Tag: Races

29th Oley Valley 10-Miler & 5k Just a Month Away!

by pagodapacers

The Oley Valley Country Classic is fast approaching, and we are excited to see you all there enjoying the atmosphere and camaraderie of running a great 10 mile (or 5k) event!

November 4th will be the 29th running of the OVCC. The races start at 9 a.m. from the Oley Fairgrounds. Enjoy the rolling hills on this course which winds through Oley Farm Country.

This year we are also representing the RRCA as the Eastern Regional Championship, which means extra awards presented in addition to our locally made artisan awards! 

Post-race fare will be available for all runners, along with indoor facilities pre- and post-race. Finally, Munchiez Food Truck will be on site selling yummy items from their great menu.

Come out for this great Fall Classic–if you don’t want to run the 10 mile course, come out and do the 5k! It’s just as pretty of a course, with a few less steps.

Registration is $30 on or before October 18–after that day (including race day), the fee will be $35. Extra long-sleeve shirts will be available while they last. Pre-register to lock in your size!

Thank you to our sponsors this year: IMG Physical Therapy, Fleetwood Footcare, Dieffenbach Potato Chips.

Professional timing will be provided by Pretzel City Sports.

Register online at Pretzel City Sports or click on the link below to download and print a mail-in application:

https://www.pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Oley-Valley-Country-Classic.aspx

Not racing? VOLUNTEER! We need you!! Reach out to the race directors to let them know you are available to help with the event! Email leonardeburton@gmail.com  or barrygoodhart@gmail.com.

See you Saturday November 4th!

Any questions–let us know!

Len Burton

Run for the Ages 2023 Recap

by pagodapacers

The Pagoda Pacers’ Run For The Ages Trail Chase was held on June 25. The race draws nearly 200 runners to Nolde Forest and features an age-graded start, where the older age groups start early and the younger, faster runners have to catch them through the hilly trails of the park.
The race supports maintenance and improvements at the park, and, through the Friends of Nolde group, provides a donation to this effort.
Race directors Donna Hey and Blair Hogg presented the check to the Friends of Nolde at their monthly meeting on September 7. Many Pacers enjoy running the trails at Nolde, and we are pleased that we can give back to the facility by holding this race. 

Front row: D. Hey, Jennifer Stinson – Friends of Nolde President, Brent Erb – Nolde Forest Chief Ranger, B. Hogg

Back row: Friends of Nolde volunteers, several of whom helped on race day

Mark your calendar for next year’s race!

The 2024 Run for the Ages Trail Chase will take place on Sunday, June 30th!

October means high school cross country championship season, and once again, the Pacers will play a vital role

by pagodapacers

There are two cross country races coming up this month, which involve the club, and of course, this means recruiting volunteers. One is an actual club-sponsored event, and one is assisted by our members with race course marshaling and finish line management.

The first is the BCIAA (Berks County Interscholastic Athletic Assoc.) High School Cross Country Conference Run and takes place on Tuesday, October 17, on the Kutztown University Campus. Traditionally, the club contributes volunteers from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to manage the course, road crossings, and finish line. The second is the Junior High Championships, which takes place at the Reading Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 21. Parking volunteers are needed from 6:30 a.m. until 9 a.m., and volunteers for course marshaling and finish line from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Both races comprise the “big dance” of their schedule, and are the most important races of their season.

These are the only events during the year where the club engages specifically with Berks County youth, and it is a golden opportunity to make a lasting impression on the future of the local running community. This is the club’s 15th year of involvement, and the club has earned a stellar reputation among this community as a result. Let’s keep it going.

Please send me a text or email if you can help.

Thank you!

Tom Chobot  

484-269-2889, chobot7957@msn.com

3 Notable Changes for Shiver

by pagodapacers

Dates:  2nd Sunday, December to March (Dec 10th, Jan 14th, Feb 11th, March 10th)  

Time:  10:00 am

Location:  Jim Dietrich Park  

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

Three notable changes:

(1) We are not mailing apps!  However, we will still accept mail-in registrations.  Apps can be printed from the Pagoda Pacers website or can be picked up at any of the many races timed by Pretzel City Sports. 

