When I moved to the Cincinnati area a year ago, everyone told me I needed to run the Flying Pig.   I was not sure if I really want to run it or it, but I signed up.   When the weekend came, I was not sure if I was going to actually run or just go to the expo, pick up my runner’s packet and then talk myself out of the race Sunday morning.

After work on Friday, I went to the expo and got my packet. During the expo something strange happened, I became excited about the race.

Sunday morning I headed to downtown Cincinnati for the race … ran … and set a personal record of 2:17:17!!!

THE EXPO …

The Expo was one of the biggest that I have been to. There were a ton of vendors and it was one of the best race expos I have attended.

I started by picking up my bib and all the goodies.   Besides a bib and t-shirt, all runners received a poster and backpack.

After I had all of the race goodies I went through the aisles of vendors.   The Flying Pig had a shopping area, sponsored by Asics with commemorative marathon items. I picked up a t-shirt and stuff “flying” pig.

There were also booths for all of the local running stores and running related products.

The expo also had a good mix of informational vendors, giving samples away or promoting upcoming marathons or runs.

The other thing I really liked about expo was how everything was all in one big room, there was a places for people to talk/hangout and all of the pig décor.

This was a neat social experiment …
I fly with the pig because  …  TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT I CAN DO ANYTHING!!!!

HALF MARATHON …

Sunday morning, I left our house super early thinking that parking would be a problem in downtown Cincinnati, but it was not. I actually ended up getting a little nap in the car before it was time to head to corals. The parking garage we choose to park in was perfect because it allowed Allyn to have the prefect spot to see the race begin and take a few early pictures.

The course was filled with lots of hills and bridges.

This was probably the hilliest course I have ever run.

What I loved about the race was all of the people that lined the streets and were cheering on the runners.   From band, to nursing home residents, to community organizations, there were people everywhere cheer on the runners.

The hardest part of the race for me was mile 10 to end, as I was coming down off the highest part of the course, my feet wanted to run fast, given we were going down hill, but my upper legs and hips didn’t want to. In fact, I ended up walking the last mile because upper leg muscles were not happy. I think one thing that gave me extra boost at the end was all of supporters cheering as you neared the finish line.

I did manage to run the last quarter of the race and run across the finish line.

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I was not planning to set a PR and was totally shocked when I discovered my time was 2:17:17. My goal was to finish within 3 hours. Honestly the race just went by really fast. All I remember at one point is seeing marker for mile 8 and wonder how I got that far.

My biggest mistake of the race was that I kept my jacket on. I should have taken off and handed it to Allyn when I passed him. Instead I kept my jacket on through the whole race, I think by the time I crossed the finished line I was over heated.

There were tons of goodies to eat for the runners just past the finish line. The one thing I really like about the finish line area is in addition the normal backdrop for finishers photos, they actually had pigs that you could take your picture with.

 

There was actually an after party, which lasted well into the afternoon, but we didn’t hang around for it because we had other obligations in the afternoon.

The Flying Pig has become of my favorite races.   The course was great and there was lots of support on the sidelines, which made it a great race to run. In the coming years I might make it a goal to do the 3 or 4 way challenge, which includes the 5K, 10K and half marathon / marathon.