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May 20, 2024

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.6

Spectators 4.6

Number of comments: 518 [displaying comments 71 to 81]

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R. S. from Columbus, Ohio (11/21/2011) "Great Race!!" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a very well run race. Both the half and full marathon were very organized all the way from packet pick up through race day. The hills are tough, but the course support was amazing during the entire race. Perfect number of aid stations that were always fully stocked. Only negative was difficulty getting into the corals to start. The on course music was awesome. There was even a jimmy buffett run aid station around mile 23 that was a good pick me up! The pacing groups were also all right on time! I would suggest this race for anyone looking for an organized, fun course that is very challenging!
M. C. from Washington, DC (11/7/2011) "Would do it year after year" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and it did not disappoint. I've been to many expos and events in the past, but this one was great. Plenty of good swag and lots of great people. The course as a whole was hillier than I prepared for, which seems to be a common theme, but there was good energy along the way to keep my moving. The water stops were awesome, they had contests for the best stops, so each group put on their best show. The only downside of the course was when it ran on the highway, no fans, running on an open highway, and that's when I hit the wall. It took a bit of time to recover from that, but the energy at the finish was bringing me home. I wish I lived closer to this race, but I will do it again.
C. C. from Tennessee (9/5/2011) "My First Marathon" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked the corral system they used at the start and it was cool running into Kentucky across the Ohio River and then back into Ohio. Great views of a great city. I thought the expo was cool and so was starting outside of Paul Brown stadium, and finishing at The Great American Ballpark. It had a few more hills than I was expecting but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Yes it was raining at the start of this race, but hey, who can help that. Thanks to all the volunteers. I would recommend this race to anyone, and I would love to run it again sometime.
N. F. from Minnesota (8/25/2011) "Really??? A Top 10 Race?" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was my first and last Flying Pig. Expo was ok. Reasonably priced race based on distance and swag. Very crowded start with all relay halfers and full participants starting together. First half of the course is very scenic last 8 miles not at all. Rain again... Seems to be an annual pig phenomenon when talking with locals. Only two medical tents for the entire race and very poorly stocked. None of the bike support crew were quite sure where they even were located. At the finish line, med tent had only bandaids. Plus no gels on the course until the last 7 miles??? really? Worst of all is after an injury and having to walk through the quiet(virtually NO spectators)last 8 miles of the race, they had practically torn down the post race festivities. There were still at least another 700-1000 people on the course. NOT COOL! Also,the course was also much hillier on the back half than the map would suggest. Challenging course. Not for individuals who live in flat areas of the country. I love the City of Cincinnati and all it offers, except this. I say pass on the PIG...
S. R. from Ann Arbor, MI (6/14/2011) "Great race!" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon, and my mother's first half-marathon. It was wonderful! I may be biased because I got a 35 min PR, but I still thought it was a great race. Very fun, great spectators who came out even though it was raining at the start & a little bit throughout the race. This course IS hilly, no doubt about that. You must get used to hills while training, and check out the elevation chart in order to have a plan on how you will attack them. I ended up even-splitting this race because I was able to control myself & run smart. Once you get to the top of the very large hill in the first half there is a fabulous view of the city below- a nice reward for the hard work! My only complaint about the race was the starting line: I got there with plenty of time to spare, but there was a fence all along the side of the road, so I kept walking along it looking for a space in the fence to get into the start area, but I never found one, as I gave up eventually & did what many people were doing- climbed the fence. I ended up starting WAY behind where I wanted to for my pace because I couldn't get back up to that place in the crowd. It turned out ok though, as it probably helped me stay on pace for the first few miles. Overall, I thought this was a very fun & well thought out race. The backpack was awesome too! It's my new running-gear backpack. Cute expo with piggy balloons & easy packet pickup. Great job Cincinnati!
