Half A Lifetime

There are a number of things that people have spent at least half of their life doing. Many adults have likely spent at least half of their life in the same occupation, or perhaps they have lived in their home for half of their life. When it comes to running many runners have spent half of their life enjoying the sport of running, but when it comes to races few have spent half their life running the same race!

The Reasons

Thousands of runners begin their 10 mile journey through Flint at the start of the Crim 10 Mile event.

This coming Saturday, August 26 in beautiful downtown and around Flint Michigan I will be running the Crim 10 Mile for the 36th time in my 71 years here on planet earth. When I mention this to people the question I often hear back is why? What is the attraction? along with many variations of congratulations of course. So, why and what?

For me it’s a very personal reason. I grew up in the Flint area after my family moved from Royal Oak, Michigan to Grand Blanc in February 1964. I was in the middle of 6th grade and came from a very strict Catholic school setting to a public junior high school. The Beatles were appearing on the Ed Sullivan show for the second time the same day we moved. It was also Valentine’s Day weekend. Trivial, but facts nonetheless that I have always linked to our move. At the time, no one would have suspected how much the social and political order was about to dramatically change forever. I didn’t know it at the time, but my world was about to change as dramatically for the balance of my life too.

Young Lee, second grade, Guardian Angels school, Clawson, MI

I’ll spare the many details of my new life as a young teen and the adjustment to attending a public junior high school and simply say that it was not an easy transition for me. But it was actually running that helped me greatly to adjust to my new way of life. For it was one day in gym class, in May that I gained the respect of my classmates when I out sprinted one of the fastest kids in our class. Then later the following spring (1965) I actually not only “made” the junior high track team but actually did quite well in various events! This is when I knew that running was “my” sport.

University of Detroit School of Architecture, 1974, just prior to receiving my bachelor's degree.

I also believe I owe an obligation to Flint for being able to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an architect. The Flint Chapter of The American Institute of Architects honored me with a $1,000 scholarship to start my college career at the University of Detroit. Difficult to believe in these days of higher education but this amounted to nearly one third of my total freshman year cost! Then later during my grad school years I was honored again with another $1,000 that made a huge difference in allowing me to obtain my Masters of Architecture degree, also from U-D.

It All Started in 1977

The race’s namesake, Bobby Crim competing in the very first Crim 10 Mile, 1977.

The offices of Nelson, McKinley, Reed, & Associates. January 1977 and my first job with an architectural firm following graduation. My desk was at the second story front window. The office was on Grand Traverse about a block away from the Crim finish line.

Fast forward to 1977 this was the year of the first Crim 10 Mile race. It was also the year that I started my first full time position within an architectural firm, Nelson, McKinley, Reed & Associates. Coincidentally their office was also located in downtown Flint about a block away from the finish line of the Crim. Yet, I had no idea or knowledge of any kind that there was a 10 Mile race. Running during my college years and shortly thereafter was very intermittent. Afterall the “Running Boom” and running as a sport for regular people was still in its infancy. It was not until a few years after getting married, moving back to the Detroit area, and starting a family did I begin to run regularly and enter various races. I credit joining the Novi Trackers Running Club for this.

It was actually through the Novi Trackers back in 1983 that that I learned about the Crim. I simply felt an obligation to return to my running roots and enjoy the Flint area. Back then the race started on the campus of Mott Community College and not very far from St. Joseph Hospital. This was special for me. As 1983 started, I was visiting St. Joe’s ICU along with my family as we watched my father pass away from us. He had just suffered a second heart attack within several days. I remember this juxtaposition vividly as I stood at the Crim starting line and have been heart conscience healthy myself ever since.

Crim Innovation

The Crim has also been known to be very innovative and introduced many new and unique ideas into road racing. From inviting and paying world class runners to compete back when such was very controversial to innovations with finish line scoring including the first chip timed race, excellent local TV coverage, hosting a pre-race expo, to post race party, and much more the Crim was always special.

Members of the 30 Year Club. The gentleman in the white shirt and tie is Billy Mills! The only North American runner ever to win Gold for the 10K in Olympic competition. He shared his memories of his victory and how his Native American spirit guided him to victory!

Perhaps the most unique innovation was establishing the 30 Year Club. 16 years later is still unique to Crim. On the 30th anniversary of the Crim back in 2006, race director at the time Deb Keirtzner, honored 21 runners who had run every single Crim 10 Mile. They were each recognized to the many thousands of runners competing that day just ahead of the official race start. They were also given a 15 minute head start on the field of thousands runners. This tradition has carried on each year by recognizing runners who will be running their 30th or more Crims. The original club has also spurred 35, 40, 45, year runners and a handful of runners who have run every single Crim 10 Mile! This year the club’s membership will reach 253 runners who have run at least 30 Crims.

My induction into the 30 Year Club, class of 2016. Steve Kenyon and Bill Rogers assisting the Crim race director. I could not resist giving Bill Rogers a bit of running advice !

