I have run many marathons and this one is one of the best-organized races I have EVER run. The fans were great and they were all over the place. GREAT support! Good race for a first-timer.

This was my first marathon, and it will be hard to top it for the atmosphere and organization. Could start off on a straighter stretch to disperse the runners quicker in the beginning, but other than that, everything was excellent. Well done Cincinnati!

This is the fourth time I've run this race. For those who complained of the narrow street at the the starting line, let me tell you that the new starting line has been moved to a much wider lane with ample space for runners. The part of the race through the industrial district has been cut to a minimum. The organization has always been impeccable. I have never run in any other races where there were official split times at every mile on large digital clocks. The volunteers at all water stations were fantastic. The fans at the residential areas were awesome. The medal was very cool. This is a pure race for the people as lots of goodies were given to the average runners instead of prizes for a few professionals.

For a race that is only five years old, it is really incredible how good a job they do in Cincinnati. Organization is top notch. Freebies include a t-shirt, very nice inscribed gym bag, beautifully done glossy poster, finishers t-shirt, and one of the best medals in the business. Organization on the course is first rate. Plenty of water stops and Portajohns throughout the course, not to mention gel packs, orange slices, entertainment, and lively spectators. Huge after party. On top of that the weather was nearly perfect this year! The course is no slam dunk. The bridges at mile 22 and 24 are tough. I would say the overall course is about medium to hard as marathons go. The only thing that I can see that will greatly improve this race is to start the relayers 15 minutes behind the marathoners. The start was a little congested and many of the relayers are entry level runners. This is not a good mix.
Bravo to the organizers!

I liked this marathon very much. The course was fair, a little easier than St. Louis and Austin. It went through parks, along the Ohio River, and through some very pretty neighborhoods. The weather was absolutely perfect. The medal was one of the nicest I've ever seen. There were tons of enthusiastic volunteers, including two very nice ladies named Marcia and Mary Jo who took pity on me and drove me the several blocks to my car after the finish. There were lots of spectators on a pretty cool morning.

My only complaint is with the expo. Instead of allowing you to wander among the exhibits, the displays were set up in a single winding row so that you had to pass every exhibit on your way to picking up your shirt. I prefer expos like Chicago and Grandma's and Dallas where you can roam around rather than feeling like livestock (a pig, say) being herded to its final destination.

I had an absolutely great time. The course was challenging and fun. The race organizers did a fantastic job. I would recommend 'The Flying Pig' to anyone who is looking for a well organized race. The early part of the course is hilly but the view at Edon Park was worth the climb. I will be back again next year. Thanks for a great experience.

Forget the topo map and be prepared for the hills. The up-hill section between 5-8 miles is hard but not as hard as the down-hill between 10 and 13 miles. Your legs take a real pounding.

The organization is great and the crowd is enthusiastic. The PIG is an exceptional medium-sized marathon that the entire city embraces. It was a lot of fun.

I ran this marathon for the first time because the Washington D.C. race was cancelled, and I am glad I did it. This is a fantastic race. The volunteers are super and they make you feel welcome. It is well organized, there are lots of encouraging spectators, plenty of support, and the course is not that difficult. The hills are overrated and not as steep as I expected. You can run a personal record here and many do. The Cliff Shot Pacing Team was very helpful. The medal is worth all of the hard work and training you are going to put into getting ready. Also we got two t-shirts, a poster, and a nicely monogrammed flying pig gym bag (which was great). Cincinnati goes all out for this race. Even if there is a 2004 race in Washington DC next spring I won't be there because I'm running the Flying Pig.

I have now run all 5 of the Pigs, and am more impressed with the marathon every year. This year's course modifications were excellent, giving us runners a nice sampling of several different neighborhoods and cutting back on the industrial Eastern Avenue section. It was very nicely varied. There seemed to be more cheering supporters out there, and even more pig-themed amusements and costumes. Loved the live pig on the leash along the way, thanks to whoever brought him/her!

This was my 32nd marathon/ultra, my husband's third, and my daughter's first. I was so proud to share this with them, and to show our daughter how a marathon SHOULD be organized. Any future marathons that she runs will have a very hard time matching this one for organization, quality, volunteers and just plain fun.

I also like the idea that there is no prize money. This is a race that is intended for the joy of the sport, not for making money from it. While I understand that the elites make a living from running, they have plenty of other opportunities to do that in other cities. Let 'common' runners enjoy the glory of winning or placing in this one.

Well done, hometown Cincinnati!

This was my first marathon and it was awesome! The organizers and spectators were awesome! Especially the People dressed as pigs and the great medal awarded to the finishers. The only part I wished were different were miles 18- 22 were in a dreary industrial district with no spectators. But miles 5-12 were incredible through the nicest neighborhoods in Cincinnati with hundreds of spectators cheering you on! I will do this one again next year!