Race story
On May 7, 2023, Cincinnati's Flying Pig Marathon delivered the kind of wet, hilly, full-city race that makes a brand stick: bridge crossings, Queen City climbs, and rain that turned the pig into a fish.
Preface
Ohio (O-H-I-O) is located northeast of Kentucky. The two states are separated by a strip of water and closely connected by the Ohio River.
In the vast corn fields of Ohio, it is also the headquarters of the romantic and unrestrained "Victoria's Secret". Just like the name of Ohio, there is a big "HI" sandwiched between two "O"s, which is both simple and warm.
In fact, I am no stranger to Ohio. Two highways, 71 and 75, run from north to south. Following this north-south highway, we have already been to Cleveland in the north and Columbus in the middle. This time we drove to Cincinnati in the south. On the contrary, I felt that there was no pressure at all. The drive only took more than an hour.
Queen City, Cincinnati
🐠 Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is actually one of the most misspelled cities in America. But I have never made this mistake. Maybe it’s because I’m better at pinyin, so why not just change X to C?
The name of the city of Cincinnati comes from the ancient Roman hero Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus. In the fifth century BC, the Roman Senate called on Cincinnatus to lead the Republic's armies against foreign invaders and granted him supreme authority. After leading his army to victory, he resigned and returned power to the Senate, then returned to his farm and retired to the mountains.
So in the classical world, Cincinnatus was the embodiment of civic virtue.
Cincinnati is the plural form of Cincinnatus.
The architecture in downtown Cincinnati is very beautiful, with a wide variety of ancient buildings. Over the Rhine has the largest concentration of Italianate architecture in the United States.
Mr. Ji, a master architect who once came to Kentucky to study, has visited Cincinnati countless times. Once together, he gave us popular science about which master's masterpiece this is and how famous that building is.
In fact, a long time ago, Cincinnati was known as the "Paris of America", full of life, wealth, and pleasure. Now, when you drift through those old neighborhoods and see those extremely luxurious residences, you can close your eyes and imagine the sadness and warmth of life where wealth is like fireworks.
Cincinnati is a city founded by people of German descent. Every October, Cincinnati holds the Oktoberfest, where people sing, dance, and drink. The scale of the event is second only to the famous Oktoberfest.
Cincinnati is also known as the "Queen City." The nickname first appeared in Colonel William Goebel's German-language newspaper "The Cincinnati Adler" in 1819, was later popularized in Ruben Thomas's poem "Queen of the West" in 1835, and was finally popularized in the 1854 poem "The Catalba".
However, to me, Cincinnati is most famous for the Cincinnati Open. This was also my first impression of Cincinnati when I was in China. I also know that in 2012, Li Na broke out after falling behind 1-6/1-3 at the beginning, winning 9 games in a row, reversing Kerber 1-6/6-3/6-1 to win the championship, becoming the first Chinese to win a Super Five series (second only to the Grand Slam and the Four Crowns).
From Pig Capital to Flying Pig Marathon
🐠 Cincinnati, Ohio
The Flying Pig Marathon is arguably one of Cincinnati's most popular events.
Since it was first held in 1999, the race has attracted runners from all over the world to the Queen City. Now, the event has reached its 25th year.
But I had already run through Cleveland, Ohio, so I didn’t put “Flying Pig” on my running list at first. But the 25th anniversary is really fascinating. Finally, with the encouragement of 47, I decided to run to Ohio again. It’s a new city, and the highly rated Flying Pig Marathon is still very exciting!
Before going to Cincinnati, I was actually very curious about why a good marathon is called "Fat Pig Horse"..., oh... it is "Flying Pig Marathon". Such confusion often occurs in input methods. Of course, Americans will definitely not play with such homophonic memes.
So why is it called the Flying Pig Marathon? In order to clarify this issue, I simply did some literature research:
In fact, Cincinnati's Flying Pig Marathon is named after the city's nickname, "Porkopolis." The nickname dates back to the mid-19th century, when pigs were a major source of income for farmers, Cincinnati was home to numerous livestock markets, and free-range pigs were often seen roaming the streets of downtown.
And to celebrate Cincinnati's 200th anniversary, the city built Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point. British artist Andrew Lester was commissioned to create a sculpture for the entrance. His design included four chimneys, a nod to the city's history, and placed four winged piglets on top to represent the era of pork processing.
So how did the Flying Pig Marathon get its unusual name?
