This was an epic race to run a half-marathon. So much fan support in all miles of the race in the pouring down rain this year. Each fuel stations had … MORE
This was an epic race to run a half-marathon. So much fan support in all miles of the race in the pouring down rain this year. Each fuel stations had plenty of water and Gatorade. Some had energy treats or papertowels to dry off. It was raining so much I was unable keep my head up enough to enjoy the scenery. The aid station at the end of race were very good at noticing runners distressed. They got me warm, gave me energy (fluid/food), took my blood pressure and explained what happened. There is alot of walking depending on where you park if attending events on Saturday (watching races, spending time in Smale Riverfront Park, attending the Expo). You must make this a full weekend event – you don’t want to miss anything happening on Friday or Saturday. Lots of fun with all the vendors and sponsors life size plowups. Lots of photo opportunities. Make sure you have a camera or your phone is fully charged. Improvement: Speaker at start of race needs be loud enough or more speakers so all runners clear to back of the pack can here the announcements and National Anthem. At the finishers line, there needs to be better signs on where stuff is or someone to direct you. I missed two different items – one I had mailed to me. The aid station people at the end of race mentioned a Family Tent to meet up with family which did not exist. Many vendors at the Expo ran out of items to buy or handout. The Pig Works app needs to mention all food vendors, what they are offering and prices. I would highly recommend this race to anyone wanting to do 1mile, 5K, 10K, Flying Piglet, Kids, PigAbilities, FlyingFur, Half-marathon, Relay or Full Marathon. This is the best race for 50-State Half-marathon Club in Ohio. The Swag was awsome!! (poster, shirt, backpack, magent, mylar blanket). The Expo and Smale Park had so many things to do, free handouts and Flying Pig things to purchase. Well worth the trip from Texas for this event no matter what the weather conditions were!!
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Epic 3-day events and Half-marathon race
This was an epic race to run a half-marathon. So much fan support in all miles of the race in the pouring down rain this year. Each fuel stations had … MORE
This was an epic race to run a half-marathon. So much fan support in all miles of the race in the pouring down rain this year. Each fuel stations had plenty of water and Gatorade. Some had energy treats or papertowels to dry off. It was raining so much I was unable keep my head up enough to enjoy the scenery. The aid station at the end of race were very good at noticing runners distressed. They got me warm, gave me energy (fluid/food), took my blood pressure and explained what happened. There is alot of walking depending on where you park if attending events on Saturday (watching races, spending time in Smale Riverfront Park, attending the Expo). You must make this a full weekend event – you don’t want to miss anything happening on Friday or Saturday. Lots of fun with all the vendors and sponsors life size plowups. Lots of photo opportunities. Make sure you have a camera or your phone is fully charged. Improvement: Speaker at start of race needs be loud enough or more speakers so all runners clear to back of the pack can here the announcements and National Anthem. At the finishers line, there needs to be better signs on where stuff is or someone to direct you. I missed two different items – one I had mailed to me. The aid station people at the end of race mentioned a Family Tent to meet up with family which did not exist. Many vendors at the Expo ran out of items to buy or handout. The Pig Works app needs to mention all food vendors, what they are offering and prices. I would highly recommend this race to anyone wanting to do 1mile, 5K, 10K, Flying Piglet, Kids, PigAbilities, FlyingFur, Half-marathon, Relay or Full Marathon. This is the best race for 50-State Half-marathon Club in Ohio. The Swag was awsome!! (poster, shirt, backpack, magent, mylar blanket). The Expo and Smale Park had so many things to do, free handouts and Flying Pig things to purchase. Well worth the trip from Texas for this event no matter what the weather conditions were!!
Did not disappoint despite the weather
FP is a must do race, even if it's one and done. I've now completed the first 3 legs of the relay and the Half Marathon. I plan to run … MORE
FP is a must do race, even if it’s one and done. I’ve now completed the first 3 legs of the relay and the Half Marathon. I plan to run the 4th leg of the relay next year. It’s an experience but don’t expect a PR. As with Disney races, you should go to enjoy the experience. Eat all the snacks, take all the pictures. Yes, there is one h3ll of a hill, but you just have to push through it. It’s just as long on the downhill side which helps you make up some lost time. Hopefully the weather this year was one and done.
