Guest Blogger: Crim Festival of Races - 2010 (Julie M)

On August 28th, 2010 I ran the Crim 10 mile race in Flint, MI. It’s a fairly large race with an estimated 10,000 runners registered for the 10 mile. There also is a 8k, 5k and teddy bear trot for those interested in a shorter racing experience. It is actually a 3 day festival encouraging health and fitness for the entire community. Being that I attended college at UM-Flint and have in-laws from the Flint area, the route brings back many memories.

This year the weather was absolutely perfect. It was 53 degrees when we arrived in Flint at about 6:45am for our 8am starting time. The sunrise was beautiful and hardly any humidity. We had to arrive early to ensure a parking place and avoid road closures. All of the preliminary race preparations went very smooth. We all got our shirts and timing chips without any waiting or confusion, not even long bathroom lines.

I ran the race with an experienced runner friend, Jerry and a new runner friend Scott. When I run races with Jerry, I usually see the back of his head for a moment and then he is lost in the crowd way ahead of me, never to be seen again until the finish line. However, he has been battling a ankle injury so his plan was to jog slowly and stay along with me. I estimated, quite optimistically, that I would maintain a 9:30 min/mile pace. That plan was quickly aborted for me when I knew I wasn’t feeling a PR day coming on. Jerry kept that pace and quickly disappeared as usual. So Scott and I began our journey through 10 lovely, hilly miles of Flint, MI.

The Crim is a very exciting race because so many people in the community turn out to cheer on the runners. As a runner, you almost feel like a celebrity running along the streets lined with people! There are several bands playing and people singing upbeat music along several corners throughout the route. The people who live along the course bring out their lawn sprinklers and they will gladly hose you down if you ask, or even if you don’t ask in some cases. Some other kind and friendly locals even offered cups of ice to cool and hydrate runners as they speed on by. The most interesting offerings are the fraternity houses. They are happy to provide you a beer or a Krispy Kreme and shot of espresso if you choose. Of course I did not choose to indulge in any of those treats just in case they didn’t agree with me. Scott and I found out later that Jerry was having a grand old time after 2 beers and a Krispy Kreme. Jerry still managed to beat us by 10 minutes and he had a very sore ankle. but that is how it goes with Jerry. Did I mention he was seeded and had a yellow bib meaning he was an “elite” runner? Scott and I were lucky just to be running in his shadow.

There were also some interesting costumes, such as a woman in a leopard cat bikini outfit. Wonder woman and the super hero from the Incredibles also ran the Crim this year. Another interesting fellow dribbled a basketball for the entire 10 miles. I ran near him last year and the constant bouncing of the ball became slightly annoying. Last year we came across a scantily clad middle age woman who we fondly nicknamed the “butt cheek lady” She was wearing elite runner shorts, which are like very small underpants. Elite runners are usually folks of small stature. However this particular woman did not have an elite runner size bottom, so most of her buttocks hung out of the shorts. I really pondered why her friends or family members didn’t pull her aside and get her some running shorts that provided adequate coverage.

The most amazing and motivating people we saw were the runners who have run the Crim since the inception of the race in 1977. Of course many of them are older ladies and gentlemen. They received special honors and were allowed to start before all the rest of us. It is these older ladies and gentlemen who over the past 33 years get out of bed before the sun comes up and get to the starting line at 8am to run the hot, hilly race we call the Crim! I can only hope when I am close to their ages that I will still be able to participate in races like the Crim. I think they are a testament to what the body can do especially when you make the effort and sacrifices to stay healthy throughout your lifetime, and that is really what the Crim Festival of Races is all about!! As the Crim fitness foundation states on their website,” Please join us as we strive to “cultivate fitness as a community and family value.”
I couldn’t agree more and that is why I love this race!! J