It was then that I realized I had ran 20 Crims so I started my countdown to joining the 30 Year Club. It took another 10 years. In 2016 I proudly joined the 30 Year Club which also was the 40th anniversary of the Crim. There to help celebrate the event was the winner of the original Crim race was Great Britain’s Steve Kenyon and an also ran from that first year by the name of Bill Rogers. Included in my class of 2016 30 Year runners was the man who started it all, Bobby Crim.

My Goal

There is nothing like finishing strong down the bricks of Saginaw Street after 10 grueling miles.

About a week or two after each Crim I set my goal for the next Crim, some 50 weeks or so in advance. In recent years I have overcome several significant roadblocks to even competing. Everything from a non-running related knee surgery, a fractured foot, and this year a very serious infection that drained my strength for nearly six weeks. Fortunately, each of these events have occurred in the spring of the year and I had an opportunity to get in shape to at least compete. One needs to also have an annual streak of good luck to remain healthy each year too!

My condition earlier this year totally drained my strength, and I was not able to resume any reasonable amount of training until late-June. Nonetheless, I was consistent, slowly built my strength back, and most recently managed to include some longer and faster runs. So, I am confident I can complete the 10 miles once again and I simply want to finish somewhere near my time from last year.

At 71, I am very grateful for simply being able to continue to show up to race 10 miles each 4th Saturday of August in Flint. I realize many of my age range are not able to do so. My longer-term goal is to continue to my 40th and ultimately 50th Crim, God willing of course.

Members of the 30 Year Club receive a head start on the field of elites and thousands of other runners. So, I took full advantage back in 2016 and led the way! Well, at least for a while.

I hope to see you running along side me this year (if not passing me by), or at least part of the crowd support. If you are not a Michigan runner, I encourage you to put the Crim 10 Mile on your bucket list of races.

My younger brother Keith (on the left) finally caught up to me in the 2005 running of the Crim!

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Please check back in the days following this year’s Crim to see my results and race report.

Coach Lee

The Crim Is Coming, The Crim Is Coming !!

Introduction

The Crim 10 Mile Road Race is perhaps the best 10 Mile race in the entire world! What makes it so great is it’s heritage, the organizers, supporters, volunteers, runners, and all of the people of Flint Michigan!

You can’t truly understand what it means to be from Flint unless you have lived there. I did spend much of my adolescence and early adult life growing up in the area between 1964 and 1977. The Flint Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded me with scholarships that made it possible for me to realize my life long dream of becoming an architect. I likely never would have been able to pay my entire way without their support. The Flint area is also where my running career as a middle school runner from Grand Blanc. More on that later.

Thus, the Crim for me represents a very special homecoming. A homecoming event that began in 1984 and continues through this day. About 10 years ago, I was enjoying my “second” glass of wine one evening and started to write an email to my running buds about how to run the Crim course. It has evolved into an annual publication titled “Touring The Crim Course” . Each year there are unique edits.

This year rather than sharing to a limited number of running friends, I choose to publish sections of this report every day until Crim week. This is the first of such posts as I guide you with some background and along the first mile. Be sure to return each day as I continue to guide you each mile. I hope you will enjoy.

Members of the 501 Running Club line up along the Bricks of Saginaw Street for pre-race photo. Note that everyone is smiling at this point in the morning!

Pre - Race

Normally the pre-race events start for me about a week in advance. I follow the event’s website, enjoy a mild taper, and travel to and from Flint Friday to attend the expo. Race morning begins while most normal people remain in their dream state. I awake hours before the race, enjoy my coffee, toasted bagel with PB and jam, get dressed in my race gear, pack my food and race goods into a bag and head out to meet other runners from our Running Fit 501 group to caravan from Novi to Flint. We arrive in downtown Flint before sunrise and just as the race grounds begin to awake.

If we are lucky, the weather is clear, cool, and dry. However, this is Crim weekend and the weather is rarely ideal for running a 10-mile world class race. Traditionally the weather is hot, sunny, and very humid. Nonetheless, many world and American records have been set for the 10-mile distance on this now prestigious course.

This is perhaps the best place in the racing world to people watch for there are all types of individuals all with one thing on their mind, either finishing the race or to watch their family member or friend finish a race. While this part is fun, it’s also time to get serious. Runners need to continue to hydrate and that of course leads to the inevitable trip to the port-a-john. Get to one soon for it may not be the last time to need to use one! Somewhere about this time you will also be hearing several reports from the PA announcer. They will welcome you to the Crim and remind you who the sponsors are. In the midst of this you will also be aware of the first official start of the Crim 10 Miler. The wheelers will be the first to start a full 30 minutes of your start. This is always an inspiring moment to witness. I highly recommend you find your way to the starting line to experience this event and get your blood flowing a bit before you start your warm-up. 

Next up are the true elite runners, those who will be running their 30th Crim or more! New this year new to Crim will be the first ever class of 40 year runners!  19 inspiring runners have participated in every Crim race since the first back in 1977. This group of special elite runners will be honored with a 15 minute head start ahead of the thousands of other runners. I am very honored and proud to join this group for the first time too! It seems like just yesterday that I was counting down the final few years until I could join this group. Now I can claim being a member of the 30 year club and looking forward to running my 33rd Crim. Think of it, how many other clubs have a 30 year waiting list? 

Perhaps one of the most important things a runner can do prior to a race such as Crim is to warm-up those cold muscles. There are plenty of opportunities to jog along the city streets that parallel Saginaw St. Mix some slow running with a few quicker strides, stretch a bit, get loose, get your heart rate up, and then find your place in your starting corral at the last possible moment (3-5 mins ahead of the start).

A cast of thousands cross the starting line for a journey through Flint on the 4th Saturday of each August.

The Start

After weeks if not months of training there you stand in a crowd of people on the bricks of Saginaw St. between the Citizens Bank Building and the Flint U-M Student Union.  Several years ago they started the race in waves. This means the elites and faster runners (approximately 7 mins per mile pace or better) are the only ones who now actually start at the official start time. Other runners will be held back a minute or two for each corral or group of corrals. There is very little time and distance between each wave. It will not take long for the entire mass of 10,000 or so runners to blend as one long parade line running through Flint.

The weather is probably sunny with a bit of an over cast, deceptively humid, and warm. Not to bad for the 4th Saturday in a Michigan August. The air is still as the PA announcer finally realizes there is nothing more to say, nobody left to recognize, and turns the mike over to Riley McClincha to sing the nation anthem. There may be a hot air balloon over the near horizon, perhaps a television helicopter, and certainly at least one drone hovering above you!

Finally the Mayor of Flint will ask the runners and walkers to get ready, pause, then announce the runners and walkers to START. The gun! or more accurately the horn sounds! You begin to move from a being anxiously still for the past 10 - 20 minutes or so to a mild shuffle that quickly turns into a walk, a jog, and a slight run. Before you know it you are stepping over the chip mat, you click your watch, the crowded field begins to disperse, and you are a Crim participant!

Being a participant is nice, but you want to succeed! Success in the Crim is a very individual measurement. Whether it is to simply finish without walking, win a medal, set a PR, or even a national record makes no difference, it’s all about knowing that you achieved your best today! To help you achieve your best the following is a brief outline of what to expect, perhaps suggest a strategy to attain it, and hopefully help you celebrate your Crim success!

The start of the 2017 Crim. As a member of the Crim’s 30 Year Club, we receive a 15 minute head start on the field of thousands! A truly unique experience!

Mile 1

Despite the shoulder to shoulder start, you will want to be sure to line up on the right side of the street. Within the first two hundred feet or so there is a traffic island barrier in the road. you will remain on Saginaw St. for the first quarter mile and then the course will take a 90 degree turn to the right. If you take the left side of the traffic island you will be adding unwanted distance to your very first mile. It may not sound like much but the Crim course gently winds in many places and you need to run all of the tangents as efficiently as possible to help ensure your best finish time.

Think of the first turn in the route as a giant hair-pin turn for before you know it you will make another 90 degree right turn and head once again over the beautiful Flint River as you run south along Harrison St. That 9 story tall office building on your right brings back many memories for this writer as I was the project architect for the State Office Building in 1980-81 and oversaw much of the construction activity as well.

Harrison St. parallels Saginaw St. and will offer the opportunity for spectators to line the street and cheer you along the start of your Crim adventure for 2019. The newer route no longer crosses over Saginaw St. where the crowds previously gathered, but like earlier years, you need to be very careful along this part of the route and not to get too excited, avoid any adrenaline rush, and keep running nice and relaxed. It’s very OK, in fact it is even very smart to run slower than your intended pace at this point in the race. Begin to work your way to the left side of Harrison as your next turn is onto Kearsley St.

Kearsley St. also brings back many fond memories for this writer for where the route turns left once stood the old Palace movie theater. I saw many movies here as a kid, the last one being “Woodstock” way too many years ago. Kearsley was also the name of a Flint area school that was the nemesis of my high school track and cross country teams, again too many years ago. Like years fly by, so will you along this portion of the route. It is straight with a very gentle slope that you will likely not perceive but one that will affect your pace. Keep relaxed, the cheering crowds are likely to extend along Kearsley St., the border of Flint U-M’s campus as you begin to approach the 1 mile mark.

Take this mile easy and relaxed.  Remember 10 miles is still a long way and you likely did not have much of an opportunity to warm your muscles, including your heart!  Focus on being relaxed, don’t work too hard by passing too many too soon. The crowd will soon begin to spread out. Keep your head up and look ahead at the mass of runners, look for how the mass will turn, you will want to move to the side of the street where the next turn will move you. Smart racers focus on running the shortest distance possible!  Be aware of the next tangent ahead!

Before you know it you are out on the wide open Chavez Dr. you approach the one mile mark.  Odds are that you will run your first mile faster than you would like too, do not fret too much, this is a race and the beginning of mile 2 will quickly reel you back to reality.

Thanks for following me this first mile, be sure to check back tomorrow for Mile 2 !

Coach Lee