Fantastic first marathon experience!
I traveled from the Chicago area with my family to run the Flying Pig as my first marathon. The thunderstorm in the first few miles had me worried that the … MORE
I traveled from the Chicago area with my family to run the Flying Pig as my first marathon. The thunderstorm in the first few miles had me worried that the race would be canceled and I was happy to be able to keep running. I couldn’t believe how many spectators were out cheering even through the worst of the storm! The crowd support was amazing, I loved having aid stations every mile, and it was overall a great experience. Apart from the marathon, we loved exploring Cincinnati with great meals out, a Reds game, and a visit to the zoo. A really fun city and race!
A great race (even in terrible weather)
Crowd support is top notch even during a severe thunderstorm. Aid stations are plentiful. Kudos to the race director for making a difficult decision and communicating race morning that all … MORE
Crowd support is top notch even during a severe thunderstorm. Aid stations are plentiful. Kudos to the race director for making a difficult decision and communicating race morning that all things were a go. I had a blast again running this race!
Pig Party
This year's race got a lot of attention because of the weather, but the more important details are what runners can expect in other years. At the top of the … MORE
This year’s race got a lot of attention because of the weather, but the more important details are what runners can expect in other years. At the top of the list is the fantastic spectator support. They went well beyond cheering by decorating, being in costume, playing fun music, and setting up extra aid stations.
The course has some hills and all the tougher ones are in the early miles when your legs are still fresh. Keep your effort level from spiking and save some energy for later. I discovered the finish area was like a buffet line, with lots of items from the sponsors, especially Kroger and the local LaRosa’s Pizzeria. After you’ve gotten your medal and post-race goodies, you can relax in Riverfront Park, a beautiful place to rest, recover, and take photos.
Two more important details: The expo was bigger than most and shows great sponsor support. Access to the start corrals was very well-controlled. When I started running, there were no problems dealing with slower runners getting in the way or faster runners pushing through. Everyone around me was at the same pace.
THE BEST
I’ve run at least a half marathon in all fifty states so I’ve done the research for you! For road marathons, this is THE BEST. The expo is great, the … MORE
I’ve run at least a half marathon in all fifty states so I’ve done the research for you! For road marathons, this is THE BEST. The expo is great, the aid stations are ALWAYS there and plentiful, the food at the end is great and there until the marathoners are done, and spectators—- they rock the whole course and are they’re there literally rain or shine. Sign up in May and you can get the full with some other distances (4 way) for less than you’ll spend on just a half marathon with other races.
Great first-time marathon experience
This was a great experience for my first marathon. On the plus side, this huge event is extremely well-organized, with great volunteers, a challenging course and tons of enthusiastic community … MORE
This was a great experience for my first marathon. On the plus side, this huge event is extremely well-organized, with great volunteers, a challenging course and tons of enthusiastic community support.
Organizers couldn’t control the weather, so I don’t hold that against them, but their response to the thunderstorms in the first 30-45 minutes left a bit to be desired. If you don’t delay the start of the race, it’s going to be impossible to “pause” it once you’ve decided conditions might be dangerous after all. Plus, if you announce to runners it’s “paused,” shouldn’t the clock be paused? Those of us who actually stopped and managed to find shelter in downtown parking garages got an extra 10+ minutes on our finish times but were no less soaked than the thousands who just kept running. Maybe our risk of a lightning strike was a bit lower for those 10 minutes? Hard to say. This is an eventuality for which this otherwise incredible race needs a much better plan in the future.
On the bright side, the rain and cloud cover kept me cool on the course, and once the storms had passed the run was a pleasant experience. Support from fellow runners on seeing my first-timer back bib was an extra motivator. Great expo, great swag and great city. I strongly recommend the Flying Pig, but keep an eye on the weather and the organizers’ plans for it in the future.
