This race is held annually in BEAUTIFUL NOLDE FOREST – READING, PA (A portion of the proceeds go to the Friends of Nolde Forest, a non-profit group helping to maintain Nolde Forest)
“where anybody might win the race!”
Come out for one of the few trail races on the east coast with an age graded start! Top age group performers have a legitimate shot at the overall title. 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 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!
What’s an age graded start? Those who have more than a few of grey 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. The actual handicap for each division is posted at www.PagodaPacers.com. That means you start with your age group (call them your competition if you like). Your handicap division may or may not start with another handicap division. For example, it’s possible that 60-64 year old men might start at the same time as 50-54 year old women. Or maybe not.
How are the start waves determined? Wave start differentials are determined from a combination of age grading corrections from the World Masters Association, as well as comparing results from many local races of similar distance. The goal is to have the top finishers from as many waves as possible finish at almost the exact same time!