Crim Festival of Races facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crim Festival of Races |
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|---|---|
| Location | Flint, Michigan |
| Event type | road |
| Distance | several (10 Miles) |
| Primary sponsor | Health Alliance Plan |
| Beneficiary | Area 13 Special Olympics |
| Established | 1977 |
| Course records | m:  Joseph Kamau (KEN) 45:43w:  Vicoty Chepngeno (USA) 51:35 |
The Crim Festival of Races is a big yearly event in Flint, Michigan. It's all about running and walking races on the roads. The main race is 10 miles (about 16 kilometers) long. It's famous for its "Bradley Hills" and a blue line that guides runners. The Crim Festival has happened every August since 1977.
Runners come from all over the world to join, including places like Kenya, Russia, and Ukraine. Around 50,000 people take part or watch each year. It's one of the popular events in the Flint Parade of Festivals.
The festival has many different races and walks. These include the Michigan Mile Series, a 5K race, a 5 Mile race, and the main 10 Mile race. There's also the Teddy Bear Trot for younger kids and the Lois Craig Invitational Special Olympics Race. The Crim race has even hosted the United States national 10-mile championship twice.
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History of the Crim Races
How the Race Started
In 1976, Bobby Crim, who was a state leader, and his assistant, Lois Craig, wanted to raise money. They were looking for a way to support the new Special Olympics program. They decided to hold a road race on the fourth Saturday in August 1977. Lois Craig was the first person in charge of the race.
That first race, called the Bobby Crim Road Race, had 707 runners. It raised $30,170 for Special Olympics. Everyone thought it would be a one-time event. But Bobby Crim wanted to keep it going to help raise even more money.
Growing Bigger and Adding More Races
By 1979, the race had grown a lot. There were 34,000 runners and people watching from all over the world. In 1985, the group that organized the race became an official organization. It was called The Crim Road Race, Inc. This helped them support more charities.
More races were added over time. An 8K race joined in 1987, and a 5K Family Walk and the Teddy Bear Trot were added in 1988. From 1989 to 1992, they also added a Crim 8K Walk, a concert the night before, and fun activities after the race.
Becoming the Crim Festival of Races
In 1992, the event changed its name to the Crim Festival of Races. The festival kept growing, adding even more events. These included a one-mile run, an 8K race/walk, and a 5K run. They also started programs like Neighborhood Running Clubs and the Crim Training Program.
In 1993, the event raised $1.3 million. Lois Craig then stepped down as race director to work for Area 13 Special Olympics. A special race for Special Olympics, held on Friday during the festival, was named the Lois Craig Invitational Special Olympics Race in her honor.
In 2013, the Michigan Mile Series races moved to Friday night. They added a special race for professional runners called the Professional Mile. This race had a $10,000 prize and a new course around the University of Michigan–Flint.
Some race routes changed in 2017 because of work on the Flint River. For the 2018 festival, the 8K race/walk was replaced with a 5-mile race. This new race was called the "half Crim." The routes for the 5-mile and 5K races now overlap more with the 10-mile race. This helps with traffic and includes new areas like Chevy Commons and the Mott Park neighborhood.
Past Winners of the 10-Mile Race
Here are some of the past winners of the main 10-mile race.