B. B. from Jacksonville Beach, FL (6/9/2011) "Once again, fun times in Cincinnati" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was one of the first marathons I ran 2 years ago. I loved it then, and I loved it again this year. Organization is top-notch and the fans are superbespecially downtown early in the race, the crowds lined the streets in the rain. Cincy has some of the best swag of any race. I don't mind repeating marathons that I like. I will be back!
B. K. from Home of the Reds (6/7/2011) "WHY ARE THE RACE DIRECTORS SO PIG-HEADED?" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I love most things about my hometown race: the medal (an artistic gem), the back-pack giveaway, the fans and bands (thousands who brave rain and lightning), the volunteers (both at the expo and on the course), and the just-plain-frivolity of this race. BUT & and this is a big but & this marathon could be drastically improved if the race director and her committee would stop being so pig-headed and visit other marathons that dont have the following flaws that plague the Pig each year: 1. For Gods sake, please start the half-marathoners 10-20 minutes after the marathon begins. This would alleviate the terribly crowded start that lasts for 3-4 miles. Yes, the half-marathon elites would have to battle some of the slower marathoners, but you might consider splitting them off at mile three. This race was much less crowded in the years before the half-marathon was added. 2. The Asics t-shirt has a wonderful fabric but the only time I wear mine is to bed on warm nights to avoid sweating. Your sponsors probably dont like that, but the design and color, as seems to be the Pigs tradition, are awful. I suggest that you allow the designer of the medal (who shows tremendous creativity) to design the t-shirt. And choose a bright color. Gray and white are boring!! This marathon is hardly boring, though youd never know it from looking at the t-shirt. 3. There is no point to having GU provided at mile 23. It takes about 30-40 minutes to be absorbed for energy use. Most good marathons provide GU at miles 8, 12, 15, and 20. After mile 21, fueling is useless. Skip the poster and add another GU station. And post the GU stations about 200 yards in front of the water stops. 4. Provide a map of the finish area in the race booklet (which is well done except for this omission). Identify both where the medical tent will be and where the exit for runners will be - on this map. 5. PLEASE, PLEASE establish an exit next to where the chips are removed so that runners can exit if they want to walk to their cars or to see their families. As it is now, all runners must endure a long walk to exit. You have 3,000 volunteers; so place one or two next to this early exit for security. 6. Consider adding peanut butter and jelly to the tables where the bagels are. Most of the bagels seem to sit, unused and lonely, on those tables and the volunteers stand there with nothing to do. Let the volunteers spread peanut butter and jelly on the bagels and everyone would be happy. And you wouldnt have so many bagels being thrown away.
J. L. from Columbus, OH (6/4/2011) "It was fun once" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Not surprisingly my three PR streak ended in the hills of Cincinnati. The Expo was really quite large for the size of the event (~5,000 for the full & ~12,000 for the half) but they also had a 10k/5k and some kid events on Saturday. It was family friendly; nice swag too; backpack, poster, engraved medal and race shirt. The race begins at 6:30a on Sunday near the football stadium which was open pre-race for rest rooms but it was also good because of the rain. The route was hilly, especially from mile 6 to 8 or so, very pretty views of the river and downtown (the course crosses into Kentucky at the beginning). There was more downhill than up in the second half but even that was draining (and hard to train for if you live someplace flat). Good crowd support but it was intermittent. I thought it was a good value for the price; the volunteers and event staff were knowledgeable and friendly. The race finishes near the coliseum and the immediate post race is under cover. The after race is in a nearby riverfront park. It was huge and managed to be at the same time both family friendly (numerous kid activities in the middle) but also fun for the runners (beer, bands and food around the perimeter). If was fun once but I'm not sure I'll try that course again.
J. R. from New Jersey (5/29/2011) "You have to run this race !!!!!" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Awesome best sums up my experience with the Flying Pig marathon. I signed up for the race after reading Runner's World Dec 2010 issue that listed the top 10 marathons and they nailed this one on the head. Every marathoner needs to run this. It's a fun race and challenging too.
S. S. from Ann Arbor, MI (5/11/2011) "First-Timer Loved It!!!" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a fantastic experience! Loved everything about the race and the city! Friendly people, great views, fun swag... didn't even mind the rain (or the hills)! :) Thanks, Cincinnati!!!

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