Wind chills were in the teens for the 26th running of the Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New trail run at Fair Hill Resource Management Area on December 31. Only four—three Creek Road Runners plus a friend—came out to battle with the course and the cold.

CRR Bill Rose, who recently had set a new Delaware age-group record in the 10K, and his running friend Greg Cauller had arrived early and had each done a park warm up of between four and five miles before the official start. A nice young woman was in the parking lot at the time with her dog and gladly took the above photo before we all headed out on the course at 9 a.m.

CRR Bob Opila, Rose, and Cauller headed north in the traditional counter-clockwise direction. CRR Mark Deshon, who was neither physically ready for the distance nor the rigor, headed west down the main road from the parking lot. His aim was to do 2.5 miles in a clockwise direction, knowing full well that he would enjoy some protection from the wind early then enjoy a wind at his back later on in the run. Deshon passed each of the others going in the opposite direction on the backstretch near Oprah’s Beloved movie–homestead area. After finishing, he warmed up in his car while waiting for the others to finish the full 7.5km loop.

Cauller finished well ahead of Rose and Opila, even putting in a little extra distance on the other side of Appleton Road before returning to the parking lot. Rose and Opila ran together the whole way, finishing yet another “Wring Out the Old.”

Rose set up the refreshments table, and the four of them chatted until the wind picked up and it became too uncomfortable to stand around much longer.

Just four seniors out having a nice jog to close out 2025.