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:  Cathy O'Brien (USA) 51:47 |
The Crim Festival of Races is a big yearly event in Flint, Michigan. It's all about road running and walking! The main race is 10 miles (about 16 kilometers) long. People often just call it "The Crim." This race is famous for its tough Bradley Hills and a special blue line that helps runners stay on track.
The Crim Festival has been held every August since 1977. It brings in runners from all over the world, including countries like Kenya, Russia, and Ukraine. Around 50,000 people join the festival each year! It's one of the biggest events in Flint.
The festival includes several different races and walks:
- Michigan Mile Series
- 5K race (about 3.1 miles)
- 5 Mile race
- 10 Mile race (the main "Crim" event)
- The Teddy Bear Trot (for younger kids)
- The Lois Craig Invitational Special Olympics Race (a special race for athletes with intellectual disabilities)
The Crim race has even hosted the United States national 10-mile championship twice. In 2009, Molly Huddle won the women's U.S. title. In 2010, Fasil Bizuneh won the men's U.S. title.
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History of the Crim Festival
The Crim Festival started in 1976. Bobby Crim, who was a state leader at the time, and his assistant, Lois Craig, wanted to raise money. They wanted to help the new Special Olympics program.
The very first "Bobby Crim Road Race" happened on the fourth Saturday in August 1977. It started at noon, with Lois Craig as the race director. That first race had 707 runners and raised over $30,000 for Special Olympics! Bobby Crim wanted to keep the event going to raise even more money.
By 1979, the race had grown a lot, with 34,000 people joining from all over the world. In 1985, the race organizers created a group called "The Crim Road Race, Inc." This helped them support even more charities. More races were added over time. An 8K race was added in 1987. In 1988, a 5K Family Walk and the Teddy Bear Trot were added.
Becoming the Crim Festival of Races
In 1992, the event changed its name to the Crim Festival of Races. The festival kept growing! They added a one-mile run, an 8K race/walk, a 5K run, and special walking events. They also started programs like the Crim Kids Classic and training programs to help people get fit.
By 1993, the event raised $1.3 million! Lois Craig, the first race director, then left to work full-time for Area 13 Special Olympics. A special race for Special Olympics athletes, 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 were moved to Friday night. They even added a special "Professional Mile" race with a $10,000 prize! The course for this race goes around the University of Michigan–Flint.
In 2017, the 10-mile race route had some changes because of work being done on the Flint River. For the 2018 festival, the 8K race was replaced with a 5-mile race, sometimes called the "half Crim." These changes helped make the routes better and reduce traffic problems.
Past Winners of the 10-Mile Race
Here are some of the past winners of the main 10-mile race at the Crim Festival.
Key: Course record U.S. championship 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 shorter than 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 (CFF) is a non-profit organization. It helps people in Genesee County, Michigan stay fit and healthy. This foundation also organizes the big Crim Festival of Races! It grew from the group that first started the 10-mile Crim race.
How the Foundation Started
Bobby Crim and Lois Craig started the first 10-mile Crim race in 1977. In the early years, a small group of 14 volunteers helped plan everything. This group was even called the "Kitchen Cabinet." In 1985, the race organizers officially became "The Crim Road Race, Inc." This allowed them to help more charities. They supported groups like Big Brother/Big Sisters and the Crim Youth Development Program.
In 1992, the race event and the organization changed their name to the Crim Festival of Races. In 1994, the first yearly Crim Kids Classic race was held. In 1997, Marti Austin was hired to help run the Kids Classic.
Becoming the Fitness Foundation
In October 2005, the organization changed its name again to the Crim Fitness Foundation, Inc.. This showed their wider goal of promoting fitness for everyone, not just through the races.
The Foundation also helped start other races. For example, in 2008, they helped create the Brooksie Way Half Marathon. They also started new 5K races in Flint and Auburn Hills. In 2012, they helped with "The Qualifier" event, which included marathon races.
In 2013, the Crim Fitness Foundation started the first "Health Plus Tour de Crim." This was a bike ride and obstacle challenge. It gave non-runners a chance to experience the 10-mile Crim course. The Crim Kids Classic was also renamed the Marti Austin Kids Classic that year.
The Foundation wanted to encourage fitness all year long. So, they started the "Run Your Ice Off" 5K race in February 2014. This was the first race in their "Grass Roots Race Series." These smaller, fun races lead up to the main Crim Festival. A statue of Bobby Crim was put up in downtown Flint before the 2014 Festival of Races.
In 2018, the foundation began helping manage the money for the CANUSA Games. They also worked with other groups to start a new 5K race called the CANUSA 5K Challenge.
Crim Race Series and Programs
The Crim Fitness Foundation organizes many different races and programs throughout the year:
- Marti Austin Kids Classic (May/June): This is a "mini-Crim" for younger kids. It has races like the Diaper Dash, Toddler Trot, Quarter Mile, Half Mile, and One Mile.
- Tour de Crim (May): A bike ride and obstacle challenge that follows the 10-mile Crim race path.
- Grass Roots Race Series: These are fun, low-cost races:
- Run Your Ice Off (February): A fun run/walk held in downtown Flint.
- In Your Face Steeplechase (June): A 3-mile run with obstacles like hills, hay bales, and mud.
- Huckleberry Hustle & Little Berry Dash (July): A 5K trail run/walk held at Crossroads Village.
- Crim Festival of Races (August): This is the main event with the 5K, Half Crim, 10 Mile "The Crim" race, and the Teddy Bear Trot.
- Lois Craig Invitational Special Olympics Race (Friday): A special race for Special Olympics athletes.
- Michigan Mile Race Series (Friday): Short, fast races, including a professional mile.
- CANUSA 5K Challenge (September): A 5K race held with The Ally Challenge and CANUSA Games.
Former Race Events
The Foundation also helped with these races in the past:
- The Brooksie Way Half Marathon & 5K (2008-2011)
- Genesee County Start Heart Walk and Crim 5k (2009-2010)
- Glenda's Glide, 5K run/walk (2009-2010)
- The Qualifier (2012): This event had half and full marathons. It was designed to help runners qualify for major marathons like the Boston Marathon. It's now called the Great Lakes Bay Marathons.
- Le Champion Pave Criterium (2010-2012): Bicycle races named after a famous cyclist.
