Me? I prefer to run locally.
I'll spend hours on Run Michigan, credit card in hand, searching for the perfect Saturday 5k. Sometimes, I find my heart palpitating when I pull into the driveway, reach into my mailbox, and emerge with a handful of race information cards.
While this Great Mitten State offers up its share of fabulous road races for every runner, certainly no race tops The Crim.
Now entering its 36th year, the Crim is well-known in the Michigan running community. Besides the world-famous (seriously, it's pretty big) 10-mile race, the Crim also offers an 8k, 5k, and 1 mile race along with a Teddy Bear Trot for the wee ones. Charlotte will definitely run that next year.
Last year, a record-setting 10,371 people participated in the 10-mile race alone, with another 6,000 or so competing in the other distances. Not too shabby.
This will be our (my, husband Kevin, and friend Kevin) fifth year running the race. Pretty sure that calls for an extra post-race beer.
The past years have looked something like this:
2008: Just happy to be done with my first double-digit race and still wearing non-wicking A-line undershirts, apparently.
2009: PRs all around. Beers and a scary rendition of "YMCA" to follow.
2010: We ran, we had more beer, we danced with the random woman who was wearing gold loafers. Gold. Loafers.
2011: The Crim Crew expands to 11 friends (some not pictured and/or born) and we leave another 10 miles behind.
With The Crim, you come for the race and stay for the beer. Along the way, be sure to:
- Stop for a beer and a Krispy Kreme at the notorious Cashew Point, a bar near mile 4 that will be celebrating its final year as a Crim landmark
- High five the drunk college kids as you run through the Kettering University campus
- Leave some guts behind on the Bradley Hills
- Lust over the Miller Road mansions during mile 6
- Stand next to one of the Kenyan elites at the after-party and offer him or her a green card in exchange for some free coaching/running tips
Running the Crim in Flint is so Pure Michigan, and a must do for every runner, Michiganders and beyond (even Tim Allen says Flint is Pure Michigan).
There surely is something to be said about pounding pavement on your home turf, supporting local economies and all of that.
Anyone else running the Crim this year?
How do you support your local running community?
I think your blog broke the Crim site. Too popular for your own good. I wish I could but I can't. It looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteAWESOME POST! I feel the same way about the Manchester Road Race Thanksgiving day in my home town; it's capped at 15,000 and even more people jump in on race day! THOUSANDS line the streets, play live music, dress in costumes and run in loin cloths (That's naked squirrel guy). Safety man directs us around some dangerous curves, and we all politely decline the beers being handed out by good wishers...beer DURING the race is a ROUGH ROAD! Glad to see others loving their local races. I'm going to check application status right now for this year's race...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a fantastic organization with great races! Krispy Kreme and beer? Sign me up! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that you've raced this so many years in a row. I've yet to even run a race twice!
ReplyDeleteWas supposed to run the Crim last year, but my Grandfather passed away just a couple days before, so I wasn't able to attend. Looking forward to it this year. I think I'm going to design a shirt which honors him to wear at the race. It will be "Big Willie Style"! :)
ReplyDeleteCan't think of a better way to show love for your g-pa than at the Crim! Have a good race, maybe I'll see you there!
DeleteI've run it twice but decided on North Country half this year but I'm sure I'll be back. It's a great race.
ReplyDeleteI love run local New Jersey races and I always hit up my favorites year after year. I love the Great Swamp Devil 15k run in October and can't wait to do it again this year. I so wish I could run the Crim 10 mile and nothing is better than Michigan (says the girl who was born there :) ).
ReplyDeleteOoo, I didn't know you were originally from here? Whereabouts?
DeleteThis year will be my second Crim. I grew up in nearby Lapeer and have always had this race on my bucket list. I used to see commercials advertising for the race and both my track coaches ran the race so I had to try it. My favorite part of the race is all the people lined up to cheer everyone on (and turn on their sprinklers so we can cool off).
ReplyDeleteThe sprinklers are definitely awesome. Such great crowd support at this race! If we bump into each other, I'd love to meet you!
DeleteI have never run the Crim but my dad has several times! Enjoy it - you are going to kill it this year!!
ReplyDeleteThis will be my third Crim and I love it too! I haven't ever stuck around for the after party but definitely need to. Have a good race :)
ReplyDeleteThis should be your first year for the after-party. It's amazing!
DeleteMy sis and I are trying to run in every state, we'll have to keep Crim in mind for Michigan, sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI love the local running scene - so much that I started a blog to encourage the one in my hometown :) Every year I like to do a mix of new races and old favorites. The closest big city to me is Philly and the Philly marathon is near and dear to me (in week 2 of training as we speak!)
That's really cool of you to do! Love supporting the local race scene. The Crim would be a fantastic Michigan opportunity!
DeleteWhat a fun group! I never did this one when I lived in Michigan, although it sounds great. I'm excited to be running the Detroit half again this year - last time I ran it was 2009.
ReplyDeleteLove the Detroit half! Very fun course. Good luck!
DeleteThis will be my first Crim, doing the 10 mile but seriously thinking of tacking on the 8K and perhaps 5K after. Looks like Im in for a blast! Thanks for the awesome post!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, that's awesome! I've never thought to do that, mostly because I'm very excited to drink beer immediately after the 10-mile. Have fun!
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