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Time (m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1977 |  Steve Kenyon (GBR) |
50:05 | Kim Merritt (USA) |
58:41 |
| 2nd | 1978 | Greg Meyer (USA) |
48:00 | Celia Peterson (USA) |
59:30 |
| 3rd | 1979 | Herb Lindsay (USA) |
48:00 | Joan Samuelson (USA) |
55:42 |
| 4th | 1980 | Herb Lindsay (USA) |
47:07 | Patti Catalano (USA) |
53:40 |
| 5th | 1981 | Herb Lindsay (USA) |
47:15 | Patti Catalano (USA) |
55:35 |
| 6th | 1982 | Steve Kenyon (GBR) |
46:43 | Joan Samuelson (USA) |
53:18 |
| 7th | 1983 | Nick Rose (GBR) |
46:58 |  Lisa Ondieki (AUS) |
55:07 |
| 8th | 1984 | Nick Rose (GBR) |
46:59 | Janice Ettle (USA) |
55:16 |
| 9th | 1985 | Ken Martin (USA) |
46:55 | Lisa Ondieki (AUS) |
53:48 |
| 10th | 1986 | Ed Eyestone (USA) |
47:36 | Lisa Rainsberger (USA) |
54:47 |
| 11th | 1987 |  Brian Sheriff (ZIM) |
48:09 | Lisa Rainsberger (USA) |
55:02 |
| 12th | 1988 | Ed Eyestone (USA) |
46:44 † | Lisa Rainsberger (USA) |
53:10 † |
| 13th | 1989 | Brian Sheriff (ZIM) |
46:23 | Cathy O'Brien (USA) |
51:47 |
| 14th | 1990 | Ken Martin (USA) |
47:44 |  Uta Pippig (GER) |
53:56 |
| 15th | 1991 | Steve Kogo (KEN) |
47:15 | Lesley Lehane (USA) |
54:02 |
| 16th | 1992 | Simon Karori (KEN) |
46:21 |  Olga Markova (RUS) |
53:17 |
| 17th | 1993 |  Alejandro Cruz (MEX) |
47:05 | Lynn Jennings (USA) |
52:53 |
| 18th | 1994 | Benson Masya (KEN) |
46:22 | Anne-Marie Lauck (USA) |
53:42 |
| 19th | 1995 | Thomas Osano (KEN) |
46:06 | Delilah Asiago (KEN) |
53:08 |
| 20th | 1996 | Joseph Kamau (KEN) |
45:43 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
52:50 |
| 21st | 1997 |  Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) |
45:45 | Hellen Kimaiyo (KEN) |
53:34 |
| 22nd | 1998 | John Korir Kipsang (KEN) |
46:15 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
53:33 |
| 23rd | 1999 | John Korir Kipsang (KEN) |
46:54 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
54:22 |
| 24th | 2000 | Mark Yatich (KEN) |
47:36 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
53:01 |
| 25th | 2001 | Laban Kipkemboi (KEN) |
46:41 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
52:36 |
| 26th | 2002 | Simon Rono (KEN) |
47:13 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
52:09 |
| 27th | 2003 | John Korir Kipsang (KEN) |
46:22 | Lyudmila Biktasheva (RUS) |
51:52 |
| 28th | 2004 | Linus Maiyo (KEN) |
48:06 | Leah Malot (KEN) |
54:35 |
| 29th | 2005 |  Fabiano Joseph (TAN) |
47:46 | Alevtina Ivanova (RUS) |
53:34 |
| 30th | 2006 | Samuel Kiplimo Kosgei (KEN) |
46:49 | Alevtina Ivanova (RUS) |
53:06 |
| 31st | 2007 | Festus Kioko Langat (KEN) |
47:11 | Angelina Mutuku Mutheu (KEN) |
54:53 |
| 32nd | 2008 | Stephen Koech (KEN) |
48:04 | Irene Limika (KEN) |
55:49 |
| 33rd | 2009 | Enock Mitei (KEN) |
46:50 |  Alemitu Abera Begna (ETH) |
53:49 |
| 34th | 2010 | Julius Kiprotich Kogo (KEN) |
47:06 | Mare Dibaba (ETH) |
53:52 |
| 35th | 2011 | Julius Kiprotich Kogo (KEN) |
47:15 | Everlyne Lagat (KEN) |
55:15 |
| 36th | 2012 | Julius Kiprotich Kogo (KEN) |
46:45 | Caroline Rotich Cheptanui (KEN) |
53:43 |
| 37th | 2013 | Julius Kiprotich Kogo (KEN) |
45:55 | Aliphine Tuliamuk Bolton (KEN) |
54:28 |
| 38th | 2014 | Julius Kiprotich Kogo (KEN) |
46:36 | Aliphine Tuliamuk Bolton (KEN) |
52:48 |
| 39th | 2015 | Leonard Essau Korir (KEN) |
47:00 | Caroline Rotich (KEN) |
53:06 |
| 40th | 2016 | Dathan Ritzenhein (USA) |
47:24 | Joan Jepkorir Aiyabei (KEN) |
55:37 |
| 41st | 2017 | Julius Kiprotich Kogo (KEN) |
47:01 | Buze Diriba (ETH) |
51:49 |
- † = The 1988 course was 10 meters short of the official 10-mile race distance.
