A bench in memory of CRR Bruce Hubbard was recently installed along Creek Road. Runners, walkers, and bikers were likely to encounter him on Creek Road during his lifetime. And if you saw him, you were likely to chat, since he was always happy to do so. Bruce completed 30 marathons and countless other races. He passed away on February 1, 2026, a few days short of his 80th birthday.
Bench in memory of Bruce Hubbard
The bench is near the crest of a small hill, about 1/4-mile north of the vehicle-barrier posts on Creek Road, which are just north of the Pomeroy Trail footbridge across the creek. It faces the sunrise, with a beautiful view across the creek. It is a wonderful tribute to this Newark resident and lifetime Creek Road Runner.
Special thanks to CRR Bill Rose for this post and for the photo of the bench.
Creek Road Runners were saddened to hear of the death of CRR Bruce Hubbard on February 1, just nine days shy of his 80th birthday. “Many of you knew him, and he was a strong member of the running community,” noted CRR Jim Fischer. Like Fischer, Hubbard was a Minnesota native. He was a member of the Pike Creek Valley Running Club and was also a big proponent of Creek Road Runners.
CRR Mark Deshon asserted, “He loved our Creek Road Runners shirts, and he nearly always ran the annual ‘Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New’ 7.5K cross-country run at the Fair Hill Resource Management Area every New Year’s Eve morning. In fact, last year was the first year in memory that he didn’t show up for the run.”
Deshon was not surprised, because Hubbard had come to the 2024 event barely able to walk, let alone run. He had had so many health issues on top of the many running-related injuries he had suffered over his running lifetime. Yet, he was always very positive and hopeful that he could press on and do the next race, whatever that may have been.
A veteran of over a thousand races, Hubbard was always planning and training for his next big race. CRR Eric Jacobson commented, “His old car deserves a place in the CRR Hall of Fame. As he was driving down Creek Road, he’d frequently stop or slow down to share a quick story about his latest running adventures.”
Bruce Hubbard in the 2006 Delaware Open XC Championships 5K
It was nearly 20 years ago that he won the Delaware Open XC Championships 60-and-over age group, an impressive feat. Over the course of his life, he completed 30 marathons, a half-Ironman, and four eight-hour survival races.
Besides running and racing, Hubbard loved golf, skiing, and ice skating. He was an excellent skater, even in his 50s performing as a member of the Delaware Dazzles synchronized skating team.
He is survived by his ex-wife of 51 years CRR April Anderson and his adult children, Reid and Sally.
It was a bright and crisp day for the early-start edition of the “Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New” trail run, the event at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area that Creek Road Runners have enjoyed since 1999.
CRR veteran Bruce Hubbard (left, a “two”) came out to help Bob Opila, run organizer Bill Rose (the “zero”), Mark Deshon (the other “two”), Greg Cauller, Dave Schultz (the “five”), and Bandit salute the new year.
The 24th annual Wring Out the Old, Ring In The New trail event included a combination of 11 runners and walkers who came together to bid farewell to 2023 and help usher in the new year at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in nearby Maryland.
Four Creek Road Runners showed to salute the year 2024. From left are Bob Opila (the two), Bill Rose (the zero), David James (the other two), and Bruce Hubbard (the four).
Saluting the new year 2023 were Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New participants (from left) Elise Edwards (the two), Dave Edwards, Shannon Lennon-Edwards (the zero), Bruce Hubbard, Vic Kaliakin, April Anderson, Doug Repetti, Bill Rose (the other two), Greg Cauller, Dave Wiechecki, Keith Crispin, Sue Barton (the three), and Mark Deshon.
An unusually mild and damp New Year’s Eve morning greeted the runners with thick fog on this, the second Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New trail run since the pandemic struck. Thanks to CRR Bill Rose for once again organizing this annual event.
CreekRoadRunners.org 