Crim
post helps Flint woman expand her influence in
running world
A student internship first brought Laurie J. McCann to the Crim. In 1987, the political science major at the University of Michigan-Flint put information on a new office computer.
McCann, who would become events director in 1992, spent a 10-week internship as assistant to then Director Lois Craig.
After her internship, McCann was given a consulting job to complete the computer work and became the race's events director in 1989. The Crim began to grow before McCann's full-time involvement and continued to experience swelling numbers under her direction.
The Crim increased its entry totals eight straight years, going from 6,437 participants in 1988 to 14,565 in 1995. The Crim expanded from a 10-mile race to two events in 1987, four in 1988, five in 1990, six in 1991, seven in 1992 and eight in 1994.
In addition, more peripheral activities have been staged in downtown Flint to make the Crim a weekend-long event. For instance, McCann is credited with taking a lead in developing A Taste of Foot fest and children's activity ten.
The Crim's first and only fatality occurred in 1994 when a runner collapsed, and organizers soon had a crisis plan that included health tips given to runners, McCann said.
She resigned the director post in 1996 to pursue other opportunities on the national running scene. McCann had become increasingly involved as a consultant for other national road races. That, combined with the pursuit of a master's degree in American culture from the University of Michigan-Flint, began encroaching upon her full-time duties with the Crim she told The Journal in 1996.
``It's worked out well. The Crim's allowed me a transition from the local to the national. I love putting on a community event, but its fun working on national races.''
McCann went from full-time race director to a free-lance consultant, helping with product distribution, souvenir sales, public relations and marketing at other races.
The 1972 Fenton High School graduate also did advertising and product-promotion with American Runner magazine.
Bill Khan and Bill Dissa, Journal staff writers, and Lisa Allen, contributing writer, contributed to this report.
A student internship first brought Laurie J. McCann to the Crim. In 1987, the political science major at the University of Michigan-Flint put information on a new office computer.
McCann, who would become events director in 1992, spent a 10-week internship as assistant to then Director Lois Craig.
After her internship, McCann was given a consulting job to complete the computer work and became the race's events director in 1989. The Crim began to grow before McCann's full-time involvement and continued to experience swelling numbers under her direction.
The Crim increased its entry totals eight straight years, going from 6,437 participants in 1988 to 14,565 in 1995. The Crim expanded from a 10-mile race to two events in 1987, four in 1988, five in 1990, six in 1991, seven in 1992 and eight in 1994.
In addition, more peripheral activities have been staged in downtown Flint to make the Crim a weekend-long event. For instance, McCann is credited with taking a lead in developing A Taste of Foot fest and children's activity ten.
The Crim's first and only fatality occurred in 1994 when a runner collapsed, and organizers soon had a crisis plan that included health tips given to runners, McCann said.
She resigned the director post in 1996 to pursue other opportunities on the national running scene. McCann had become increasingly involved as a consultant for other national road races. That, combined with the pursuit of a master's degree in American culture from the University of Michigan-Flint, began encroaching upon her full-time duties with the Crim she told The Journal in 1996.
``It's worked out well. The Crim's allowed me a transition from the local to the national. I love putting on a community event, but its fun working on national races.''
McCann went from full-time race director to a free-lance consultant, helping with product distribution, souvenir sales, public relations and marketing at other races.
The 1972 Fenton High School graduate also did advertising and product-promotion with American Runner magazine.
Bill Khan and Bill Dissa, Journal staff writers, and Lisa Allen, contributing writer, contributed to this report.
‘‘It's rewarding to be involved with a special event. It's more than a race. It impacts the community. It makes people feel better about Flint. There's awareness that the event is helping charity and youths, not just the runners.’’
