Crim Festival of Races 10 mile run: Review

August 23, 8:19 PMDetroit Running Fitness ExaminerAdam Korrick

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  Runners and walkers begin the 10 mile race

The 2009 Crim festival of races when off without a hitch last Saturday morning in downtown Flint. While the previous two weeks had been upwards of 80 degrees and sunny, Saturday morning gave participants a cloudy and cool morning, ideal for running.

This years Crim brought the city roughly 15,482 runners, walkers, and wheelers. 9,449 of those athletes did the 10 mile event, and 8,702 of those people ran it.

The Crim starting line is right on Saginaw street, the old brick style street has become the trademark start and finish for this event. Cramming over 9,000 runners and volunteers and spectators in this locations can get a bit crowded. For a runner or walker starting in the back of the pack, it can take over 10 minutes just to reach the start line after the gun is fired.

The Crim is one of the states best road races, bringing in elite runners from all over the world. The course, all be it the streets of Flint, is not the easiest course either. While the first half of the 10 mile route is flat for the most part, once you reach the halfway point it's another story. The legendary ‘Bradley Hills’ are right before the half way mark, which include 3 tough climbs in a row. This can make or break your run depending on how you come out of these hills. From there, somewhat steady rolling hills cover the next couple miles until you get to the 9th mile marker. While the rest of the hills may not be too intense, they are enough to make you work and wear down your legs. Then on to the homestretch, “The Bricks’ as they call it, down Saginaw street for the last quarter mile amongst thousands of spectators cheering on all the competitors.

The set up and preparation the Crim puts in to this course and event is top notch. Water stations are set up every mile, sometimes more. Even non-Crim volunteers help out, including businesses and local residents, handing out drinks, donuts, and beer (before the third mile no less). Some kids will even bring out their garden hoses down to the sidewalk and spray down the runners looking to cool off.  This is one of those events that truly brings the best out of Flint. You will hardly go a minute without someone clapping or cheering you on.

No surprises on the winners this year. Since the Crim began offing cash prizes to the winners the 10 mile race has been dominated by runners from foreign soil. This year the male overall winner was Enock Mitei from Kenya, finishing at 46:50. The female winner was Ethiopian Alemitu Albera with the time of 53:49. There were plenty of runners from Kenya and Ethiopia this year who ran the 10 mile. These athletes continue to blow our minds on how fast they can run and make it look so effortless in the process.  While they do make the average runners look bad, it is a treat to see runners perform at that level up close and in person.

So another Crim has came and gone, 33 and counting. The Crim remains one of the premier running events the state has to offer. Not only does it hold a race for casual and elite runners alike in the 10 mile, but events and distances for all levels of competitors. With the massive turnout and support the event received this year, we can only assume it will be just as good next year, if not better.