Crim Legends
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Bobby Crim: Could not have anticipated what would happen to his idea of putting on a race in the district he represented as Michigan's Speaker of the House.   He thought Flint would be a great place to organize a world class race, raise money for Special Olympics and foster community pride and cooperation. "I was so moved by what I witnessed at a Special Olympics meet at Flint Kersley High School that I knew I had to do something to help these kids." The Crim raised $70,000 in its first year with just 750 runners competing. By year seven $175,000 or 20% of the state budget was raised.

Bobby Crim has competed in many of his own events, often doing it while helping others. For several years Bobby was tethered to a blind runner. One year in he ran it blind folded to gain some insight into his friend's experience.

"I remember finding out too late that our first race was set to start at noon.   As a runner, I knew that in late August this was crazy, but all of our information had already gone out. I was impressed with the way the area embraced the race and how it has turned into a weekend long festival of running events that is the largest in the state."   The Crim has a full time staff that recently secured a three year $500,000 grant to help develop its kids and fitness programs. Many area kids can no longer attend physical fitness classes. Currently the Crim enables 10,000 children to participate in a fitness program through the Ruth Mott Foundation.

The Crim now boasts participation numbers reaching 15,000 while helping six other local charities.   It has not compromised its desire to feature elite runners and has annually been ranked as one of the best ten mile races in the world by virtually every running magazine.

Greg Meyer - Ran the race numerous times but only won it once in 1978. It was his first major road race after college. "Outside of winning, my strongest memory of the Crim was 1981 when the race had to decide whether to enforce the "contamination rule" of the TAC (now USAT&F) or to ban those of us who had accepted prize money at the Cascade Run Off earlier in the summer.  Bobby and Lois treated this as a union effort, and sided with the athletes who had made a stand for open prize money.  When the Crim became the first major road race not willing to ban those who had accepted money, it opened the door for open competition between amateur and professional...and ultimately lead to the elimination of "amateur" from the Olympics. The Crim, without knowing it, changed the course of road racing and track and field in the world."  

Steve Kenyon, Bolton England: " I still remember that the thrill, as if it were yesterday, of being asked to run in the USA for the first time. I was lucky because Ron Hill was unavailable. Amazing to find out I was running against Bill Rodgers after reading about him in all the UK running magazines. I ran nine Crims, missing one for injury and one because of the professional ruling. Best memory was setting the course record that stood for nine years. I retired from running after my last Crim in 1987."

Bill Rodgers, " Was totally dehydrated before I started the Crim in 1977. I was winning many of the major races at that time, but every year I faced formidable competition at the Crim including great Michigan talent.   My best memory was breaking the US Masters 10 mile record in 48:38."

Lisa Rainsberger (formerly Larson/Weidenbach) - "Crim was my first breakthrough race. It was between my sophomore and junior year at Michigan. I road the bus from my parents home in Battle Creek to Flint and shared a room with Karen Hubbard. Everyone was surprised by my third place finish. Later, of course, I went on to win it three years in a row and set an American record. I'll miss coming up this year. I'm committed to competing in the prestigious Hood to Coast relay (195 miles). It's our fifth year. I was recently back in the area for induction into U of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. (Rainsberger is the last American women to win the Boston Marathon in 1985. She is also known for missing the Olympic Marathon team three times in a row by one place between 1984 and '92)

Herbert Lindsay: " Was disappointed not to be invited to the first few Crim races. Didn't compete at Crim until I moved to Boulder, Colorado. Race director, Lois Craig was a good listener and worked to expand the field and attract a wider and deeper field of top runners including Michigan runners.   My first race was my most memorable because of it featured a long awaited showdown with "King of the roads", Bill Rodgers and my longtime contemporary, Greg Meyer.   It was my chance to show what I could do. The race became part of a string of road racing victories that spanned a 2 year period where I seldom lost.    

"I remember 1981 when the UK runners made an 11th hour decision to not race, fearing they might be ruled "contaminated" and unable to represent their country in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games or other international competitions representing their country.     It was disappointing since I was ready for a strong challenge from Nick Rose who I respected greatly after he beat Steve Prefontaine at the NCAA cross country championships."

The 30th Crim will be run on August 26th, 2006 in downtown Flint, Michigan. For more information about the Crim Festival of Races visit http://www.crim.org

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226