Flint, MI – The Crim Fitness Foundation’s 49th running of the Health Alliance Plan Crim Festival of Races is set to take place downtown Flint, Michigan August 21-22. The Crim has teamed up with Bishop International Airport to bring back a $15,000 elite athlete prize purse.
In 2026, race organizers expect the elite field to grow as the field is already approaching fifty registered athletes. The Crim is offering $3,000 to win for both men and women in the open 10-mile race, as well as prize money for elite wheelers and hand cyclists. Second and third place can win $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
The Health Alliance Plan Crim Festival of Races hosts the historic 10-mile race, but also has a 5-mile, 5K, and one-mile option. Total participation is expected to exceed 11,000 athletes from more than 40 states.
Registration is still open, but elite athletes who are still looking to qualify should make every effort to do so by August 10. Qualifying standards at the 10-mile distance (or an equivalent 10K, 15K, marathon, or half marathon time) are as follows:
Men
Seeded Entry: 55 minutes
Complimentary Entry: 52 minutes
Women
Seeded Entry: 60 minutes
Complimentary Entry: 57 minute
In 2025, Michigan natives Nathan Martin and Dot McMahan won their respective 10-mile races in 46:01 and 55:47, respectively. Registered athletes in this year’s pool will be announced on or after August 7.
Brandon Morgan, Crim’s Director of External Relations, noted, “We were so excited to return to an elite prize purse in 2026 and have been grateful to see enthusiasm for it grow. Having athletes like Nathan Martin, Dot McMahan, and Andrew Bowman at Crim has been great for our race, participants, and spectators. We can’t wait to announce even more exciting developments for 2027 and Crim50.”
For athletes looking to learn more about Crim’s elite field, please visit: https://crim.org/races/hap-crim-festival-of-races/elite.
Registration for all Crim events, including the mutli-event race series, is open at crimraces.org.
###
The Crim Fitness Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, whose goal is to improve the physical, mental, and social health of Flint and Genesee County residents. The organization impacts approximately 20,000 individuals each year through programs including: Crim Youth Sports and Youth Running Clubs; the Crim Mental Wellbeing Initiative; and Crim’s Neighborhood Impact work which includes direct nutrition education, food policy and access, and advocacy for built environmental change.
For more information on the Foundation and the Festival please visit crim.org.