At O'Bryon's Bar & Grill, Bush, Cofflin, Bob Runk and other founding members held a brainstorming session on names over a post-run beer. According to a 2008 Enquirer article, they wanted the name to be "lighthearted and unique to Cincinnati."
Names like the "Queen City Marathon" and the "Seven Hills Marathon" were suggested, but Bush said none of those names resonated with the team. Finally, someone proposed the Flying Pig Marathon. Everyone laughed. But the quirky name eventually caught on.
However, I also heard a more romantic version from Cindy. The piglet put on wings and flew to heaven like an angel, to commemorate the pigs’ final journey to the meat processing plant in Cincinnati.
The flying pig theme is very interesting. Here, the staff at the information booths are called "info pigs"; the volunteers on the track are called "grunts", which translates to "pig grunts" and "grunts, grunts"; the area where runners are placed is called "pig pens"; and the children's category is called "piglets" - you guessed it! The finish line is called the "finish swine".
25th Anniversary Flying Pig Marathon
🐠 Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is very close to us, and it only takes more than an hour to drive, so 47 and I set off on Saturday afternoon and drove directly to the Expo in Pegasus to pick up the equipment.
The Fliggy Horse Expo is very grand. You can see the 25th anniversary logo everywhere. The medals from previous years are displayed at the entrance, which makes people feel as if they have traveled through time.
At the expo, we also met old friends Patrick and Ashley. The process of receiving competition equipment was very efficient. The organizing committee also thoughtfully gave us a poster and a flying pig horse bag. They were very considerate in everything.
After leaving the Horse Expo, we went to have a Chinese meal and then drove to an Airbnb to rest. The itinerary was arranged compactly and efficiently. We went to bed very early and were ready for the big party!
The route design of the Flying Pig Marathon is great!
Runners will start at Smale Riverfront Park in downtown Cincinnati, turning south to northern Kentucky and through areas in places like Covington and Newport. Players will then quickly cross the river, pass Mariemont, Fairfax and Columbia Township, then pass through several Cincinnati neighborhoods before finishing in the heart of the city.
There will be more than 200 live entertainment and nutrition areas on the marathon and half-marathon courses, and one-fifth of them will have site themes.
On the morning of May 7, 2023, it was still dark, and the starting point of the game was already crowded with people. It took a lot of effort to find a parking space. The starting point was on Second Avenue (2nd St) next to Paycor Stadium. After parking the car, we quickly joined the crowd. Because everyone was very close, we did not feel that it would be cold in the morning.
As the starting time approaches 6:30, flames erupt from the starting line in downtown Cincinnati, and the 25th Flying Pig Marathon finally begins. The weather is not bad, but the clouds are thick, and occasionally a flickering skylight can be seen.
All runners ran from Second Street to Pete Rose Way and soon saw the first mile sign on the Taylor-Southgate Bridge leading to Kentucky.
Soon, we arrived in Newport, Kentucky. Although we returned to Kentucky's home court, heavy rain came unexpectedly. In an instant, all the Flying Pigs turned into Flying Fishes. I enjoyed this process very much. It was also a very special experience for me. It reminded me of Andy dancing in the rain in "The Shawshank Redemption".
At this time, bicycle volunteers shouted from the side: "The race is suspended. Please stay where you are and find shelter." Some people chose to leave the track, but most people still insisted on racing.
When the heavy rain first started, the volunteers who were distributing water also stopped what they were doing, but when they realized that the runners had not stopped, they returned to their duties and continued to distribute supplies to everyone in the rain.
The heavy rain continued for more than a mile, and soon reached the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge at 3 miles. This marked the end of our journey in Kentucky. We crossed the iron bridge and headed north, returning to Ohio.
After a torrential downpour in Kentucky, we finally made it back to downtown Cincinnati. As we neared mile five, we were greeted by a screaming stretch of track. Although there was still a lot of water on the road, the spectators nearby cheered us on with great enthusiasm. Coupled with the refreshing weather after the rain, people feel happy physically and mentally.
Accompanying this good condition, at about 7 miles, we came to Eden Park. This park, established in 1869, is one of the oldest urban parks in Cincinnati. The high ground of the park also allows visitors to enjoy the scenery of the Ohio River.
This is also the location of the Cincinnati Art Museum, but it is not easy for runners to get a panoramic view of the Ohio River in Eden Park, as they have to go through a long climb.
Walking through the park, you will see many cheering crowds and cute flying pigs.
