This month we are featuring a long time Circuit runner as our Circuit Runner of the Month. If you have run a few races on the Circuit this year you have probably seen him out there running proudly in his CARA Ambassador singlet. He’s the one and only Lynn Crim!
We chose to feature Lynn this month not only because of his history with the Circuit, but because of his consistency. Lynn has run every race on the 2019 CARA Runners’ Choice Circuit so far!
Get to know Lynn:
How many years have you participated in the CARA Runners' Choice Circuit?
I’ve been participating in all of the 20 years that I have been a member.
Why do you enjoy participating on the CARA Runners' Choice Circuit?
I love meeting and seeing all of the other competitors in the Circuit both the Age Group and Clydesdales. I push myself harder at these races than I do at non-circuit races. I feel a sense of brotherhood with my fellow circuit racers that I do not have anywhere else in my life. I generally do 40 races a year and the Circuit races are by far the best.
What is for your favorite local race?
I love races operated by running groups so my favorite local races are the Cary March Half Madness, the Alpine Races Half Marathon, Oak Park’s The Good Life Race, and Elmhurst 4 on the 4th. However, if I’m going to pick one it’s CARA’s Wintrust Lakefront 10 Miler.
How did you get started in running?
I started running after high school (’77) but stopped when I started having kids and I went back to get my MBA. I got back into running in 1999 when I joined CARA and started participating in the Circuit. At that point I weighed 230 pounds and now I’m at 185 pounds.
What are your running goals for this year?
I am focusing on finishing first in my Clydesdale Division, so that will get me into the CARA Hall of Fame. I am also focusing on getting into the Tokyo Marathon in 2020 which will complete the Six Majors for me. This Bank of America Chicago Marathon will also be my 16th Chicago Marathon and 29th overall marathon.
What advice would you offer runners who need motivation to keep running through the years?
Focus on the goals. The Circuit is a great way to rev up your running. I also just turned 60, so I love competing in a new age group and not competing with the speed demons in the 55-59 group.
Lynn is very familiar with the CARA history. When we asked him if he had anything else he wanted to share, he told us this:
My mother ran the first six Chicago Marathons (or whatever it was called back then) and she was one of the 2% of females that finished. She was very proud that the Naperville Sun listed her as the fastest female from Naperville. At one of her marathons, I met and talked to this group of people that were wearing these black armbands. They were protesting the late start time (11 a.m. I think) and it was also run in September. It never occurred to me that these were bad conditions to run a marathon. These people were the ones that started CARA as an advocacy group for the Chicago runners.
He’s right. And how cool to have that memory of the original CARA members. Thanks for sharing, Lynn. We’re wishing you continued success with the rest of your Circuit races this year!
The CARA Runners’ Choice Circuit is a great way to experience the Chicagoland running community.
You can run as an individual, or race with your local club. Runners of all levels annually participate in CARA Circuit Races to complement their year-long training programs and to enjoy the camaraderie of the CARA running community. Runners can earn competitive awards for themselves and their clubs, as well as participation awards for completing Circuit races.
Here’s the remaining schedule for 2019:
July 28 Randy Walker Memorial 5K (Evanston)
August 11 BTN Big 10K (Chicago)
September 07 Itasca Oktoberfast 5K (Itasca)
September 15 Alpine Races Half-Marathon (Lake Zurich)
October 13 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Chicago)
October 26 Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase 5K (Lake Bluff)