Risky Race Day Decision
This will be a race to remember. I enjoyed most of my experience running my first full marathon. However the decision to start the race with severe weather approaching put … MORE
This will be a race to remember. I enjoyed most of my experience running my first full marathon. However the decision to start the race with severe weather approaching put too many runners, spectators, volunteers, law enforcement at risk. They should have delayed the start. A lot of confusion on the course when they tried to stop the race and have runners shelter in place, but they didn’t stop the clock, and many runners kept going. I made the decision to keep going, but the adrenaline was going, I shouldn’t have had to make that decision.
Craziest Race
I've run a lot of races in other states and this one is top notch. You can't beat the Expo, SWAG, or crowd support. The weather was the craziest I … MORE
I’ve run a lot of races in other states and this one is top notch. You can’t beat the Expo, SWAG, or crowd support. The weather was the craziest I have ever run a race in, but that didn’t deter volunteers and spectators. Be prepared for hills during the first 10k, but then enjoy the downhills of the second part. Definitely suggest this race!
Rain can't stop us!
The weather was pretty terrible but I was blown away by how many people still lined the streets to cheer us on. This was my first Flying Pig experience and … MORE
The weather was pretty terrible but I was blown away by how many people still lined the streets to cheer us on. This was my first Flying Pig experience and I ran the anchor leg of the relay. Training was really tough for me and I had not yet successfully run the distance I needed. However, the energy and excitement of the day was amazing and I blew away my expectations. It almost felt easy! The aid stations were plentiful and fun and the community feel of the whole weekend was stellar. I loved seeing the teams of people pushing some in wheel chairs. Definitely will run again! Props to those who ran through the monsoon.
Fun Race! Must do Bucket List Race
Super fun race. Lots of entertainment. Great scenery. Fantastic crowd support. Plenty of aid stations. Cool expo. Amazing swag, Can’t ask for better! MORE
Super fun race. Lots of entertainment. Great scenery. Fantastic crowd support. Plenty of aid stations. Cool expo. Amazing swag, Can’t ask for better!
Awesome Beginner Race
This race is really cool, especially if you are new to running or racing. Everyone dresses piggie theme appropriate, the vibe is very fun and low stress, and the medal … MORE
This race is really cool, especially if you are new to running or racing. Everyone dresses piggie theme appropriate, the vibe is very fun and low stress, and the medal is AWESOME!
More than a race, it's an experience.
The Flying Pig always shows up as a Top 10 marathon to run, but once you experience it, you realize it is the best running experience out there. Make no … MORE
The Flying Pig always shows up as a Top 10 marathon to run, but once you experience it, you realize it is the best running experience out there. Make no mistake, the stars of this race are the volunteers and spectators. Us runners simply get to humbly experience them as we run past. I was never alone during this race. The number of spectators is shocking, as is there uniqueness and volume, and aid stations are plentiful. There is plenty of support out there for the weary runner.
The expo is quite extensive and generous, with packet pickup quite easy. Staying in Newport or Covington is convenient, walking across the Purple People bridge bright and early to easily get to the start line. The course is reasonable, reflecting the Cincinnati landscape, with scenery matching the typical urban race. A stretch of hills miles 5-8.5, pretty flat to downhill after that.
The handling of the unprecedented monsoon this year will draw criticism from some. They got lucky, especially avoiding hail conditions; ideally, they should have delayed the start 45 minutes, sheltering runners beneath the stadium, and it would have avoided some of the questionable parts. I presume they did not have police support through the afternoon for the marathon route, so didn’t delay start……so if there’s something to learn for future years, that’s it. I actually enjoyed the storm.
This was by far my best race ever. Not a PR, due to age, but the best experience I’ve ever had out on the course. It was truly remarkable the number of spectators weathering the storm for us runners. Running through downtown in a torrential downpour, cheered by thousands of fans, as I headed for the hills, was more than enough adrenalin for me. Surreal.
