Welcome back to the fourth installment of “Touring The Crim Course”. I hope you enjoy.
Mile 4
If you like long essentially straight routes you will love miles 3 and 4. Mile 4 along Chevrolet Ave may have a gentle bend to it. You need to mentally prepare to run straight line and not become focused on your tired legs. There is a reason they are feeling tired now, beyond the obvious, Chevrolet is also a very gentle but seemingly constant rise to the next turn at Cashew Point. It also is not perfectly straight either! About mid way, if you are paying attention and know how to run tangents properly, there is an opportunity to save a few strides here too!
Cashew Point, this is perhaps one of the more recently famous turns in all of road racing? This is where in the past the tradition was that you were offered free (and likely warm) beer to wash down that Krispy Kreme you had! But following the 2012 Crim it was announced that the homeowner at this famed corner was going into retirement and 2012 was his last year. The thousands of devoted Crim runners missed this thrill. However, Cashew Point returned in 2014! Be prepared to be greeted by a rowdy crowd, enjoy the crowd for after this point (no pun) the race really begins and you need to rely upon your mental strength too!
This is also the point at which you want to begin to regain your stride and pace for as you turn the sharp left corner you also begin a very welcomed downhill! It is a very subtle downhill so you might otherwise miss it, but trust me, this is an excellent point to gain some time!
Look forward to mile 5 tomorrow and thank you for following my posts, I hope they will be of help to you on race day.
Coach Lee