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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 421 to 431]
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N. N. from Florence
(5/4/2004)
"Great marathon" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 If not for the wonderful people cheering along the way, I would have hit the wall on mile 20. | |
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B. G. from Ottawa, Canada
(5/4/2004)
"Great race, poor post-race" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Both my wife and I ran in this race this year. We both felt that the race itself was great; excellent spectator support and great water stations. The weather was not the best, cold and rainy for most of the run, but that's ok. The post-race was a mess - when my wife crossed the line there was food and blankets, but not when I crossed around 4:40 or so. All the checked bags had been left outside in the rain with minimal supervision, and the organization did not seem to be very good - it was a mass jumble of people at the end. In my mind I broke the weekend into four sections: Goodies - Great, love the embroidered backpack! Pasta Party - Terrible, the location was the lobby of an office tower, the sound was awful, and the food was very limited in selection (one pasta, very basic salad, only water to drink, no dessert). Race - Great Post-race - Bad Overall, it was a good race, just some things that could use some improvement. | |
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Marathon Runner from Illinois
(5/4/2004)
"A Great Marathon" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Exciting race and great spectators make this race a must for all marathoners. For being around only six years, it is a first-class race. It is challenging with hills, but worth the extra effort. The 2004 race had very difficult weather conditions, but that is impossible to predict. The course was great, taking runners throughout Cincinnati and filled with people cheering. Near the end of the marathon (miles 18-23) the spectators seem to disappear and the route goes through an industrial area which was not my favorite at all. I think a better area could have been picked. After the race I do not think the race organizers were ready for how cold and rainy it could get. Many runners were suffering from the cold and there needed to be a building where they could warm up inside. The medal was great, very unique. Also plenty of goodies, they give everyone 2 t-shirts, poster, and backpack. One area of advice that I would give most runners is to get to the marathon early and do not take the ferry across the river from Kentucky. It takes longer then walking across the bridge and does not seem to coordinate its efforts with the actual marathon to well. Overall, great marathon that just needs some fine tuning. | |
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Cheyenne Caine from Kingston, Jamaica
(5/4/2004)
"Flying Pig Rocks!!!!!!!!" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it was great. The course was scenic - a park, cute neighbourhoods, lovely buildings, views of the Ohio river. I was never bored. Especially not with all the hills to tackle. I knew there would be a 'serious' hill around miles 6-8, but I didn't realize the rest of the bumps onward in the race were so substantial. The race was challenging in itself and the freak weather made it even more so. It was FREEZING (40s) with alternating drizzle or pouring rain. I had expected 50s or 60s. However, the spectators were FANTASTIC!! They came out in the bad weather to cheer us on for practically the entire 26.2 miles. Cheer was also very present among the runners. There was a lot of mutual support on the road, and it got me through the course, weather and my injuries. What could have been better? First and foremost - the recovery area. There was very little support there and it was a transport trap. I was cold and hurting after the race, and could not get out of the marathon area. No one I asked knew where to go. I almost broke down. A policeman came to my assistance and got a taxi for my escape. Also, a consistent batch of Gatorade would have been good - it tasted different at every stop and was barely palatable at most. Multiple gel stations instead of one would have been good. Luckily, I carried a fuel belt with my own supplies of gel and Gatorade. As a first marathon, it was a real challenge. Would I do this marathon again? YES!!!!!! | |
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Denis Bailey from Cincinnati, OH
(5/4/2004)
"Lots of support, even in the rain" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The rain lasted 3 hours, lots of 'entertainment' cancelled, yet we hardly ran a mile without someone cheering us on. They put the worst of the course first, 2 long bridges and a 3 mile hill from mile 6 to 9. From then on, it was a few inclines but nothing to cry about. It was my first and I hated it and loved it. The 4 stars are for the 'disorganization' at the finish. They have to figure out a better place, or way to un-crowd thousands of finishers and all their fans. :-) | |
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L. B. from Denver, CO (a Cincy native)
(5/3/2004)
"Great course, even better crowds!" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I couldn't get enough of the endless cheers from Cincinnati fans who stood along this scenic course in the drizzling rain!! The new course makes the run very doable... hills in the beginning (with great city views), then jaunts through some of the city's most historic neighborhoods, and finally a long, flat stretch to end the race. Very well organized, terrific community support, this race just keeps getting better -- also ran in 2002 and my only complaint would have been the hills at the end, which have now been moved to the front. Other benefits: great pre-race expo, pig-embossed medal and race poster, pace teams, and 2 t-shirts (a second shirt was handed out at the finish line so runners could have something dry to wear). I will definitely do this one again. | |
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R. G. from Washington, DC
(5/3/2004)
"My favorite marathon yet!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I can't say enough about this race - it rocked! I chose it because I wanted a good spring marathon at which to try for a Boston qualifier and all the comments on this website were so positive. They're all correct! The course is great, the spectators and volunteers were wonderful, and the organization was top-notch. I'd definitely run it again - though not next year, because I'm going to Boston!! | |
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James Stanton from Little Rock, AR
(5/3/2004)
"I'll run this marathon from now 'til I stop runnin" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The weather stunk, but that was the last part and the least part of a marvelous experience. This, my third marathon was everything I had read and heard about. The registration/expo was very nice and easily done; the course challenging but quite doable; the organization had a sense of fun about it and did a terrific and responsive job; and the volunteers were unbelievable. As for the spectators; I couldn't say enough to capture the true spirit of the citizens of Cincinnati, they certainly enjoy and support their sports and the atheletes who compete in them. It was 50 degrees and rainy, with 15-20 mph winds the whole race and thousand upon thousands of Cincinnatians lined all parts of the course to cheer on the participants. At times it was overwhelming. | |
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B. G. from Plymouth, MI
(5/3/2004)
"Great race, PR, thank you volunteers" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My race can pretty much be summarized in one story. Assured of a P.R. pretty early in the race, I set my sights on a lofty goal time at around 15 miles, and barely hung on to the pace I thought I would need to sustain to reach it. Still on target just after the 25 mile mark, I came up to a short-but-steep hill with leg cramps that threatened to throw me just enough off pace. As I gritted my teeth for the climb, a young, beautiful, female spectator or volunteer ran up alongside me and said 'we'll finish this hill together'. Like a guardian angel she climbed the hill right along with me, with a melodic voice offering support and encouragement. I blew past the hill and in to the finishing chute well ahead of schedule, and finished in a time that before the race I wouldn't have dared to dream of. Sucking wind like I was, I don't think I got the chance to properly thank her, but if she's reading this, thank you and all the spectators and volunteers for making such a difference for me and the rest of the runners on a cold, rainy morning. | |
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s. h. from Maryville, Tn
(5/3/2004)
"Will definitely fly again" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Despite all the rain and cold wind, this was a great experience for me.This was my 2nd marathon (wish it had been my first), the race organization itself was fantastic and the spectators were out in the miserable weather with us. I improved on my 1st marathon time by almost 30 minutes! I was however very disappointed in the way the end of the race came to a sudden stop in the stalls, and trying to find family and friends at the Victory party, was impossible. Nothing was marked with letters of the alphabet like we were told; it took me an hour and 20 minutes to find my wife! This needs some work before next year, but, I wouldn't hestitate to run this race again. For all of you talking about how hard the 'hills' were, you need to come to train in East Tennessee. |
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