At about 9 miles, a towering church appeared in front of us, which was very spectacular. Later I learned that this church was called St. Francis de Sales Church. Known for its magnificent architecture and unique design, this church in the East Walnut Hills Historic District is also an important Cincinnati landmark.
The track of the Flying Pig Marathon will never be boring. For example, at the 10-mile mark, there will be support on the roadside neatly shouting slogans and dancing to cheer everyone on. It is very interesting.
Cute children, led by their families, will also appear on the roadside to cheer everyone on, such as Elise and her two daughters Erin (6 years old) and Helen (4 years old), who are waiting for their father to pass by on Wooster Pike in Fairfax.
After 11 miles, a very interesting house will appear on the right, but I didn’t find out what it was specifically. It might be the home of a local resident.
The next few miles were spent traveling through residential areas, but I felt that the greenery was quite good, and the volunteers were as enthusiastic as ever. I also added a little energy gel during this period, but it started to rain lightly again, and there was still a lot of moisture on the road. The outside world looked hazy through my glasses.
Finally at 15 miles, we came to the easternmost point of this journey, a place called Miami. I wonder if Messi has been here too?
Then there will be a section of uphill, and before you know it, it will be 17 miles.
The second half of the route was accompanied by drizzle, but the volunteers beside them remained enthusiastic. At 19 miles and 21 miles, as the numbers on the mileage got bigger, the Flying Pig Marathon was about to embark on its final journey.
At approximately mile 22, you will see a shooting gas station.
Volunteers there will hand basketballs to runners and the shooting game will begin. Wearing the jersey of Louisville NBA alumnus Donovan Mitchell, I caught the basketball and threw it toward the basket with grace. Maybe the wind was a bit strong and the ball missed a little bit, but it didn’t go in. I guess it’s because I’ve been running a lot over the years, so my basketball skills have become a bit rusty, and I’ve lost the heroic looks I once had as a three-point shooter.
There was another shooting spot behind, but it didn't go in...
However, this is the first time I have seen such an interactive way of refueling, and it impressed me deeply.
I ran and walked along the Ohio River for the next few miles, Mile 23, 24, 25…. 26, Finish Swine!
We crossed the finish line at Smale Riverfront Park and completed such an unparalleled journey. A lesbian running in front of me burst into tears after crossing the line. I can understand her feelings.
After enduring such a rapid storm and 13.1/26.2 miles, everyone deserves a round of applause.
After receiving the medal, I walked slowly to the river. 47 had already finished running. I stretched while waiting for 47, and finally we successfully merged and took a group photo to check in.
The medal is very nice, it is a Flying Pig gold medal. The big party after the race is also very lively, and there will be a special stretching area. I remember the last time I had such treatment was in Bangkok, Thailand.
The blue John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge behind Smile Riverside Park is spectacular. It is said that when it was first built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world in main span (322 meters).
We also climbed up the bridge to take photos and relieve acid, and then returned home.
I think this is definitely a very efficient weekend running activity for us, because Cincinnati is really close to us, and the running is not very tiring. It is like a long-distance training with old friends on the weekend, talking and laughing, and taking a refreshing and pleasant cold bath in the embrace of nature. This is my favorite way of life.
Postscript
I recently posted a short video of thirty-two marathons on Facebook and Moments. Many friends will ask me, which of these marathons is your favorite?
People will be surprised when I say that my favorite is the 25th Anniversary Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. After all, I have seen the world and experienced two Grand Slam runners in New York and Chicago. Can the Flying Pig Marathon be as good as New York?
I would say "It's the Flying Pig Marathon" because this experience is so special! Running with 15,000 runners in a storm may really be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The volunteers and photographers were awesome and the track design was unparalleled!
So, I can now understand why the Flying Pigs went from bar napkin to one of the most branded events in the country. Event CEO Simpson Bush also said he does not regret his decision to start the event, and I applaud his courage.
Interviewed after the race, women’s half marathon champion Amy Piercy also said she welcomed the rain. “It made the game a little more refreshing and distracted me a little bit.”
I have the same feeling. I also enjoy the experience of changing from a flying pig to a flying fish. Maybe I should try triathlon. Unfortunately, I can’t swim. It’s great to be able to transform into a Flying Fish in such a competition.
I've run two full marathons in Ohio, Cleveland was great, but maybe I won't go again, but I'll never say no to the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon.
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Words | Arsenan
Photos | Arsenan
Design | Arsenan