Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - RunMarathon

I had been thinking of trying for 3:45 a few weeks ago, but ended up losing two weeks of training to an achilles injury, right before taper week. When I saw it was going to be hot and humid, I set on breaking four hours as a goal. As the week before the race progressed, I really started to feel that was going to be very difficult, and maybe not a very realistic goal.

It was a relief when we finally got started running, and some of the nervous energy dissipated. I tried to keep it easy the early miles, but was worried I was going out too fast. First mile was at 8:30 pace –too fast! I did enjoy the bridges and the great views of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Running through Downtown Cincinnati in mile five was awesome, and seeing Jenny and the boys there really got me pumping. That mile(6) was at 8:29 pace, my fastest split of the race. After downtown, I made a conscious effort to take it easy on the Climb to the top of Eden Park. Mile 7 was 9:13, my only mile of the first 19 over 9:00 pace. Fat Elvis was singing as I passed the Krohn Conservatory in the park, and he sounded good! The view from the top was incredible, and the boys choir singing there was great too. I saw Mom, Dad, Missy, TJ, Mac, and Annie just past here, and then, at mile 10, Jenny and the Boys were there in O’Brienville . I saw everyone again at several places in Mariemont (miles 14-17) as well. My quads started to get sore at about mile 14, and really were burning the last five miles coming in. Once we hit mile 18 and started down Columbia Parkway things got tough. No crowd support on the highway, no shade, (the temp was getting up there now), and fatigue was setting in. I stopped in mile 20 to stretch the quads, and the pace drifted to 9:05. The last five miles were very tough. The quads were just screaming at this point. I was able to keep the pace under 9:00 for miles 21, 22, and 23, but 24 and 25 were up in the 9:30 range. I pretty much kept up pace until I broke down and took four 15 -20 sec walk breaks the last 3 miles. From four miles out, downtown and the Bridges were visible, but they looked so far away. During these last few miles I thought of all the training since January, and just tried to have tunnel vision and keep the legs going. It was so hard not to stop, and when I did take short walk breaks it was so hard to get started again. I was able to put it together and do the last mile in 8:35. The finish is a long mild ¾ mi straightaway downslope coming back into Downtown. It’s pretty neat as everything kind of opens up in front of you as you come into town. The crowd was very loud and it was a wonderful moment. I had to check my pace a little as I was feeling a little light headed the last 3/10 mile, and the thought crossed my mind that I could lose it and pass out/go down. Mom caught my attention with a loud yell as I came down the finish. Jen, Joe and Sam were above the finish line on a walkway, but I didn’t see them. The finish was a great relief, and I kept walking a bit to get it together. I was still concerned that I was on the edge of passing out. I bent over for a bit and medical was right there asking if I was okay. I told them I was and within a couple of minutes I had recovered. It was great to have Jenny and Boys, + Mom and Dad, and Missy, Annie, TJ, and Mac there. Loved running through downtown! Saw Jen and Boys at Vine/7'th, O'Brienville, Murray Trail (Mariemont). Saw others at VictoryPwy, and Bramble and coming off MurrayBikeTrail. I took a Gu at miles 4, 9, 16, and 19, plus several orange slices, and Annie gave me a bag of jelly beans at the beginning of Bramble. I alternated water and Gatorade most of the race, and bypassed several of the later stops, as I didn't feel I needed fluids. I don't know if that was really the right call, or was part of the reason I felt light-headed at the end. Never did hit any kind of wall, but the legs really fatigued coming in. Mostly the quads, but I also had some annoying left knee pain the last three mi. The Achilles was perfect the whole way! I'm thrilled to have come through in good shape physically, and to have beaten four hours. Chip time was 3:53:24!

In reviewing the race, I was able to pretty much do even splits (except for mile 7 the "climb") until the last few miles. I think I ran a smarter race than most, as I went from #1205 place at 6.8 mi to #1111 at 13.1, to #975 at 19.7 mi, to #792 at the finish. My last mile was ranked #599 out 4087 finishers. It looks like a lot of runners either took it too hard on the early hills, especially “the climb” of miles 5-8, or else underestimated the effect that the heat and humidity would have.

Try to fit in a few more long training runs. I did 16, 16, 18, and 20 but feel my endurance could have been better. I was really hurting coming in the last 4 miles. It was very hard to keep running. Also, I'd start training six months prior to the race, rather than four. And also slow down my long runs - I think it's more important to be out there for a longer period of time, than to run at a quicker pace. Hydrate better the last few miles. Skipping the last few water stops almost came back and bit me.

Shuffled around the recovery area, hit the porta-pot, and then met the family in the party zone. Had one of the best beers in a long time! Man that was good. Scraped the salt accumulation off my face.

I'm so thankful for the support my family gave me throughout the race, and also through the past four months of training. Especially my wife Jenny, who would meet me on long runs to resupply me, and was supportive and encouraging thoroughout. When all my doubts crept in the last week, She's the one who told me I can do this, I've trained well, and to just go out and enjoy it, it'll the most fun run you've ever had.


Inexperience, and the temperature and humidity, especially the last two hours. Temp was 58 at the start but 73 when I finished. Humidy 90% at start. The lost two weeks of training due to the Achilles issue.


Course support could not be better. Water and gatorade every mile. Misting stations, Gu at miles 18 and 22, cold towel, body glide station. Medical personel very prevelent. Crowd was fantastic throughout, but the highlights were running through Downtown Cincinnati, Eden Park, Hyde Park, Mariemont, and the Finish. Lots of people passing out orange slices, jelly beans, and more.