The Flying Pig takes place during the first weekend in May and include the following events: marathon, half-marathon, relay, 10k, 5K, a pump and run event, a kid's run and a pet-friendly run as well. If you are truly a glutton for punishment, you can sign up for a combination of races. You can do a 3-way (5K, 10K, and half-marathon) or a 4-way (5K, 10, marathon) during the weekend.
In addition to these events, there is a 1-mile run on Friday night which is part of the Christian Moerlein Beer series. Friday's run was the second of three beer-themed runs throughout the year which allows participants to claim the title "Beer Hog". The series honors Cincinnati's heritage as a beer brewing center. The medal doubles as a bottle opener.
I don't participate in the run, but Rocky does and we spend the evening drinking at the Moerlein Lager House and watching the Reds lose to the Brewers. I call this pre-gaming for the big race the next day. Like good shoes, prep is so important.
The next morning, the 5K starts in front of the Great American Ball Park, home to the Cincinnati Reds, (yes, I took a photo by the Johnny Bench statue here as well), passes down by the Bengals Stadium, back across 3rd street and down near the new casino, finishing on the opposite side of the Ballpark.
While the Flying Pig events are sanctioned events and a Boston Qualifier, there is a goofy side to it as well.
People run in pig-themed attire. Bacon costumes. Pig noses and ears. The organizers have fully embraced their "pigginess".
There are no volunteers. Those who help are called "Grunts"
There is no kid's race. It's a Piglet Run.
Runners do not assemble in corrals. They use Pig Pens.
There are no possibilities. There are pig-abilities.
For those not from Cincinnati and for the uninformed...Why has Cincinnati embrace their "pigginess"?
Way back in 1988, Cincinnati was redeveloping the riverfront. The new space would have a park, band shell and connect to both stadiums downtown. At the time, I was a student in the Art Department at the University of Cincinnati finishing up my degree. A meeting was held with the guest Artist and upperclassmen were invited to attend. I though to myself, "what a fantastic opportunity!" The Artist was to construct a public art sculpture for the newly developed area and students were asked to participate in its development and make a variety of models and casts.
During the meeting, the Artist talks about Cincinnati's history of the riverfront and of being a center for pork processing. The use of various pork by-products fueled the production of many common products like candles and soap, and was the start of Procter & Gamble, headquartered downtown. The Artist wants to use these images in the plans for the park. He wants pig images. He gives various dimensions to consider, and then says "I want horrific pigs."
Direct quote.
I am furiously writing all this down. What did he say? He wants what?
There is an weird silence in the room. I start to look around at the other students. Many of us have stunned expressions on our faces and are looking to one another for clarification.
He continues. "I want the pigs to be horrific. Screaming pigs...in honor of their slaughtered brethren."
Slaughtered brethren? What the fuck?
I leave the meeting...stunned. What the hell am I supposed to create given the slaughtered brethren image circling in my head? At the time I had only lived in Cincinnati for a few months. This is my primary introduction to my new city. I am thinking to myself, "This place is so messed up."
Anyway, the Riverfront is redeveloped, the park is opened, and the Artist has placed pigs with wings atop smokestacks to represent the Cincinnati riverboat / pork processing heritage. Normally conservative and moderate, the residents of Cincinnati are outraged. Why are Flying Pigs the symbol of the city? That's not what we wanted!
After all the hulabaloo over the stupid pigs....ten years later when the organizers are trying to come up with a catchy title for the marathon in Cincinnati....pigs come up again. You have to admit...the marketing ploys are endless....
"Yeah, I'll run a marathon...when pigs fly."
Spent most of Sunday following Rocky run the marathon and celebrating at the Incline House in Price Hill. A more 'Cincinnati' weekend I would not be able to create. That said... I don't want to give the impression that Cincinnatians are baseball-addicted, beer-drinking, bacon-eating freaks of nature....only on the first weekend in May.
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