Great event and highly recommend this marathon if you want some hill work. Little rainy but so well run! read more

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - Great event. Finish line! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Fantastic race. The course is hilly but the uphill is early, giving lots of nice rolling downhills from mile 8.5 on for both the full and half. The entire city comes out to support the race, which is really great. Aid stations were plentiful, well stocked and had great volunteers. Three improvements: 1) Marathon finishers jacket pick up should be located closer to finish - perhaps near baggage bus. Way confusing to find for post-race brains. Plus shoving through family/friends over and back wasn't fun. 2) Post-race food was amazing but would be even better with addition of chocolate milk or muscle milk 3) Hotel shuttles should have had separate runs to KY hotels and Cinci hotels and should have left more frequently than every 20 min. We could have hobbled back to KY faster. read more

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I loved everything about this race, including the perfect weather! First of all, there are races for all abilities. Want to do a 5k? There's one on Saturday. Only feel like doing a mile? That's on Friday night. Feeling super ambitious? Try the Skyline Chili 3-way or 4-way where you can complete the 5k, 10k and a half or full marathon. You even get extra swag for being crazy lol. Expo: Expo was easy to access with plenty of nearby parking for a small fee. I would like to see all the race items located closer to the packet pick-up. Some people (like me) want to shop at the expo. Others just want their packet, shirt, etc and want to go. Having all this close to the packets would cut down on a lot of people wandering through the expo when all they want is their shirt. Race: While I didn't meet time goal, I enjoyed the race overall. I liked the staggered start. My "pig pen" didn't cross the start line until about 7am. However, being a slower runner/walker, I appreciated that everyone around me was about the same pace and I wasn't having people weave in and out around me. The race crosses into Kentucky and has some great views. The support along the course is unparalleled compared to other races I've done. It seems there was always a group with water, Gatorade or snacks. I got a little teary-eyed more than once from the amount of support the community has for this race series. Finish line: I didn't hit up the victory party but the finish swine had plenty of water and snacks to help recover. The medal is gorgeous and hanging proudly on my medal rack. The swag was awesome and I look forward to using my blanket on upcoming trips. The busses back to the hotels was genius and I definitely took advantage. read more

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Note: I ran the KY Derby Half the day before, so my legs were a little shot on this day, lol. I did the Flying Pig Half Marathon. Expo: Man, I wish I could have stayed longer, but I was on a time crunch. They had awesome photo ops, super friendly staff members, and very cool stuff for give aways! I LOVE the black bag we received for doing the HM/Marathon. We got other swag stuff, but the black bag looked legit. Expo had literally everything posted when it came to race day questions. I was thankful for this because I like to triple check details and ask questions if needed. Parking: I was dropped off, but honestly, their website is AMAZING on where to go, what cash to bring, where NOT to park, etc. I would have felt fine if I chose to drive myself. Atmosphere on race day: It's so cool to see people dressed up, the staff dressed as pigs, and just the vibe in general. It's like a party being kicked off. Course: Holy hills AND bridges. The first 6 miles you will be going up and down. Mile 6 is literally ALL hill. I wanted to kinda die on it, hahah. HOWEVER, when you reach the top, it is absolutely gorgeous. People stopped and took pics. I... had a flight to catch in the afternoon, so I couldn't really look around. But I'm also pretty lazy when it comes to taking race pictures, lol. After Mile 6, there are minor hills from Mile 7 to 9 I think. Mile 6 just took a lot out of me, so after that mile, the other hills didn't seem so bad. Major note: Starting at Mile 10 - All downhill :) Absolutely a God-send. My legs were thankful. Support was pretty great! Weather was pretty gloomy (projected storms) + some rain + didn't get nice till after like 10am... so I was happy with who all came out. If I lived in the area, I'd totally do this race again. read more

Let me set this up properly. We were up at 3:30am and drove down from Tip City to get to the race. We had flown in from Miami on April 30th, and had a good night of rest. Weather was a big concern for the 2016 race. Storms were brewing all around Cincy the day before and morning of the race. And even when we started I already had wet feet after stepping in a few puddles along the way. Plus it had been drizzling prior to the start of the race. Nicole and I were signed up for the full. Dixie (Nicole's mom) and Paige (Nicole's sister-in-law) were signed up for the half. There was a live band at the start of the race and it wasn't that crowded either. Corals, were labeled Pig Pens from A-H and Paige and I were both in Pig Pen A. I told Paige I was going to run under 4 hours and we could run together for the half. After the star spangled banner was sung, the gun went off and I was feeling especially feisty out there and quickly lost Paige as she was running 7:45 average to try to hit her goal of 1:45 for the half. The pace was hovering around 7:20, and I caught up with the 3:15 pacer group, whom I hung with for a mile. They seemed a little slow so I pulled away even though I knew I was out of my element. My last Boston Qualifier (sub 3:15 for my age group) was run in Delaware, back in December 4, and many months had passed since then. And the previous weekend I had run a 50km race, which should have taxed me. Another reason, I had pulled my left quadricep only a week earlier, but it wasn't giving me any problems, and I thought "the worst that can happen is slowing down." I was feeling even stronger than the 3:15 pacers were setting. So I moved on. I was relaxed and feeling especially strong in the first half marathon, completing it in 1:34. The hills, I was warned about, during Miles 6-9, didn't phase me. They were tough but I was ok. I was running through various neighborhoods in Cincy, including Mount Adams, where Nicole and I would eventually visit Woodburn Brewery that wasn't even officially open. The race had plenty of live music for the first 13 miles but the entertainment fizzled out afterwards. The hydration stations consisted of Gatorade and H2O. There was bacon at about MM15 and organize slices, cookies, chocolate kisses were also served throughout the course. After the half marathon I was beginning to feel tired, but I managed good leg turnover and continued to press on, not loosing too much momentum. I took a couple of Advil at MM15 and also did a bathroom break. About MM18 is when I reached a low point and this is when another runner slowly passed me. I watched how he ran and mimicked his quick stride, and this provided me the second wind I needed. People who passed me 2 miles earlier were now falling behind me. I finished 94th (14th in my Division) overall and managed another Boston Qualifying run of 3:12:30. I truly didn't think I had it in me. Nicole also met her goal time. This was my 69th career marathon and 35th US State. For Nicole it was her 31st career and 24th US State. Truly had a spectacular time racing Flying Pig and thank goodness the weather held up! Now I'm on my way back to Miami and will miss my brief stint in Natty! read more

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This is such a wonderful event for all runners, walkers, and spectators! The environment alone is worth making a trip to be part of the Flying Pig Marathon weekend! I who have always been a cheerleader on the sideline took on my first 10k on for the Saturday events. My son and I jumped in to walk with my mother who has been doing it over the past few years with friends. Throughout the entire race there were fans along the way cheering everyone on, providing drinks and snacks, and just overall a great support system to keep everyone going. I then went on Sunday to cheer on my fiance and future sister in-law for the half marathon. This event is by far the best one! You can just feel the excitement in the air. It's a tough course and the weather was pretty warm for marathons. Even with those challenges most all the runners ended with big smiles on their face. It's a great weekend, which I highly encourage everyone to take part in their own preference! Great job Cincinnati!!!! read more

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When I made my decision to register to run in the 10th annual Flying Pig Marathon I was thinking it was a huge event with tens of thousands of participants. It's not that at all. In fact it is a race featuring about 5000 participants, but the course is shared by participants taking part in the half marathon as well as a marathon relay. That makes the marathon appear a lot larger than it is. I'm not disappointed though because this is a well organized event with terrific people, fantastic community support, awesome race volunteers and as mentioned by Jenny A. some of the best race swag of any marathon. Our race registration not only got us the coveted 10th anniversary finishers medal with its hot pink strap, but an Asics brand CoolMax t-shirt, a quality race poster, a race towel and a multi compartment fabric duffel bag embroidered with the race's official logo on it. The race begins at the Paul Brown football stadium and ends near the Great American Ballpark baseball stadium. Included in the rolling course are two picturesque bridges that take you between Ohio and Kentucky, a few parts of Northern Kentucky and a wide area within the city of Cincinnati. Everything on the course was wonderfully scenic with lots of greenery and magnificent architecture. It's a fairly tough course with lots of gradual hills both up and down. I'm a slower runner who likes to run easy and admire the surroundings of which race courses take me, and of the 18 marathons that I have completed this race ranks among the top in terms of spectacular scenery. So many residents and whole communities came out to cheer on the participants and offer delicious treats like Starburst candies, fresh fruit, gummy bears and even cinnamon bread to help us replenish our energy and keep going. Gatorade, water and portable toilets are available at nearly EVERY mile and the course entertainment is magnificent with live bands, recorded music and a senior men's choir who helped to boost our energy with a motivational rendition of God Bless America as we ran past. As mentioned once before the volunteers were tremendous and full of vital energy. I like to show my appreciation and thank volunteers as I pass, and I can honestly say that this is the first race where volunteers returned my thank you by expressing gratitude for participating in their event. Although the race had to alter its course at the very last minute due to a tragic fire at the 22nd mile which resulted in a course longer than 26.2 miles I'm happy to be a finisher in this great race. The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon is certainly a unique race full of fun, beauty and genuine hospitality, and I am so honored to have taken part in this race that I would recommend it to all of my marathon-running friends. read more

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Just finished / survived the hills of the 16th annual 2014 Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon on Sunday, May 4, 2014. This was lifetime# 69 and state #46 on my bid to rock 50 states marathons from Hawaii. I was told that there will be insane hills, but I didn't listen. Didn't think the hills were that bad, but in actuality, it was pretty killer. At least in the first half, it was basically non stop dose worth of hills and then some. It was pretty intense from the get go, but I have an extensive background already, so this is the same distance, just different city. It was my first time to Cincinnati, OH so it was a fun, but challenging time to rock the Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon for my bid to knock off 50 States marathons from Hawaii. The overall experience was personally challenging, but positive one, since I did finish officially, but barely and got lost along the way. The Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon is one of the more popular road marathons and half marathons in Ohio. Everyone in the Cincinnati and surrounding areas in Kentucky embrace the race, as it can attract upwards of 30,000 runners in all race categories. With that said, the marathon expo this year 2014 is housed in 2 separate buildings. Packet pick up was held in a large ballroom in the host hotel, the Millennium. The actual expo is held at the Duke Energy convention center across the way. There is even a sky bridge linking the buildings together. There were many vendors, marathon, running, and non running vendors that would promote themselves to 30,000+ people, myself included. Race fees start at usually $75 and climbs to about $150 on race weekend, so if you want to run this one, get in early and try not to wait till its gets too expensive. Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon attracts running celebrities from time to time. In 2014, I was privileged to find out that Olympian marathoner, Ryan Hall, was going to be there to sign autographs and take photos. Fortunately for me, I had friends who were there and helped me get a photo with him. Whatever distance you decide to undertake, the Cincinnati Flying Pig is one of the hyped road races that just keeps getting better. While I can't really say that the course should be changed, the hills is what makes Cincinnati Flying Pig unique in its own way. The actual course runs through majority of Cincinnati on the Ohio side, but in the first half, the route goes on a bridge and into Kentucky for about a mile. It was smokin'! The first half of the course was basically non stop steep inclining hills through downtown Cincinnati. It was disappointing. It didn't really stop till mile 10 when we crested a park area and in residential areas. From then onward, it increasingly got warm and it got challenging even more. The last half of the course was more residential areas and eventually the marathon ended in downtown Cincinnati, next to the Cincinnati Reds stadium. It would be fun to catch a MLB game someday, but for now, running a marathon in Cincinnati was what I was here to do. New state and that's always amazing! The course support was good and adequate. At mile 4, there were volunteers who dressed up with tacky Hawaiian shirts, plastic flower lei, and hula grass skirts. It was funny, yet weird at the same time. The aid stations were stocked full at every 2 miles, although I did get lost at one point, where the race officials started to pull materials off the course. It was disheartening, but I had help with knowledgable volunteers and marshals. I'm glad that they were there and helped me to the finish line. Ohio is done! Support local! A read more

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This is an updated review based on my experience in 2015. The Flying Pig weekend is pretty much the best race experience I have ever been a part of. 2014 was great and so was 2015. This year I decided to challenge myself a bit by running the Flying Pig 3-Way Challenge. This includes a 10k race, a 5k race, and a half marathon. The 4-Way Challenge replaces the half for the full. The 10 and 5k races take place on Saturday in the am, 8am and 10am. The half goes off with the full on the following Sunday morning. I don't need to go into much depth about everything as much of it carries over from my previous review. The expo was different this year. It was not set up in a snake like pattern. It was an open floor plan, allowing you to go from booth to booth as you so choose. Plenty of vendors and free goodies. If you are running a challenge you get three of everything. Bag, shirt, poster etc. There is a separate area for you to pick up your bib which doesn't require you to go to each race pickup spot. Now on to the races. The 10k and 5k start at pretty much the same place. These races have corral assignments but they are not strictly enforced. This could be good and bad. For me it was good during the 10k race as my bib listed the incorrect corral. I should have checked this at the expo but it wasn't a problem as I simply went to the A corral I should of been in at the front. This does create a bad side effect as for the 5k there were a lot of young children, walkers, and other slower runners right at the front with the Corral A runners. This is not only discouraging for some but a potential safety hazard. Runners must duck and dodge slower runners that should not be in front of them at the start of an intense 5k race. All three races share the same finish line. Again, this can be a positive or negative thing. For me I found it mentally tough to see the finish line three separate times. By the third time it was difficult to run the same route and keep your confidence towards the finish. In general the courses are well laid out, there are going to be some serious hills, and there are plenty of water and aid stations placed throughout. This is my single gripe that needs to be addressed. Course mile markings and time clocks need to be improved. There are mile markers but they can be difficult to locate at times. Second, they need to add more time clocks throughout the race. Perhaps I am spoiled from running races in Chicago but definitely for a half a full marathon it is pertinent that you know what your pace is compared to the official time. Through the last 3-4 miles of the half I was unaware of how far I had gone, how much further I needed to go, and what my relative time was. Recovery items, food, drinks, etc., were better this year. There was a lot to choose from and you could easily fill up bags of stuff if they were provided. I think it was good that they did not give people bags and only allowed them to take what they could carry. Too often people take more than they should. As a 3-Way finisher I receive three medals, one for each race, and an additional fourth medal that signified completion of all three races. You pick up the challenge medal at the Skyline Chili booth after the half/full marathon. Finally, the Flying Pig weekend is the best race series I have been a part of and I look forward to many more to come. read more

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JUST DO IT!!! There's not much else I can say that other reviews haven't covered, other than to agree that the it's a terrific experience and you should run at least one of the races (5k, 10k, half or full marathon) if you can. This is it's 13th year and it's a Cincinnati institution. The Pig was my third half marathon and by far the best overall in terms of pre-race logistics, race day organization, and post-race festivities. I decided pretty last minute that I was going to run it, so it cost $90, but I still felt it was worth every penny. The race countdown emails were really informative. Lots of training tips, plus parking details, gear check info, and course routes. And the expo was spectactularly huge. Best score: free 6-pack of toilet paper! Thanks P&G! Race day started off with thunder and rain, but it didn't dampen (ba-dum-chh!) anyone's spirits. There were still tons of crowds out cheering, which really kept my morale up through the race. Bless them! The post race food selection was pretty impressive, and I liked that they had recycle/compost bins for banana peels, water bottles, etc. Also, in Sawyer Point they had a huge spread of freebie booths like Glier's Goetta, Vitamin Water, and such. I wear my race shirt all the time because it's so comfy and cute. Love the little tail on the back and how they have a tail on the back of the medal, too. The only very minor complaint I have is the bottleneck between the finish line and the food tents. Since they don't use disposable chip timers (which I again appreciate being good for the environment), you have to wait for a volunteer to cut the tag off your shoe. Other than that, everything else was wonderful. The Flying Pig is a must for any Cincinnatian's bucket list, either participating in the race or as a spectator or volunteer. read more

This is such a fun race and the environment is great!. I look forward to running every year I am able.

I've been running the flying pig half marathon since 2007. I love the energy the crowds brings, running for a cause, and how rewarding it is at the end of the race. I have fun every year! Also the volunteers are so helpful and positive! If you have not ran the pig and thinking about it, please do so. A great experience! I hope someday to run the full. One last thing, I love the posters, tshirts, and bags that come with the package! read more

My wife actually participated in the 10K this past Saturday. She loved it, particularly getting to run around downtown Cincinnati with it being closed off to street traffic. Such a great way to see the city! I myself cheered on the runners from about mile 5. Volunteers did a great job, especially the ones with cookies! The Pig Pens were a great idea also! Way less having to weave around slower runners. After such a good year, I'm planning on at the very least running the 5K next year! read more

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a great group of events. I have participated in the 5k, 10k and half marathon. This is one challenging course. The hills of Cincinnati will defiantly affect your time so beware. That being said--the energy at this event from the expo to race day is insane! You can't beat the Cincinnati pride you feel. If you're from the area (and even if you're not) this is one marathon you've got to check out! read more

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Cincinnati, you impressed me! I would have never considered visiting the city had it not been for the 15th anniversary of the Flying Pig Marathon. It came to no surprise for my friends and family when I told them I'd be running this race. After all, I AM a fan of the oinky animal! Flights directly into Cincy were non-existent from LA so I had to book a connector flight from Chicago into Cincy. That part sucked because I never actually got onto my flight. It was canceled! Good thing a car ride is only 4.5-5 hours away. I participated in the inaugural 4-way Challenge, which consisted of the 5K and 10K on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday. If you did the 3-way, it would be the half marathon. So I guess these challenges are FP's answer to Disney's Goofy and Dumbo challenges. Flying Pig had AMAZING communication with its participants and they did a great job of catching my mistake of ordering a men's size shirt instead of a women's size. They emailed me a few weeks before the race to ask for clarification. I mean, WHO ELSE DOES THAT?! I was super impressed to say the least. However, they also were confusing at times too. As a non-native, I didn't know how far certain landmarks were from one another. Their website had multiple locations for the Saturday early AM bib pick-up and I couldn't get a straight answer about the exact location or whether there would be bag checks. In light of the Boson Marathon bombing, FP took serious precautions by eliminating bag check on Saturday and beefed up security. The 3 races through Cincy and part of Kentucky (yes we crossed state lines via bridges over rivers) was actually really pleasant and NOT FLAT. The hills weren't terrible, but the sneaky ones towards the end of the race proved slightly challenging, which I can respect. Who wants a totally flat race all the time anyway? Anyway, we ran through many different neighborhoods with tons of spectators and entertainment. There were SO MANY Gatorade and water stations, way more than ANY other race I've ever done. LA Marathon should take note! And omg, the VOLUNTEERS (aka Grunts) were sooooo great. They really made the race fun! The finisher medal and other swag are just great! The full marathon medal came on a nice, smooth lanyard and the medal itself is double-sided with two designs. It's quite heavy and can hurt someone. The 5K and 10K medals are smaller versions and could be used as keychains if you take them off the lanyard. I know this isn't a big deal to some people, but you also get a participant tech tshirt, a bag (this year was a large cooler bag), and a poster. If you did the 3-way or 4-way, you get an additional long-sleeved finisher shirt and a plaque with 3 hooks for your medals. I thought it was a nice touch and since I've never gotten a plaque for doing a race, it really stood out to me. Sure, I would have loved an additional medal, but this is just as good if not better! I don't really have any criticism for the race. I wish there were more photographers out there, but I understand that since it was raining, they were probably less likely to stick around for the slowpokes like myself! Speaking of which, when the gun goes off for the first corral, don't expect there to be another announcement for the start of the subsequent corrals. I was late to the start and noticed that once Corral A crossed the start, Corral B went immediately afterward. At other races, there are 30 second to 1 minute pauses to clear the street, but not at FP, which I found interesting and a little distressing at first. Overall, I'd do this race again if I could get myself to deal with the long flights and cost of the everything. The races themselves were relatively inexpensive ($130 for THREE races), but the travel costs just turn me off. Not the fault of FP, of course, but hopefully I can come back for their 20th or even 25th anniversary run! read more

While I am still a bit in pain from the blisters I received from my soggy shoes, I would still walk the half-marathon again, maybe not tomorrow, or a month from now, but next year, when the painful memories have subsided and I am left with the pride of having accomplished something I never thought I could do. Some of the highlights of the race from May 1st, 2011 for me were as follows, and are in no particular order: 1. Watching a bird attack a squirrel 2. The mile-marker greeters with their cheers, signs, and overall encouragement. 3. Learning that for once, something did not need more cowbell, as pretty much every mile-marker had folks ringing cowbells. 4. The kind ladies walking past me who offered me a Clif bar and words of encouragement when I confessed I wasn't sure I would make it. 5. The kind ladies after that who offered me gummis and electrolyte gum and more nice words of encouragement. 6. Watching the marathon runners cross the finish line as I hobbled towards the half-marathon finish line, as folks on the sideline cheered me on. 7. Elvis sighting 8. Spiderman sighting 9. The feel of the rain as it sprinkled in the early stages of the race. 10. awesome swag, including a race tee, a backpack, a poster, and other freebies. and... Turning this review up to 11. getting to do crime right in front of the law: completely permissible jaywalking and littering! The kindness of my fellow walkers really impressed me, the way complete strangers looked out for me since I had told my friends ahead of time not to worry about my slipping behind them as I was certain I would. As it turns out, our fellow participants had my back, and I am so grateful for the help and encouragement I received from people I have never met before, and will probably never see again. So while I'm proud of me for finishing, I'm proud of my fellow walkers for looking out for each other, because honestly, I was not going to make it without that extra help. I am not even going to lie, I noshed the free Ho-hos they had at the end of a race like I'd been at fat camp for a month, and it was glorious. Maybe next year, I'll even get my butt in better shape and actually run the half-marathon, or at the very least, improve my time considerably. read more

The flying pig marathon 2017 was a first for me. I walked the 13.1 in 3:45 min. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this entire experience. The practice, preparation, motivating emails and videos by supporters leading up to race day had me excited. The volunteers who helped to make sure everything ran smoothly were superb. I can honestly say this experience was life changing for me. I lost eight lbs while training each week I walked further and faster than I have ever gone. So, here I am one month after the race headed downtown to conquer Gilbert hill and Eden park. Everyone preparing for the race on this route was friendly, encouraging. I never considered myself to be very athletic but finishing this race and learning to push myself further I am on my way. Pics say it all fun day. read more

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2012 was my first Flying Pig marathon. My sister and I flew all the way from Orlando for the race and were surprised when everyone tilted there head funny when we told them how far we traveled. What can we say? We heard this race was the best of the best, and we were there to see for ourselves! Runners are a crazy breed! The race itself was impressive. Tons of support, plenty of water and gatorade on the course, a variety of eats at the finish line, and the list can go on and on. Coming off of too many RnR races, the Flying Pig was a great change and reminded me why smaller local races rock. You can just feel the energy from the whole town and it's contagious. This is a hilly race, but even this Florida girl was able to PR. Thank you Cincy for opening your arms and welcoming runners to your town. You know how to put on a great race! read more

After a slightly discouraging and hectic Saturday AM picking up my T-shirt at the expo (which took way too long) and nearly missing my brother at the finish line after the 5K, I was concerned about how things were going to go Sunday AM. I had registered for the half. It turns out I had nothing to worry about -- except that lung-busting, ass-kicking 2 miles climb from downtown to Eden Park. Good Lord! Thankfully, the crowd really does help carry you. The course is challenging. But it's also really fun and many parts of it are beautiful, especially the little detour by the overlook at Twin Lakes in Eden Park. Gorgeous! So many things impressed me about this event that I cannot even name them all. But I have to give praise to the most incredible volunteer force I have personally experienced anywhere. Their presence, friendliness, and competence at 5:30 on a Sunday morning is unreal. Thanks a million to each and every one of you! The spectators are fun, engaged, and plentiful. Quite a few of them are also very funny. Thanks to the young lady with the Jesse Pinkman "Run Bitch" sign. The baggage check buses are a godsend. You find your bus near the starting line (which was super easy), hand them your bag, and forget about it! Then, magically, the buses are waiting for you at the finish line! Wow. I got my stuff back in less than a minute! If I cannot participate as a runner next year, I will definitely pay it forward and volunteer. Again, I just can't say enough wonderful things about the volunteer support. read more

Great event; wonderful crowd support; adequate water/Gatorade stations. So much fun!!!! This is my PR for the half marathon (1:38:07)/ full marathon distance (3:21:05)! I did the 3 way this year and finished all three races in under 3 hours, if only just barely! Definitely worth doing! read more

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2014 5k race review: I had such high hopes for this race considering everything I have heard from family and friends who have participated in all kinds of races in the past from the Flying Pig. Packet pick up set the tone at the very beginning of arriving to Cincinnati. It took almost two hours from parking the car to finally picking up our t-shirts in a separate location. We stood in not one but three different lines to figure out where to pick up our packets. Lines were crossed in and out and people were packed in a little room. Chaos was the result. Volunteers had no idea what they were doing. I finally found out that this year they double booked the venue at the Duke. If you knew ahead of time, then you should have prepared for 36,161 participants from all over the world. Parking was easy to find which was a plus but the parking station was out of paper so even the city wasn't prepared with the amount of traffic coming to the city. The race course was challenging and I enjoyed how many people actually participated in just the 5k since for most people, they are just learning to run! The good news was I actually got my PR for this race! When I came to the end of it, I got my medal which I was surprised how very small it was....little bit bigger than a quarter. They gave out cookies, bananas, water and they actually ran out of a lot of treats because so many people participated so there again...not prepared. Overall I have to give this race a low 3 star rating. Maybe in the future I will try it again to give it a second chance. read more

Flying Pig Marathon weekend was truly EPIC! This past weekend I had an opportunity to participate in the Tri State Running Company 5K and the City Dash 4 Person Relay Marathon. Both races were exceptional and pretty well organized. I was blown away by how much support Cincinnatians showed during the race especially during the Relay Marathon. The course was lined up with people almost non stop. Plenty of free mimosas, donuts, and endless high fives and words of encouragement. The race course, especially for the marathon, was stunning! The medals weren't that great. I hope they improve the design next year. If you participate in either race, please be sure read all of the instructions carefully. The race organizers frequently send out updates, but it can be overwhelming. If you participate in the relay, make sure everyone understands where to catch the buses and allow ample time to get to the location. Although it is within walking distance of the start line, it might take 15 or more minutes to get there. Otherwise, wonderful race! Excited about participating again in 2017. read more

I suppose I haven't done enough (half) marathons in my life to really be able to judge where the Flying Pig ranks on the scale of marathons. However, it is my (adopted) hometown and it is also mildly kitschy. Flying pigs are a weird theme for a marathon, and I like weird themes. The course itself is really pretty and takes you through both Kentucky and Cincinnati. It also is more on the challenging side (this isn't a flat course), which could be a plus or a minus, depending on how you feel about hills. Also (and again, not too much experience with this), I was very impressed with how organized it is: it starts on time, the different corrals are well-organized, plenty of water/Gatorade stations and tons of cheering people on the sidelines the whole race. People in Cincinnati really get into it, and I loved seeing people in Hyde Park getting ready on Saturday night to be out there to cheer on the runners. And of course, the most important part: GREAT t-shirts and medals (because all runners know, we do it for the swag, right?) read more

The 2012 Flying Pig was my 10th marathon. It wasn't anywhere near my fastest but that is my own fault for not training properly. Sunday was a hot, hilly day but the spectators and volunteers made this my favourite marathon. Having water stops every mile with both gatorade and water was wonderful. 7 of us ran either the full or the half and we all did the entire thing in tutus. (I highly recommend running in a tutu.) Flying Pig had the best spectator support out of any run I have done and while I had originally run it to check another state off my list, I am seriously considering making another road trip to run it again next year. read more

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I will tell you I'm a local runner so I might be a little biased. BUT I will also tell you, I've ran marathons in 7 other states (working on the full 50!) so I might be able to give a good comparison if you're from out of town. This is probably one of the biggest running events of Cincinnati. I've heard of it (the full) selling out recently (but that's not an every year thing, I don't think). They have many different race lengths, from 5K- 26.2 miles, so even if you don't want to commit to a marathon, you can still partake. The longer distances are on Sunday, shorter on Saturday, and the expo is on Friday and Saturday so they're not too crowded. (These are still really big events, so still expect crowds!) I ran the half once and the full twice. The half is by far my favorite half course I've ran. The full follows the half for the first stretch. Both courses are hilly but scenic in my opinion. The full course goes off into the East side of Cincinnati and comes up through a residential Riverside for the last about 6 miles. This is my least favorite part of the course, there's not much to look at. The one thing I love most about the Flying Pig and inches it over all the other marathons I've ran-- the course support! When I say it's a big event, it's a big event for runners and for non-runners! I know a few people that go just to cheer runners on. And these crowds are pretty spread throughout the course, so even the last few miles you're coming in, you're still getting cheered on. Volunteers are great, organization is great, never had a problem with the expo (but parking for Duke Energy Center might be a hassle for some), overall I think this is a great race for both beginners and established runners of all distances! I like it so much I'm doing the full a third time in May. read more

The expo is amazing! I love the layout and vendors that come. It's just overall incredibly organized. The race is hilly and fun. Definitely one of my most favorite races, done it 3 times! Crowd you run with is also super fun and friendly. Highly recommend this race! read more

This is a very good marathon. I was initially drawn to it due to it's low entry cost when you enter early. It was very well organized and well run event. I have zero complaints. The pre-race expo was impressive. The post-race food was great -- yum, mandarin oranges! Water stops were well spaced and staffed. I am docking it one star because many section of the course weren't very scenic. In fact, the portions along highways got a bit long and there were very few spectators. It would be unfair to compare it to Boston, but the Detroit-Windsor marathon comparison is appropriate and the Pig is a notch under that. For a city built on a river, we never seemed to get close to it until afterwards at Victory Park. That kind of surprised me. One parting thought: If a Cincinnatian tells you your on the last hill, they're probably not telling you the truth. It's a hillier course than even the profile might suggest. read more

Amazing race! The race was extremely well organized. Water, Gatorade and restrooms on every single mile. The course was hilly and challenging but beautiful and diverse. Running through downtown at mile 5-6 was my favorite but also enjoyed the various neighborhoods and running to Kentucky and back. What a great event! read more

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Flying Pig was my first 10K (in 2010) and my first Half-Marathon (in 2011). The weather may be far from ideal on race day, but all of the things going on the weekend of "The Pig" can turn a torrential downpour into a fun, enjoyable event! If you're walking or running in the events, get ready for a great route. A couple of hills and bridges await you, but the view of the Ohio as you cross it twice, the views of KY and Downtown as you run between them, the overlook as you reach the top of Eden Park... it's gorgeous and makes you forget about the searing pain in your quads! Along the route, regardless of the race distance, there are plenty of water stops and port-a potties. There are a number of bands, musicians, and news crews as you run along (including an Elvis impersonator!) and the crowd - though bigger at the start/finish - cheer for you throughout the race. You'd think with 20,000 people running/walking for hours and hours that people wouldn't bother to cheer for strangers, but I had more people cheer for me (as I ironed my name on my race-day shirt) than I could have ever imagined. When you register for the event, you get to go to the expo at the Duke Energy Center to get your packet-o-goodies: a gift (in 2011 it was a backpack), your bib and timing chip, some coupons and other freebies, a poster (which is a different design every year), and of course your free race shirt (also a different design every year). The expo itself can take you hours to go through, if you let it! There are dozens upon dozens of companies selling headbands, shirts, gu/chews, bags... it's pretty much endless. There are also charities looking for you to sign up to run for them in the future and other upcoming races handing out sign-up information. There are raffles and drawings and a large shop just for Flying Pig memorabilia, collectibles, and other nick-knacks. If you're a spectator, there is plenty to do as well. I was fearful that my boyfriend (who has never seen me race in anything more than a 15k, during which he was bored just standing around!) would get antsy and annoyed waiting around in the rain for 2 hours while I ran my race. He told me he had a great time watching the runners, seeing the causes/charities people were running for, listening to the live music, and watching the shenanigans that ensue (there are always people in costumes and funny outfits... and there was a streaker this year!). At the end, there is a mini-expo outside where you can get food, free samples of electrolyte drinks and other products, etc. The only downside is parking. It's expensive and difficult at times. But, with good planning and using the Flying Pig website, you'll be all set. Overall, it's such a great time! I may not have another half-marathon to compare it to (yet!) but for a first-timer, I don't see how it can get better than "The Pig"! read more

What a wonderful event. There is seriously an opportunity for anyone and everyone to get involved. I am amazed at the organization and structure to the entire weekend. Whether you want to walk with your furry friend or compete in the half or full marathon there is an event for the entire family! Rain or shine it is alway a great time. Make sure to get down early to park and get to your event on time! read more

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - Flying Fur Run 2016 - Races & Competitions Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I finally was able to participate in what has become a Cincinnati tradition for thousands of people in the area. This year I walked the 10K with someone and the course was not really anything special or exciting. The weather was cool (on Saturday at least) which made for a pleasant experience. The "grunts" (volunteers) were plentiful and happy to help and had positive attitudes. I might run in this next year, who knows? I certainly love that it brings lots of notoriety to the city and gets people to get off the couch and get in shape. The CDC just released some projected stats that by the year 2030, 42% of U.S. adults will be clinically obese. Geesh! Anyways, congrats to anyone that participated or volunteered for this year's race. read more

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All the races were a lot of fun the only downside I can come across with this year's Flying Pig Marathon for 2018. Is the vendors ever outside in the race area or I mean the Finish Line start area there was the lack of vendors Skyline was there LaRosa's and a couple other food trucks but the LaRosa's Pizza you bought by the slice the sauce was watered down and you can tell they barely put any cheese on it but charged an ungodly amount for a slice of pie! Skyline is there but they set up down by the river or I should say the closest sidewalk by the river very few people went that way so Saturday they stuck it out then I noticed Sunday before lunch they packed up and left so no chili dogs. I'm not sure why they didn't try to get a bunch more food vendors in there considering the race was totally sold out for both days! If the Flying Pig Marathon for 2018 is going to be in Cincinnati maybe next year they can put an all-out bulletin for more food trucks different varieties more things for the kids to do that don't cost the parents a whole lot of money. And the other thing is a lot of grandparents would like to come down and watch watch the race for they can but handicap parking that's something that's very hard to find I think if you're handicapped you should have free parking. But the city charge is a high amount for the parking in there lots, unless the lot attendants are skimming by overcharging. I gave it 5 stars for the race on Lee everything else needed work they needed more vendors like I said better parking for handicap frankly parking should have been free for the Flying Pig Marathon at all Lots! That's all I have for this read more

The Flying Pig was my first half-marathon, and it was a very well put-together event. I finished my 13.1 miles thinking "I'm ready for 26.2!" and ran my first full marathon a few months later. I'll break it down into segments so the awesome things about this race can be highlighted: Registration Easy and online, via Active.com This is super convenient, because when you sign up for the next year's race, you can just login to that account. The Marathon and Half-Marathon aren't the only events, either. You can do a 5K, 10K, kid's run, Corporate Relay, or the Pump 'N Run (which involves weight lifting), or wheelchair race. Between registration and the race The race coordinators are fabulous and periodically send you little motivational emails. It's a great little boost of motivation for your training! This year, the race website features personal training blogs for participants. I'm a fan, and I started one so I can track my progress and keep in touch with other marathoners. The Race Expo I have one word for this: SWAG. I walked out of here with a poster, a tshirt, and a backpack full of goodies, including a Clif bar, a gel, some stay-put hair elastics, and the best sunscreen ever (Bullfrog). Best swag package I've ever gotten in a race, ever. I use that backpack almost daily. Chicago Marathon needs to take a cue from the folks in Cincinnati! The race The race takes place at the beginning of May, so the temperature is almost guaranteed to be perfect - not too hot, not too chilly. As a participant of the 2007 Chicago Marathon (Meltdown), I place a priority on race day temperature, and Cincinnati's in '07 was just right. It's a hilly course. If you come into this not expecting hills, you will be terrified when you realize that the race course goes up Mt. Adams. However, the hills make it interesting, and the view from Eden Park is beauuuuuutiful. There are plenty of fluid stations, just where you need them. The parts of the course where spectators gather are packed, and they're all very happy to cheer you on, but there are one or two "dead" spots - hopefully 2008's race will be more popular (it's the 10th anniversary!). It's super awesome when you cross the Finish Swine - lots of spectators, lots of food and drinks available, and...well, it's a Finish Swine. Adorable. read more

One of the things I like most about racing is getting to experience new cities and towns that I wouldn't normally. When would I ever plan a vacation to Cincinnati? (no offense ;)) But I was SO impressed with how the marathon was put together.. and the ENTIRE town was involved. Most races I do, the locals have little to no knowledge that a race even happened. In Cincinnati, I think every person I saw asked me if we were here for the race. I had a fantastic time!! No complaints about port o potties or aid stations. The course was SO HILLY and I did not PR like I hoped, but it was a blast. I love the pig theme which is evident at every turn and huge crowds for spectators.. even in the rain! Would definitely recommend this race and may perhaps come back! read more

I just completed a second year doing the Flying Pig 10k. This is such a fun race! We didn't run much, just for the photos and down the hills, and you don't have to! There are so many walkers and so many cheerleaders all down the sidelines to get you through. The 10k is great because it takes you over the river and dips down through newport and then back up into downtown Cincinnati to finish up. Afterwards you are showered with tons of free food, but don't just stock up on the fruit and bagged chips! First Watch has been there for at least the two years I've done it with yummy pancakes and muffins! What a great race! read more

Packet pickup was hectic and a bit disorganized and the start was a bit disorganized but overall a really fun event. I ran the full and it kicked my butt. All hills but really a pretty course. What really made the race ware the volunteers (grunts). They were awesome. I thanked as many as I could. I will definitely be back, but probably for the half. Not sure I want the challenge of those hills again for 26.2. read more

This is a very well organized, very fun event. The crowd support especially is fantastic! This is a hilly route but I would highly recommend this as a first race because of the great organization and crowd support. read more

I have run the full marathon and the half marathon many times. Most years it's been a pretty organized race. It is smaller than some other races I have done...by that I mean some years when I have been running I could at points have a good amount of distance between myself and another runner. That can be nice versus some bigger races where it's hard to get to a water stop because it's so crowded. The Flying Pig has grown though..it has finally sold out! It's not my favorite race but that's just because I have run the course so many times and done so many training runs on the same streets. It's hard to compete with some race in a more exotic place. But for someone from somewhere else it could be more exciting! There are some hills but nothing as steep as in San Francisco. The Flying Pig has a good amount of crowd support along the course, which makes for a nice race. read more

I did the 10K and the Half Marathon this year! So well organized! On both days it was awesome! I can't say enough about the festive atmosphere, friendliness, volunteers and thousands of spectators ! How can it get any better? My favorite !!!!!! read more

The Flying Pig was my first full marathon, and it was AWESOME! While this was my first full, I've done many 5K's, 10K's, and half marathons, and this was by far the most organized, enthusiastic race I've ever participated in. The expo was amazing. And the swag was high quality. The best part of this race was the crowd support. There was rarely a point throughout the entire 26.2 miles without a significant crowd cheering us on. I also have to mention the hills. I was worried when I read many reviews about the hilly course, especially the "big" hill by Eden Park. Yes, there are hills. But I did not think they were nearly as challenging as they were made out to be. The hill at Eden Park was what I would consider moderate. It was kind of long (although I've seen longer) with a gradual incline. I live and train in Georgia, so hills are a part of my daily runs. As long as you train at least sometimes on small to moderate hills, you'll hardly notice them in the race. The Flying Pig did not disappoint for my first full marathon. I highly recommend it!! read more