Race walkers starting at White Building in 2006
Those who participate in the Crim Race Walk will find themselves starting near the White Building, the newest building on the University of Michigan-Flint's campus. The location is closer to the other events offered as part of the Crim Festival of races on Friday.
The last big change for the race came in 2001, when the race walk moved from Saturday to Friday and from the Crim's 8K course to the track at Michigan School for the Deaf. Organizers hoped to boost turnout with the move to MSD In an effort to turn around dwindling participation.
In racewalking, competitors aren't allowed to run. Basically, when a walker's front foot touches the ground, the knee must be straight and they aren't allowed to pick up their back foot until the front foot touches ground. There must be contact with the ground at all times. Contestants are disqualified if they are caught with rules infractions by three different judges.
Click here for 5K race route.
Awards for the top racewalkers have been handed out
since 1994. Here are the winners for 2001 to 2005:
Men winners
Women winners
Men winners
| 2001 | Dan O’Brien | 23:27 |
| 2002 | Rod Craig | 23:46 |
| 2003 | Rod Craig | 23:54 |
| 2004 | Dan O’Brien | 25:09 |
| 2005 | Leon Jasionowski | 25:46 |
Women winners
| 2001 | Debbie Topham | 30:39 |
| 2002 | Debbie Topham | 28:22 |
| 2003 | Lynette Heinlein | 30:30 |
| 2004 | Debbie Topham | 29:00 |
| 2005 | Debbie Topham | 29:36 |