series. As we have done in the past, we will have 3 separate areas for registration. I know you have all heard this before, but trust me, we will still have runners (including Pacers) who will complete a form for each race. We calculate the series results by bib# so each runner will have the same bib# each month. Obviously if a runner completes more than 1 application, he/she will have more than 1 bib#. 

  1. Pre-Registration is in the front room, for those runners who have paid for the entire series. 
  2. For those runners who are paying for each race, individually, and who ran in December, registration is in the 2nd room, at the table marked  “Post-Registration Single Race Entry.” We have a number with a label with your nameNo need to complete a new registration form.  If you do, there is the potential of being recognized as a different runner when it comes time to calculate the series results. If any information needs to be changed, just let them know when you get your number; no need to complete a registration form with the changed information.
  3. For those runners who have not registered for the 2022-2023 Shiver, registration is in the 2nd room at the table marked “Post-Registration.” When completing the registration form, if you have paid for the series, please circle YES; otherwise, we will expect you to pay again at the remaining races.  

A few other notes.  

  1. On the registration form, we ask for your email address so that you will be included in any future emails we send regarding the remaining races for this series and for future series. We ask for your mailing address so that applications for future races can be mailed to you. It is certainly your choice as to whether you provide us with either or both of these, but it does help with keeping our runners in the loop.
  2. Because of the rental agreement we have for the farmhouse, requiring us to leave the farmhouse by noon, we ask that runners who complete their first loop in over 45 minutes NOT go out for the 2nd loop.  

If you choose not to run the race, please consider volunteering. We need volunteers before the race, for parking and registration; during the race – on the road, at the finish line and in the farmhouse; and after the race – for cleanup. If you can help prior to the race, please plan to arrive between 8:00 – 8:15. If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30. Look for one of the race directors somewhere around the farmhouse. Thank you in advance for your support!

Hope to see you there!!!

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

Shiver ’22-’23 Just Days Away!

Come out and join us for the 33rd annual SHIVER by the RIVER 5K & 10K!

The first one is December 11th at Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., both races start at 10:00 a.m.

Pre-registration is only for the series. Race day registration is available for the series or individual races. Runners can pre-register online at www.pretzelcitysports.com until midnight on the Wednesday before the race, or by mailing the app and a check.

New this year – we are offering a knit hat and gloves instead of a shirt with registration. Register early to guarantee a hat and gloves while supplies last!!

If you choose not to run the race, please consider volunteering. We need volunteers before the race, for parking and registration; during the race – on the road, at the finish line and in the farmhouse; and after the race – for cleanup. If you can help prior to the race, please plan to arrive between 8:00 – 8:15. If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30. Look for one of the race directors somewhere around the farmhouse. Thank you in advance for your support!

Hope to see you there!!!

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

Shiver by the River Series Set to Begin Next Month

The 33rd annual SHIVER by the RIVER 5K & 10K is NOW.  The first one is Dec 11th, at Jim Dietrich Park, in Muhlenberg Twp.  Registration opens at 8:30, both races start at 10:00.  If you can’t run all 4 races, run 3, run 2, or run 1.  

Runners can register online at www.pretzelcitysports.com or by mailing the app and a check.  Plus, we will have race-day registration.  Pre-registration deadline is 11/18.  New this year – we are offering a knit hat and gloves instead of a shirt with registration.  Register early to guarantee a hat and gloves while supplies last!! Look for a picture on the Pacer Facebook discussion page.    

If you choose not to run the race, please consider volunteering.  We need volunteers before the race, for parking and registration; during the race – on the road, at the finish line and in the farmhouse; and after the race – for cleanup.  If you can help prior to the race, please plan to arrive between 8:00 – 8:15.  If you can help with the race itself, please arrive no later than 9:30.  Look for one of the race directors somewhere around the farmhouse. Thank you in advance for your support!

Hope to see you there!!!

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja