The 2004 Crim Festival of Races
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

This weekend, you can experience one of the most exciting race events in Michigan: The Crim Festival of Races in Flint. There is an event for just about anyone who wants to get the heart pumping -- from the hilly 10 miler to a one-mile fun walk.

The 28th edition of the festival won't be short of the international competition who have dominated the winner's circle in the past ten years as Kenyan Patrick Nthiwa is expected to line up wearing bib No. 1. Other world-class standouts who should be at the front of the pack include Samuel Ndereba and Linus Maiyo. Leah Malot, Ramilia Burangulova and Tatyana Pozdnyakova will add star power to the women's field.

Last year, more than 6,500 competed in the 10-miler, the second-highest total ever. This year, more than 10,000 already are signed up for one of the nine races and there could be 15,000 by race day. The future looks even brighter. Thanks to a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Crim Board of Directors has embarked on a strategic planning process that it hopes will lead the Crim nonprofit organization to more than double the involvement of its participants in the coming years.

Unfortunately, the group will move on without the guidance of Sherlynn Everly, six-year executive director of the Crim. Everly will leave at the end of 2004 to coordinate, among other ventures, the Running Rocks After School Project that seeks to create a nationwide campaign promoting fitness in young people.

Everly was instrumental in adding new events and enhancements to the Crim. She also generated broader support from the surrounding area of Flint and improved media coverage. She joined the Crim training program to start running herself and is the first female board member of RunningUSA, a trade organization for the running industry.

Thursday is the official opening of the three-day Sport and Fitness Expo. At 3:30 p.m. Friday, Runner's World columnist John Bingham will share his humorous thoughts on the back-of-the-packers. Later, runners can join the Crim food festival, the Pasta Party to benefit the Shelter of Flint or watch the Special Olympics invitational.

The races include: Friday -- 5K judged racewalk, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday -- Crim 10-miler, 8 a.m. (wheelers 7:30); 8K, 9:30 a.m. (walk 9:45); 5K, 10 a.m. (walk 10:30); mile, 11:45 a.m. (walk, 11:50); Teddy Bear Trot, 12:30.

There's still time to register, just go to www.crim.org .

After Saturday's 7:30 a.m. start, spectators pack the streets of the Bradley Hills and Saginaw Street to catch the action.

Look for the red, yellow and black jerseys of the Hanson's Distance Running Project. Almost 20 men and women will be representing the team including top Olympic marathon trials finishers Brian Sell, Clint Verran and Carl Rundell.