Adam Lucken's Staging Area

If you’re running your first half or full marathon, I can’t think of a better place than Cincinnati. The course admittedly is not the flattest or fastest, but the amount of support from all the fans that attend, as well as the support from the volunteers, makes this a CANT miss race! I think the Flying Pig really captures the essence of what makes Cincinnati great, and shows how supportive the city is for each other. Rain or shine, we’re there for each other.

As for the race, while there are plenty of hills, there are also down hills that I believe even out the race. I think the hills sometimes get overhyped as an issue, and can mentally discourage people from accomplishing a great goal!

The post race party at the riverfront is also really phenomenal! So much food and beverage to choose from, and is a great backdrop of the city for pictures!

Packet pick up also is a very smooth process, with lots of great vendors there to show support, and offer great running gear at affordable prices. I especially like the free snacks provided by Kroger! The runners get a free backpack, shirt, poster, and magnet. I think the backpack might be worth it on its own. It’s so nice to have a perfect for holding running gear or extra clothes post race!

Overall, the flying pig is my favorite race of the year, and one I constantly come back for. It’s great for all experience levels, and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to accomplish their goals, and have a lot of fun while doing it!!