The
Cincinnati Running Experience
The Flying Pig Marathon. How did the Cincinnati –
known as the Queen City – become host of a marathon named for pigs? Believe it
or not, Cincinnati was once known as Porkopolis because of its prominence as a
pork processing center.
Today, Cincinnati is better known for the variety of
opportunities for runners who are traveling on business, vacation or to compete
in one of its challenging races, including The Flying Pig,
http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com.
Scenic
runs
Home to hills and more hills along the beautiful
Ohio River that separates Ohio from Kentucky, Cincinnati offers runners and
walkers nine city parks with trails ideal for running. A click on http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/index.php/trail-maps
gives you all you need to know about the locations, distance and difficulty of
the various trails. For more than 3,000 running routes in Cincinnati, check out
http://www.usatf.org/routes/search/.
Running with a group can make the experience even
better, so run with the group that best fits your schedule. It’s a great way to
make friends you can hook up with next time you’re in town. It's always good to
check ahead to make sure the group is running when you will be visiting.
Run
with a group
Going to be in Cincinnati on a Monday evening? How
about meeting for the Pub Run at 6:30 PM at the Tin Roof Cincinnati for
a run of 3 – 6 miles? Runners of all levels are welcome. And just as
important, be sure to stick around for good food and socializing after the run.
For information about other group runs with Fleet Feet, click on http://www.fleetfeetcincy.com/racing/weekly-group-runs.
Also, check out the Tuesday and Saturday runs north
of town just outside I-275 with Mojo Running http://www.runmojo.com/training-group
and don't overlook the Meetup listings for a variety of group running
opportunities, http://www.meetup.com/Cincinnati-Run-Club/.
The
Running Spot
As in most cities, running stores in Cincinnati play
an important role in the running community. Topping the list is Bob Roncker's
Running Spot, http://www.runningspot.com,
at four area locations. Named the No.1 Specialty Running Store in the US in
2008, the store offers a variety of services for runners. You can attend
clinics, join a free running group or a training group (for a fee) and consult
their calendar of events to find out about local races that might fit your
schedule. It's just a great place to hang out with other runners and get the
inside scoop on the local running scene.
Plan
your next race
Speaking of local races, an information-packed Web
site is provided by Running Time LLC, a race management company that lists
featured races and has links to all the local races, http://www.runningtime.net/.
Another good resource to stay up-to-date is:
Cincinnati Running's site, http://www.cincinnatirunning.com/cgi-bin/calendar.pl.
The
Flying Pig Marathon
That brings us back to The Flying Pig. Held the
first Sunday in May, the Pig is the ideal spring marathon. The out-and-back
course begins downtown near Paul Brown Stadium and includes a short loop in
Kentucky. The highest point of the course comes after leaving scenic Eden Park
between miles 8 and 9. From mile 21, the course follows the curve of the Ohio
River, with the "Finish Swine" on Pete Rose Way.
Much more than just one race, The Flying Pig is now
the 17th largest marathon weekend festival in the US, offering six running
events, including a half marathon, 10K, 5K a couple of relays and even events
for kids. There's also a "Pigabilities" division for athletes of any
and all abilities. Note that all events are walker friendly, too. Really
ambitious runners can take advantage of one of the multi-event packages. And,
don't forget the Christian Moerlein Beer Series of three races: Bockfest 5K,
Little Kings mile and Hudepohl 7K and 14K.
The festivities kick off on Friday at noon with the
P&G Health & Fitness Expo, which attracts 50,000 guests – many there
just for the shopping. Activities run through 3 PM on Sunday for the post-race
party. The Flying Pig is definitely a "destination" marathon with
runners from all 50 states and DC; and the 2013 marathon set a record for
international participation with runners from 18 countries.
A
great place to run
The next time you want to have a new racing
experience or are traveling for business, take advantage of all Cincinnati has
to offer: great urban running routes, scenic park trails and a memorable
marathon festival. Enjoy an interesting city and make
some new friends along the way.
8/19/13
Copyright
© 2013 by Will Kuhlmann
614-563-8237
Sources for fact-checking
Online:
Flying
Pig Marathon events and historical reference: http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com
Other:
Correspondence
with Betsy Ross, President, Game Day Communications, http://gamedaypr.com/;
bross@gamedaypr.com;
(513) 929-4263
Photos
of Flying Pig Marathon: Michael E. Anderson (Contact:
Game Day Communications)
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