(2) To change things up, we are running the course in the opposite direction.     

(3) Instead of a shirt, we are offering a sports towel, measuring 11×42. 

Come out and join us for our 34th season!!!!!!

Race Directors,

Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

Volunteers Needed for Blues Cruise and RaceMates

by pagodapacers

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.

THANKS!

Michael Whalen:

Race Director, Blues Cruise 50K

Oley Valley Race Director: “Summer Is Over!”

by pagodapacers

That’s right–you might as well accept it.

Summer is over! Put away your pool pass and speedo, and break out the hoodie and the fire pit. Fall races are fast approaching!!

Saturday, November 4th: Run the farm roads of Oley for 10 miles or 5 kilometers and take home an awesome long sleeve cotton T with original Oley Artwork

If you run fast enough, you will also take home a locally made artisan award to adorn your mantle and help you more effectively brag to your friends about your accomplishments! 

The race begins and ends at the Oley Fairgrounds. There are indoor facilities for pre- and post-race socializing.

And we will have Munchiez Food Truck on site making you a hot meal for purchase!

Standard post-race fare (pretzels, bagels, fruit) will also be available as part of the race.

We need volunteers to put  on this wonderful event so if you dont want to run volunteer…or do both!

Sign up today!

https://www.pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Oley-Valley-Country-Classic.aspx

https://www.pretzelcitysports.com/onlineform1.php?id=1244

See you in Oley…

LB

Registration Now Open for ’23-’24 Shiver by the River Race Series!

by pagodapacers

Dates:  Each 2nd Sunday, December ’23 to March ’24:  Dec 10th, 2023; Jan 14th, 2024; Feb 11th, 2024; March 10th, 2024.

Time:  10:00 am

Location:  Jim Dietrich Park

Online registration for the series is open and can be found at https://www.pretzelcitysports.com/onlineform1.php?id=1631

This year we are not mailing apps!  However, we will still accept mail-in registrations.  Apps can be printed from https://www.pretzelcitysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/23-Reading-Shiver-by-the-river-5k-10k.pdf or can be picked up at any of the many races timed by Pretzel City Sports.  We plan to also have copies at our monthly meetings (if we remember to bring them).  

Pre-registration is only available for the series; however, we will have race-day registration for both the series and individual races.   

Instead of a shirt, we are offering a sports towel, measuring 11×42.

 

Each race includes a post-race buffet of soup, pretzels, and snacks. The end-of-series party includes a buffet, 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 34th season!!!!!!

Race Directors Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

37th Annual Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run

by pagodapacers

The Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club is happy to invite you to the 37th annual Kris Kringle 5 Mile Run!

Looking to squeeze in one last fun event in over the Christmas break? This race is always a family favorite, with proceeds benefiting the Berks County Cross Country Coaches Association. So grab your friends & family and close out 2023 with us!

New for this year, registration is through RunSignUp, and there are no mail-in applications. Also, no extra hoodies will be ordered. Runners must register by 12/3/23 if they would like a hoodie. 

Click here to register!

Oley Valley Country Classic Set for November 4, 2023

by pagodapacers

This summer has been hot, but the best way to be cool is to sign up early for your Fall Season races.

Oley Valley Country Classic 10 Miler and 5K is just around the corner on Saturday, November 4. The race will start at 9 a.m. — it begins and ends at the Oley Fairgrounds. The course features awesome, rolling hills with mininal car traffic during prime leaf-changing season. 

This year’s race will also be the RRCA Regional Championship race for the 10 mile distance.

Thank you to our sponsors this year: IMG Physical Therapy, Fleetwood Footcare, Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips. Race shirts will be provided by CBL, and race timing by Pretzel City Sports. 

All abilities are welcome!

Click the button below or print out and mail in the app to register for this classic fall race!

REGISTER
ovcc-app-2023-v.-2Download

Any questions, please reach out to race directors Len Burton (leonardeburton@gmail.com) or Barry Goodhart (barrygoodhart@gmail.com).

Blues Cruise ’23 Update

by pagodapacers

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! 

https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=100611   

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).