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Blues Cruise 50K Trail Ultra      


Blues Cruise 50 K Ultra Marathon, Relay, and Trail race series
Sunday October 5, 2025    8:00 AM start time
Registration: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=112917
 
Participant Guide 2025

Description
The Blues Cruise 50K Trail Ultramarathon circles the beautiful Blue Marsh Lake. The 31-mile loop is very runnable, with a varied terrain that includes fields, plenty of rolling hills, single track and less than .5 miles of public roadway. The “Ski Slope” is the only major climb (240 feet in vertical accent). We have one optional water crossing where you can choose to splash through or cross on a bridge. Our themed aid stations are well stocked and serviced by local ultra runners. The 9 hour (strictly enforced) time limit makes this the perfect race for those newer to trail or ultra marathons.
 

New for 2025:  We are moving the race start up 30 minutes to 8:00 AM in order to allow us to extend our hard cut off from 8.5 hours to 9 hours (finish by 5PM).   We are required to be out of the park and gates locked at 6 PM.  Aid stations 5 and 7 will have strict cut off times (see charts under “Aid Station”) to facilitate this deadline, and a sweep vehicle will be available for runners who are cut (expect some wait time).
 
Also: Blues Cruise 50K RELAY. Each 2-4-person team will complete 4 legs of the 50 K course. 
 
Leg 1: “The Lead Out” start to Aid Station 2, ~6.8 miles 
 
Leg 2 “The Mountaineer” Aid Station 2-4, ~7.1 miles including the famous Ski Slope
 
Leg 3 “The Voyageur” Aid Station 4-7, ~13.3 miles
 
Leg 4 “The Sprinter”, ~4.7 miles to the finish, where the entire team can cross the line together and receive Blues Cruise finisher awards. Prizes for the fastest teams!  Due to the speed of the relay teams, Aid station support will be limited upon team arrival.
 
Don’t miss: The Pagoda Pacers Triple Trail Challenge 50.3 Series. Runners that complete the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon (May 25), Run for the Ages Trail Chase 10 K (June 15), and Blues Cruise will receive a sweet bit of runner swag at no additional price. No special registration is required. Links to the Triple Trail Challenge 50.3 can be found at 
 

https://www.pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Triple-Trail-Challenge-Series.aspx 

Race Directors Michael Whalen & Elaine Cook are experienced trail and Ultra runners and long-time members of the Pagoda Pacers. With more than 200 members, the Pagoda Pacers have years of experience organizing first class trail and road races. www.pagodapacers.com  We expect to have over 100 members, most of them trail/ultramarathon runners, on site to support our participants and manage 7 of the best aid stations you ever encountered.  If you have any questions about our race or ultra running in general, please don't hesitate to contact us. bluescruiserd@gmail.com Most questions and ongoing race information can be found on the Blues Cruise 50K Facebook page

 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/65364255002 ).

Early registration  will be $90.00. Price will increase to $100.00 on August 1, 2025.   Guaranteed swag deadline is September 1, 2025.  Online registration will close on September 28, 2025 at midnight.  Race day registration will be available, but race swag is not guaranteed for anyone registering after September 1. 

Race Schedule

January 20:  Blues Cruise Registration opens on UltraSignUp
May 25:  Triple Trail Challenge Race #1, Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon 
June 15:  Triple Trail Challenge Race #2, Run For the Ages
https://www.pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Run-for-the-Ages-10k-Trail-Chase.aspx 
July 12:  2nd annual  Blues Cruise “Justa Fat Ass”  Blues Cruise Training run #1 at Justa Road
Follow our Facebook group for details 
August 1:  Fee increase for Blues Cruise on UltraSignUp
August TBD:  Blues Cruise Training Run #2
September TBD:  Blues Cruise Training Run #3 
September 1:  Last day to register with guaranteed race swag
September 28:  Registration closes on UltraSignUp 
Saturday October 4:  Dry Camping at Race Headquarters (5 miles from start/finish–must sign up)
Sunday October 5:  RACE DAY
  • 7:00 AM Registration opens
  • 7:00-7:50 Coffee, swag sales, photo ops, sponsor freebies
  • 7:50 Pre Race announcements
  • 8:00 Race Start!!!
  • 1:45 PM Aid Station #5 (Oktoberfest) Cut off
  • 4:00 PM Aid Station #7 (Blues Brothers) Cut Off
  • 5:00PM Finish Line Closes–runners must cross the line by 5 PM (9 hours total time) to earn a finisher award. 
  • ~12:00 PM-5:30 PM  Post Race Buffet, Recovery Zone, swag sales 
  • 6:00 PM  All runners, crew, spectators, volunteers out of the park GATES LOCKED BY PARK STAFF

 

 

 

 

 

  
 

Social

We will be more Social when we shake off the Winter fog.
 

General Membership Meeting

The Monthly Membership meeting will be held on Thursday May 8th, 2025 
 
Mohnton Fire Company Social Quarters, 100 E Summit St., Mohnton, PA 19540.  The meeting is upstairs. Enter the front door and go up the stairs to your left. There is no need to ring the buzzer for entry.   Food and drink at 6:30 p.m. Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. All members welcome. Members are responsible for purchasing their own beverages.
 
 
Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month @7:00 pm.  All are welcome

Community Involvement/Volunteering 

Click here for info about the club's trail maintenance program.

 


 Strava

Click on the icon above and join the Pagoda Pacers Strava groups to share courses.


Link to RUseeN Reflective Pacer Apparel

Our Mission

The Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club promotes physical fitness and public wellness. We conduct athletic activities in our community, organize competitions, social gatherings, and educate the public on physical fitness and wellness. We promote participation in the sports of running, cycling, duathlons, & triathlons. We also encourage members to be more than just athletes by conducting a variety of social and civic activities in the Reading, Pennsylvania area.