Going Hog Wild in Cincinnati – The Flying Pig Marathon
“Good job piggies!”and “Go pigs!” exclaimed a myriad of folks lining the streets as I along with more than 4,000 other determined runners plodded down the streets of Cincinnati. Anywhere else but in this city in southern Ohio on this day would those cheers be considered rude and offensive. But not here on this day. They were cheers of endearment and encouragement. We were all here for “the Pig!” Runners of all ages and abilities from every state and legions of locals turned out once again for Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon.
Since its inception in 1999, this race has been a favorite. Last year USA Today named it the best marathon in the county due to its scenic course and the race organizers’ creative fun with the pig theme. The marathon ranks in the top 20 for size in the country, but when you include all of the other races under its umbrella—the half marathon, 10K, 5K and more—you’re looking at more than 40,000 people descending on this city of 315,000 to do the pig!
If you take a walk around this city on the Ohio River you’ll soon notice flying pig sculptures and pictures throughout the
city. What’s with all of the winged pigs you might be thinking? Back in the 19th Century, Cincy was well known for being the largest pork processor in North America. Large numbers of pigs were actually herded through the city’s streets to processing plants. The city became known as “Porkopolis!” In 1988, for Cincy’s bicentennial, British Artist Andrew Leicester was commissioned to create a sculpture for the entrance of the Bicentennial Commons. His design included four smokestacks representing the city’s riverboat history, each topped with a winged pig! The design was not initially embraced—but has since become a much loved symbol and brand for the city! In Cincy pigs fly!
The city’s marathon organizers went with the flying pig idea and it took off—flying! The Flying Pig staff seems to have too much fun with the theme—and it catches on. Race volunteers are referred to as grunts. Spectators and cheering squads—and they line the streets, are called Street Squealers. Runners can cool off (not an issue in this year’s race) at a misting station called the Hog Wash and if you’re chafing, head to the Greased Pig Station. Your corral at race start is referred to as a pig pen and you conclude your race at the Finish Swine! The race course has some rolling hills. It’s not known for fast times—but for good times. And that it was—I loved the race and the city!
Going with the party atmosphere I decided to have my race bib read as Spud boy! While Ohio does grow potatoes, it only ranks 26th in the country (accounting for less than 1% of the country’s total) for potato production. It does however rank 2nd in the nation in potato chip production. Washington ranks second in the nation in potato production (accounting for 24% of the country’s total) and also has a significant number of potato chip producers. The Buckeye State may not be a potato giant but it’s a leader in the country in soybean and corn production (perfect too for feeding pigs!).
Oh, and why Spud boy? One, I’m running for Team Potato! And two, one of my all-time favorite bands is Devo who are from Ohio. Their fans are affectionately known as Spud boys! Don’t ask if you don’t know! Anyhow it was perfect for me—but I was bummed when I crossed the finish line and they called out my name, not Spud boy!
Aside from the Flying Pig Marathon, Cincy is known as the headquarters of Kroger’s, Proctor and Gamble (P & G), and Skyline Chili. All three of these companies are big race sponsors. We were fed post-race by Kroger’s and local pizza standout LaRosa’s (yum) and I carbo loaded the night before on Skyline opting for chili on a baked potato piled with cheddar cheese. That’s rocket fuel for a long run! And P&G? At the race expo we were all gifted with cleaners and deodorant! Never got deodorant before for swag! Is that a hint? Lots of other nice surprises at the expo including a pink Toyota SUV that was engraved with the names of all 4700-plus marathon runners.
It rained hard on Expo day, and I was concerned race day would be a wash. But the rain subsided a little by the time we
took off from Paycor (Bengals) Stadium at 6.30 am the next morning. We soon passed the Great American Ballpark (home of the Reds), crossed the Ohio River on the Taylor Southgate Bridge (one of the 6 intriguing bridges in the city spanning the river) and did a few miles in Kentucky before returning to Cincinnati (via the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge), and then flying down 7th Ave through downtown. The streets were line with squealers. Some of the best crowd support I have experienced this side of the Boston and LA Marathons.
We then had a long sustained climb to Eden Park. This was an exceptionally beautiful stretch past the Cincinnati Art Museum and Krohn Observatory; and along ponds, through forests of stately trees and past a sprawling view of the Ohio River below. We passed through historic neighborhoods and by impressive homes and buildings. One of my favorite ways to see a city and feel its pulse is to run it! By the half marathon mark the rain was falling a little harder. I was pretty wet, but not too cold—as long as I kept going. By around Mile 20 a runner named Ryan commented on my Team Potato shirt and we began talking potatoes, Cincinnati, Kentucky (his home), Washington, and a whole lot more—even politics without really talking about politics. Running a marathon is such a great shared event that brings people from all different backgrounds together. We ended up running the last 10K together—right past the famous flying pig statue. I missed it, but made sure to check it out the next day to see where it all began.
Thanks to Ryan, I finished well—talking keeps your mind off of your mind telling you to stop running! I felt good after the race too—no soreness—just tired. It began to rain harder so any plans to celebrate and hang out was just not going to happen. However, later on in the day throughout the city and at my hotel I would encounter plenty of other happy pigs! And that night at CityBird Tenders at the city’s famous Fountain Square, the owner of the restaurant comped my dinner as a way of congratulating me for running the marathon. Wow, that’s a first! I had time before and after my race to see some of the city’s sights including its award-winning National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Zoo and Botanical Gardens (one of the best in the country) and its amazing waterfront parks and trails. The city is thriving. I definitely would like to come back to see and experience more of it.
With the Flying Pig Marathon now completed, I am 10 states into my journey to run a marathon or ultra in all 50 states. And now with 10 states completed I can officially become a member of the 50 States Marathon Club. It’s a great bunch of folks from all over America running marathons all over America! I am loving the journey and I’m in no hurry to get to the finish! I’ve got my eyes on state 11 in the fall—but first I have to first get that 100 mile run done this summer. More on that in my next post as I take on a couple of challenging ultra-races to help me train for it!
Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon or ultra-marathon in all 50 states—and train for my first 100 mile run! I’ve got many miles left to go—and lots of potatoes to consume to power me along the way.
