Since this is not a timed event, what we’re talking about is that everyone seemed to have a good time at this, the 20th annual “Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New” trail run. The event boasted 19 participants,… if you include the three canines, one biker, and a photographer.

A few were sporting the 10th-anniversary black shirts imprinted with course map; many others chose to wear their new 20th-anniversary event shirts.

Gender equality was finally achieved with eight women and eight men this year, certainly a record for the number of female runners (7). Never had there been as many dogs running the loop as this year either, not counting those who may have been “dogging” the course—you know who you are, CRR Bill Rose.

A big shout out to Doug Baker (husband of CRR Diane Kukich) for photojournalizing the event.

The weather was crisp, but there was a delightful absence of wind (unlike last year), and everyone seemed to have a good time. Here’s the story….

Up the hill we started in two groups, the second group—CRR Bruce Hubbard, CRR April Anderson, and CRR Amy Shay—obviously plotting early to take the shortcut.

The lead group stayed pretty much together until the first big downhill to creek level, where CRR Mark Deshon and Rose, tethered to Bandit (one of two Schultz dogs out for a good 7.5km jog) began moving ahead. It became clear to Deshon that Rose and Bandit were merely toying with the pace, dropping back occasionally to touch base with other runners rather than taking the lead and running the quicker pace they could have run.

Anderson, Shay, and Hubbard did indeed take the shortcut back, showing up ahead of anyone else.

CRR Rachel Strickland, not running because of a foot ailment, rode her bike to Fair Hill, moved ahead on the course, and made sure everyone made the appropriate turns along the way, which was appreciated by Deshon, the event organizer. Strickland even took photos (click on links below) of several runners slogging up the big, and what turned out to be muddy, hill. Deshon and Rose summited first, Rose stopping to chat with Rachel, leaving Deshon to a solo last mile or so and finish.

Bill Rose (with Bandit) and Mark Deshon | Kimberly Riordan and Allison Rose | Charlie Riordan and David Coker | Jordan Deshon and Steve Goodwin | Lawson Schultz

Rose continued on with his daughter, Allison Rose, and Kimberly Riordan, the three finishing together, albeit a full body length behind Bandit. CRR Katie Holden and CRR Charlie Riordan followed.

Having just crested the big hill, CRR David Coker needed some assistance to find something important that apparently had fallen out of his pocket. So, CRR Jordan Deshon and CRR Steve Goodwin stopped to help out, allowing Lawson Schultz to move ahead. Zippered pockets, David.

Of course, after that, Jordan had to try to catch up with Lawson, did, and then accompanied her to the finish.

After Coker and Goodwin finished, Rose retreated back up the trail with Bandit to help CRR Christine Schultz finish her run.

Once everyone had finished, Deshon broke out the bubbly and the Dunkin’ Donut holes that Riordan had brought (“Charlie runs on Dunkin’”). There was a lot of conversation and celebrating—relieved that the weather had held up nicely and that all had made it through another trail loop here at Fair Hill, thus putting an exclamation mark on the end of 2018.

More photos:
Runner and bicyclist Rachel Strickland | Katie Holden with Riley | Allison and Bill Rose with new friends | Mark Deshon laughs at the idea of organizing this again next year | Mark Deshon and Doug Baker | Mark Deshon and David Coker | Bruce Hubbard, Jordan Deshon, and April Anderson