Kiertzner talks about Crim Race

Deb Kiertzner, race director for The Crim Fitness Foundation, was the featured speaker at the Eastside Business Association meeting May 4. Kiertzner praised citizens and city administration for their support.

"If there is one thing the people of Flint have done well for the last 35 years, it's their support for the Crim Race," Kiertzner said.

In 1977 Michigan House Speaker Bobby Crim and his assistant Lois Craig initiated an event to raise awareness for the Special Olympics. They called it the Bobby Crim 10 Mile Road Race and 570 runners participated. Since then, people have rallied to support the race in unprecedented numbers. Today, the Crim Fitness Foundation has evolved into a highly regarded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affecting the lives of thousands.

The Crim Festival of Races is the largest running event in Michigan.

"We had 16,000 runners participate last year," Kiertzner said.

According to Kiertzner, the Crim is more than a race. It's a running program that fights obesity in local schools, trains adults to engage in more healthy lifestyles with the CrimFit Adult Training Program and champions families by supporting efforts to improve parks, ensure safe routes to school and strives to make Flint streets more bicycle-friendly.

Runners World Magazine praised the event in an article in their Dec. 2006 edition saying: "This year's running of the Crim Festival of Races was the 30th anniversary of an event whose host city opens its doors to the world and welcomes its runners with open arms, even as the city itself struggles in its own race to recover from difficult times. The most amazing thing about races like Crim is the support the community brings to the event and the rich history that fills the atmosphere. It is as if the people lining the streets are still cheering for the greats of yesterday."

"You have to see downtown on race day," Kiertzner said. "Stand at the start line with me and 50,000 people and you will see our city at its best."

Kiertzner said the UM-Flint economics department did a study to determine the economic impact the race had on the local economy.

"In 2007 the university estimated that revenues from the race generated more than $10 million dollars," Kiertzner explained.

Kiertzner learned about the Crim when she was battling cancer.

Eight years ago her doctor recommended she participate in a physical training program in addition to her cancer treatments. She ran the 8 kilometer race and crossed the finish line taking with her a renewed sense of accomplishment and well-being.

Today, the Crim Fitness Foundations works with local hospitals, businesses and nonprofits while continuing to raise money for the Special Olympics Michigan.

Kiertzner introduced Janell High, volunteer director, who recruited over 3,000 volunteers last year to man the race. High, recognizing the reduction in public safety personnel in the city, recruited motorcycle clubs to help with safety issues during the event.

High also organizes the fun zones for kids with attractions like free petting zoos, bounce houses and treats.

Kiertzner said there has never been a major safety incident during the race — although a baby was born to one of the runners who had to be transported to a nearby hospital.

Call High at  (810) 235-7461 to volunteer. Visit www.crim.org for more information or to register for any of the 11 events.

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