A weekend when you can take in a Red’s game, visit Hofbrauhaus in Newport, watch the Kentucky derby while in Kentucky, and then run a memorable race. It happens the first Sunday in May. Thanks, Cincinnati.
Beautiful course
Beautiful course, but those hills seem to go on forever. The steep downhill at the end is nice but doesn’t quite make up for the pounding. The crowds, even in … MORE
Beautiful course, but those hills seem to go on forever. The steep downhill at the end is nice but doesn’t quite make up for the pounding. The crowds, even in the pouring rain, were amazing and uplifting. I look forward to running it again without the torrential downpours
Underrated Marathon
Great race in the most underrated city in the United States. Good organization throughout the whole process - expo, pre-race, race, post-race. Course is a bit challenging with a significant … MORE
Great race in the most underrated city in the United States. Good organization throughout the whole process – expo, pre-race, race, post-race. Course is a bit challenging with a significant hill climb starting after mile 5 – mile 7. Scenery is great and the crowd support is strong relatively speaking (not Boston Strong, but good support throughout the majority of the course with Mariemont section (miles 14 – 16) being the best). Weather can be nice and pleasant or on the warmer side (early May in Cincinnati can vary quite a bit). First 8 miles or so are combined with half marathoners and there are A LOT of half marathoners for this race (~5,800 full marathon runners vs 13,000+ half marathoners). Course becomes very spaced out after the split around mile 8. Rejoin with half marathoners for the last mile of the course, but good separation between the two races (marathon on the left, half marathon on the right). Finish line (or “swine”) is phenomenal setting right after the historic Roebling Bridge. Only major complaint is that half marathoners will merge to the left into the marathoner’s post-race recovery area as they make their way to scarf down a free slice of LaRosa’s pizza. I look forward to running the course many more times in the future.
Hesitant
The race director's announcement at the start was very weak. Either decide to run/cancel the race or not: don't be wishy-washy about the major weather events. The race should have … MORE
The race director’s announcement at the start was very weak. Either decide to run/cancel the race or not: don’t be wishy-washy about the major weather events. The race should have been delayed or cancelled. I still ran great but I will not do this race again with the decision-makers for 2023 at the helm.
Great Race~
This was my first and only marathon. I chose to run the 25th Flying Pig to celebrate my 60th birthday. The rain couldn't stop the joy of the race. I … MORE
This was my first and only marathon. I chose to run the 25th Flying Pig to celebrate my 60th birthday. The rain couldn’t stop the joy of the race. I actually loved running in the rain. I didn’t love running in the heat and humidity for the last long stretch along Riverside but I survived!
I can’t wait to do this again!
My experience is a bit of a one off because of the intense thunderstorms during the final race of the challenge. The course flooded a bit and made things slow … MORE
My experience is a bit of a one off because of the intense thunderstorms during the final race of the challenge. The course flooded a bit and made things slow but the course support even in a thunderstorm…. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!
Overall the events were well organized, support was amazing, post race festivities were top notch. And now for the race swag…. Wow! Just wow!! The expo was the best I have been to in ten years.
I will definitely be doing the challenge again next year and extending my trip a day so that I can partake in more post race festivities after the final race. Shockingly great experience even though my race times were terrible.
Amazing Experience!
Hills in Cincy are no joke, but train for them and you’ll be fine. You get a mix of running in the city and then through suburban neighborhoods. Pretty views … MORE
Hills in Cincy are no joke, but train for them and you’ll be fine. You get a mix of running in the city and then through suburban neighborhoods. Pretty views help, crowds cheer when views are lacking.
Aid stations are at every mile. Some were themed and volunteers were dressed in costumes, etc—lots of food along the way so you can “pig out.” Crowd support was top notch.
They really go all out with pig theme!
The race swag from the expo was awesome!! I got a free first time marathon shirt, a backpack, a running belt, and tons of Proctor & Gamble samples.
I definitely want to go back and do it again.
Best race day experience in Ohio
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 … MORE
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!!