Finding My Strength: Crim 2023 Race Recap
Going into the 2023 Crim 10-miler, I wasn’t too confident in my training, or lack thereof. I had been running somewhat consistently since February, but my miles hadn’t been high. The longest run I had completed was 8 miles two weeks ago. I knew that if I could run 8, I could do 10, but as we all know the Crim is notorious for hills, especially the back half of the course. So going into race day, I wasn’t super confident about my ability to complete it well.
starting line at the 2023 Crim 10-miler
The morning of, I was actually excited. I had a lot of trouble sleeping the night before, so I was extra tired, but my dad makes strong coffee so I knew I’d be okay. Getting ready was rough, I had sat drinking coffee and scrolling on my phone for too long that we were leaving in 10 minutes and I hadn’t started getting ready. I popped into the bathroom to change and do my hair, but there were 5 of us getting ready and I kept getting kicked out of bathrooms (lol).
Once it was time to leave, I felt nervous, but ready. I had to braid my hair in the car and once we got to the race, threw my Asics Kinvaras on (have reallllly helped with my plantar fasciitis pain over the past few weeks) and headed to the starting line.
I had plenty of time to warm up before the race started, but I rushed through it so I could see my dad start. Yesterday was his 33rd Crim 10-mile IN A ROW. Yep, he’s badass. The 30 year runner club starts the race 10 minutes before everyone else does to honor their achievement. After seeing dad start, I walked to find my corral.
After the gun went off, the butterflies went away and I felt right at home. Miles 1-4 I was looking for dad because last year I caught him around mile 4, but I never passed him which made me think I was running slower than I thought I was. The first few hills, before mile 3, made me question how this was going to go. I got nervous that I didn’t train enough and the humidity didn’t help– I felt like I hadn’t hydrated enough for it.
With my nerves on high, I rounded the corner to the big hills, known to us Flint natives as the Bradleys. These hills are notorious because of how steep and long they are but also that they are back to back halfway through the race. These hills can humble even the most experienced runner. To my surprise I shuffled up the first one pretty easily. I walked through the hydration station at the bottom to get some gatorade in before conquering the next one. Once at the top of the second, I walked again to catch my breath. That would be the last time I stopped the entire race.
Miles 6-7 were rolling hills and I wanted to walk again, but instead slowed down because I knew if I walked more, I’d be more likely to stop later on. As I approached mile 7, I noticed my dad was just a few yards in front of me, so I focused on getting up to him. I caught him and we chatted about the humidity, complained that the drink stations weren’t consistent where the gatorade was placed, then at mile 8, I took off again.
I was determined to finish strong and tried to pick up the pace, but my knees were really starting to ache. I rounded the corner near Powers Catholic High School and knew I was close to the last mile. Just a mile. That’s it! Not much left, just a mile, that’s so little compared to how far I had already gone, I told myself. I picked up my knees, shaked out my arms, and pushed the pace. I passed the White Horse Tavern, the last drink station, the county jail, then rounded the corner to the bricks. My knees were aching but I knew I was almost done. I shook my arms out one more time, focused on keeping my head up and flew down the bricks. I saw my family and was so happy to almost be done.
This race was tough for me, mentally and physically. It’s the slowest Crim I’ve run, but it’s the strongest I’ve felt. Despite my lack of dedicated training for this race, I realized how strong I am and that I can run a good race even without proper training. Don’t count yourself out of the race before it starts.
Next up, the Detroit half marathon in October!