Posted: July 15, 2004

Athletics: Crim Festival of Races Launches Crim Fitness Challenge

FLINT, Mich. - (July 12, 2004) - To help area residents - as well as family and friends who may be out of town - break away from unhealthy lifestyles in ways comfortable to each individual, The Crim Festival of Races has launched The Crim Fitness Challenge.

Consider the following sobering stats:
* Only three percent of Michigan residents follow a healthy lifestyle.
* Michigan is number two in the nation for obesity.
* On average, an inactive Michigan adult spents $1,175 more on health care in 2002 than their healthy counterparts.
* Four of 10 Americans get no exercise at all.

"Don't be one of these statistics," encourages Crim Festival of Races Executive Director Sherlynn Everly.

The Fitness Challenge, Everly says, is an opportunity for friends, families and co-workers to team up to "walk or run away from the unhealthy statistics."

The year-long "friendly" challenge encourages teams of runners and/or walkers to reach a monthly goal of 167 miles.

"The best thing about this program," says Everly, "is that teams can work on this at their own pace and on their own schedules. They don't even have to run or walk at the same time. They just need to keep track of their total mileage." Since teams are working on a monthly goal, people can join in any time during the year.

The registration fee for the Challenge is $40 and includes a T-shirt, free entry into a local Riverbend Striders-sponsored race, a special reception during Crim week and a commemorative Crim pin, discounts on Crim wear, a specially designed summer singlet, free entry into the New Year's Resolution Run with a celebration afterwards and a special gift upon completion of the year-long challenge.

For registration forms and complete program details, call The Crim Festival of Races, (810) 235-3396.

On August 28, The Crim Festival of Races will celebrate its 28th running on the historic bricks of downtown Flint. Since 1976, it has grown to be the largest three-day running festival in Michigan, attracting the finest distance runners from around the world, and winning acclaim and respect throughout the international running community.

The Crim Festival of Races is USA Track & Field sanctioned and is a Running USA Founding Member. The Road Runners Club of America named The Crim as one of its Twenty Great Races Across the Nation in 2002, and Running Times recommended The Crim in its May 2004 issue, "Summer Race Guide - Classic Races".

For more information about the Crim Festival of Races, call (810) 235-3396 or www.crim.org.