Flying Pig Marathon: Cincinnati Gold

One of America's favorite running weekends, the Flying Pig Marathon really does have something for everyone. From a kid's run to mile, to 5km, to 10km, to a half to the full marathon and a relay! There is no excuse for not getting involved. Ohio is a great place for a weekend away and Cincinnati offers great hotels and Airbnb's. You'll love it.

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The Destination

Cincinnati, a city with a population of 2.2m, is in the US state of Ohio, bordering northern Kentucky. It has an exciting mix of top attractions and entertainment, all easily reached by the free streetcar system, with 18 stops on its 5.8-kilometer track through skyscrapers. There's quality sport with the Cincinnati Reds baseball and the Cincinnati Bengals NFL teams, both having their stadiums on the banks of the Ohio River. TQL Stadium, the home field of Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati. Findlay Market houses merchants selling everything from fresh produce and meats to flowers and gifts, plus year-round street performers and special events. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a can’t-miss institution highlighting the city’s crucial role in helping runaway slaves. There are free cultural events or enjoy the seasonal ice rink at Fountain Square, and catch musical performances at the Cincinnati Music Hall or Memorial Hall, in Washington Park.

There's wonderful art at the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Art Center or the Taft Museum of Art or spend a day at the world-class Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. The Cincinnati Museum Center houses an interactive art and Children’s Museum in its amazing art deco building. There's the King Island amusement park for roller coasters and water slides or check out Cincinnati's rich history of music-making at the Cincinnati Black Music Hall of Fame.

Germans have such a strong presence that many German-style breweries have popped up, and the annual Oktoberfest is the largest such gathering outside Munich itself. 'Over-the Rhine', Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhood, has breweries like Rhinegeist and Christian Moerlein, along the Brewing Heritage Trail of Cincinnati, where you can also tour historic sites like the building of the John Kauffman Brewing Company. Take a short trip over the Ohio River to sample craft spirits along Northern Kentucky's self-guided bourbon trail.

History

The first Flying Pig Marathon was first run as recently as 1999. Founded by Robert J Coughlin, an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and environmentalist, best known for being the founder and prior Chairman/CEO of Paycor. After completing his first marathon in New York City in 1994, Coughlin had a vision for a marathon in Cincinnati that raised money for charity and functioned as a non-profit. It's now the 3rd-largest first-time marathon in the US. It had nearly 5000 finishers in 2008 and three years later there were over 30,000 across all of the weekend's events.

Race Organiser

It's owned and operated by a not for profit known as Pig Works. It was originally Cincinnati Marathon Inc. but it was felt by the directors that the new name better represents the growth of the event program and its ongoing work. It has three goals:

• Create fun participatory sporting events for individuals and groups of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds

• Contribute to charitable causes that support the growth and development of our community in Cincinnati and beyond

• Promote a lifestyle that weaves movement and health into the fiber of the community and extends beyond the bounds of event day

When?

The race is held annually in May.

Distances

Over the weekend there is a marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, mile, 4 person marathon relay, kids events and many more. It's a family festival of running.

Is there an Expo?

There is a two day Health and Fitness Expo where runners need to collect race packs. It's open to the public and has a decent range of exhibitors, with plenty of kit options. The race merch is really good. It's at the Duke Energy Convention Center.

How many runners?

Over the weekend there are more than 40,000 runners, joggers, walkers and wheelchair racers taking part in the ten events, beginning on Friday night with the 50 West Mile race.

Course

Both the full and half marathons start at 6.30am and runners are assigned a start coral based on the time entered on the entry form.

The courses cut through parts across the two states, three cities and a whole host of neighborhoods. The marathon course starts outside Smale Riverfront Park and crosses the Taylor-Southgate Bridge south over the Ohio River into Northern Kentucky, where it travels through Newport and crosses westward over the Licking River via the Fourth Street Bridge into Covington. Founded in 1815, Covington is the largest city in Northern Kentucky, well known for its historic neighborhoods including Licking-Riverside, MainStrasse Village and Wallace Woods, as well as for its downtown commercial district which is home to a large concentration of historic buildings. From Covington, the route takes the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge back over the Ohio River back north into Cincinnati.

From here (mile 4) it's 11 miles north east to Miami via Woodburn, Madison and Bramble, where runners turn before heading back along the river to downtown. The Ohio River, which is on the left for the last 5 miles of the course, is 981-miles (1,579 km) from start to finish It is the third largest river by discharge volume in the United States and is also the 6th oldest river on the North American continent. The river flows through or along the border of six states, and its drainage basin includes parts of 14 states. There are more than 200 live entertainment and nutrition areas along the Sunday marathon and half marathon courses. One-fifth of those stations have themes. They’re run by teams from schools, sports teams, charities and community groups and they'll keep you going as the legs get tired. There are designated spectator zones along the course, and in the downtown area it is really busy.

The finish is right near the start, in Smale Riverfront Park, 45-acres located along the region’s historic riverfront, flanking the Roebling Suspension Bridge between Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium. Features include an outdoor event stage, promenade, visitor and bike center, labyrinth, interactive fountains, a monument to the Black Brigade and the Moerlein Lager House. You'll love the event's Victory Party, a celebration of everyone's achievements.

What's unique?

Not a huge amount of really unique elements, but running through a major US city on closed roads is still really cool.

Do charities benefit?

Each year the organisers work with over 250+ charities and raise over $1 million annually. Over $17 million has been raised through the Flying Pig events over the past 25 years. Every Pig Works event includes a charitable tie-back to partner organizations.

Our verdict

This is a big weekend in the city and although there are bigger cities in the US, with bigger marathons this one has plenty going for it. It's really well organised and there is plenty of crowd support. Definitely one to have a look at.

How to register

Online via the website. All 2023 events sold out, apart from the marathon, so don't leave it too late. The partners charities also have entries available.

Race website

https://flyingpigmarathon.com/