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Crim Fitness Foundation
| Founder(s) | Bobby Crim Lois Craig |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit corporation |
| Area served | Genesee County, Michigan |
The Crim Fitness Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit group. It helps people in Genesee County, Michigan stay fit and healthy. This foundation also organizes the Crim Festival of Races. It grew from the original group that planned the first 10-mile Crim race.
History of the Foundation
Bobby Crim and Lois Craig started the Crim 10-mile race in 1977. In the early years, a small group of 14 volunteers helped plan everything. In 1985, the race organizers became an official non-profit called The Crim Road Race, Inc. This allowed them to help more charities. Some of the groups they helped included Big Brother/Big Sisters and the Genesee County Literacy Coalition.
In 1992, the race event and its organization changed their name to Crim Festival of Races. The first yearly Crim Kids Classic race happened in 1994. In 1997, Marti Austin was hired to help run the Kids Classic.
Becoming a Fitness Foundation
In October 2005, the Crim Festival of Races, Inc. changed its name again. It became the Crim Fitness Foundation, Inc. This new name showed their wider goal of promoting fitness.
The Crim Foundation has also helped with other races. In 2008, they helped start the Brooksie Way Half Marathon. They also helped with new 5K races in Flint and Auburn Hills, Michigan. However, the Foundation stopped helping with the Brooksie Way after 2011.
In 2012, the Crim races expanded with "The Qualifier" event. This event included races in Midland and Bay City. It became part of the Dow Weekend of Races. The Foundation also took over organizing the Le Champion Pave bike race downtown.
On May 11, 2013, the Foundation held the first Health Plus Tour de Crim. This was a bicycle and obstacle challenge. It let non-runners experience parts of the 10-mile Crim course. In June 2013, the Crim Kids Classic was renamed the Marti Austin Kids Classic.
The Foundation wanted to encourage fitness all year. So, they started the Run Your Ice Off 5K race in February 2014. This was the first race in their Grass Roots Race Series. Other races in this series included the Huckleberry Hustle and the In Your Face Steeplechase.
A statue of Bobby Crim was put up in 2014. It stands near the finish line of the Festival of Races. In 2018, the foundation started helping manage the money for the CANUSA Games. They also agreed to start a new 5K race called the CANUSA 5K Challenge.
Crim Race Series and Events
The Crim Fitness Foundation organizes many fun events throughout the year:
- Marti Austin Kids Classic (May/June): This event has races for younger kids. It includes the Diaper Dash, Toddler Trot, Quarter Mile, Half Mile, and One Mile races. It's sometimes called "mini-Crim."
- Tour de Crim (May): This is a bike ride and obstacle challenge. It follows the path of the 10-mile Crim race.
- Grass Roots Race Series: These are low-cost, fun races.
- Run Your Ice Off fun run/walk: This race started in February 2014. It takes place during the Fire and Ice Festival in Downtown Flint.
- In Your Face Steeplechase (June): This is a 3-mile run with obstacles like hills, hay bales, and mud. It helps raise money for Mott Community College's cross country team.
- Huckleberry Hustle & Little Berry Dash (July): This 5K trail run/walk happens at Crossroads Village.
- Crim Festival of Races (August): This is the main event with several races. It includes the 5K, Half Crim, "The Crim" 10 Mile, and the Teddy Bear Trot.
- Lois Craig Invitational Special Olympics Race (Friday): A special race for Special Olympics athletes.
- Michigan Mile Race Series (Friday): A series of one-mile races.
- CANUSA 5K Challenge (September): This 5K race started in September 2019. It is held with The Ally Challenge golf tournament and benefits the CANUSA Games.
Past Race Events
Some races that the Foundation used to help organize include:
- The Brooksie Way Half Marathon & 5K (2008-2011)
- Genesee County Start Heart Walk and Crim 5k (2009-2010)
- Glenda's Glide, 5K run/walk in Auburn Hills, Michigan (2009-2010)
- The Qualifier (2012): This event had half and full marathons. It was designed to help runners qualify for major marathons like Boston, New York, and Chicago. It is now called the Great Lakes Bay Marathons and is not connected to the Foundation.
- Le Champion Pave Criterium (2010-2012): These were bicycle races named after Albert Champion, a famous cyclist.
