Flying Pig Marathon
Cincinnati, United States · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Crowd support is the standout, with neighbourhood parties and costumes.
- Water or sports drink about every mile (1.6 km), plus bacon at mile 15 (24 km).
- The course crosses the Ohio River into Kentucky and back.
- Open entry at about USD 125 to 165, with a well-liked medal and swag.
Watch out for
- Hilly: about 376 m (1,234 ft) of gain, with the main climb to Eden Park.
- Several years reached 21 °C (70 °F) or more with humidity.
- Shadeless US 52 stretch from 29 to 35 km (18 to 22 mi) has thinner crowds.
- Parking is a long walk from the finish.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.5
MarathonGuide averages 4.6 of 5 over 515 reviews, BibRave shows 98 percent recommending, and Marathon Maniacs reviewers mostly give 9 or 10 of 10. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Reviewers praise pace-based corrals, the expo and medals. Complaints: confusing tracking, a long walk from parking and no heat warning at aid stations in 2024. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
Huge support, but 376 m (1,234 ft) of gain with a long climb to Eden Park. Newcomers call the hills the hardest part. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.3
Reviewers say the course is hilly enough that a PR is unlikely, and long late descents damage quads. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.9
Ohio River, bridges into Newport and Covington and neighbourhood streets. The shadeless US 52 section near 29 km (18 mi) is dull. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.6
Late corrals meant weaving through crowds for the first few miles in 2017. The field thins and opens up along US 52. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Road asphalt. Reviewers do not discuss surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
City and Kentucky closures are published, but few runners confirm them. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.3
376 m (1,234 ft) of gain per one listing; reviewers describe two or three big hills plus constant rolling. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop with start and finish downtown; one reviewer noted no real downhill after the Eden Park climb. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Easy downtown expo and plentiful toilets, but parking draws criticism and late corrals started 30 minutes after the gun for one runner. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.9
Pace-based corrals. Some runners found the tracking app confusing. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportElectric4.8
The most praised feature in every source: neighbourhood parties, pig costumes and yard aid, thinning from 29 to 35 km (18 to 22 mi). · High confidence
- Aid stationsAbundant4.7
Water or sports drink about every mile (1.6 km), bacon at mile 15 (24 km), misting and cold towels, and visible medical. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.7
Wind is not a theme in reviews; the exposed US 52 stretch is a sun issue instead. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
Early May starts mild at 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F), but several years reached 21 °C (70 °F) or more, humid. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Heat advisory in 2024, thunderstorms in 2023, heat in 2016 and a cool start in 2017. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
Neighbourhood sections and a downtown finish; bridge crossings allow repeat sightings. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
Cincinnati sits at about 150 m (490 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.7
Downtown Cincinnati, Covington and Newport on a weekend with 30,000 or more participants. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No direct price data in the reviews. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.9
Downtown start and finish. Parking is the main complaint. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport is about 20 km (12 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
Downtown expo with easy parking and merchandise, though recommended parking is a long walk from the finish. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Pig theme and a finish festival; the city is a secondary draw. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.0
Registration typically runs January to April, and no sell-out is reported. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
USD 125 to 165 by tier. Reviewers cite the soft shirt, medal, poster and duffel bag as worth it. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 3 May 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 5,000 athletes
- First held
- 1999
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 376 m (1,230 ft)
- Descent
- 376 m (1,230 ft)
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt road
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $145
- Air temperature
- 12–22 °C (54–72 °F)
- Humidity
- High in several years (95% reported)
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), 20 km (12 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown, Covington, Newport
- Booking
- Stay downtown or in Covington and Newport.
What racers and reviewers say
- MarathonGuide reviewsRaced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
Averages 4.6 of 5 across 515 reviews (per search result); the 2017 page shows 5.0 on four reviews. Individual text not readable.
- Marathon Maniacs member reviewsRaced 2016-2025 · aggregator · Positive
Most give 9 or 10 of 10. They agree hills around miles 6 to 12 are manageable but not PR-friendly, crowds are the highlight, aid is frequent, and heat and humidity bite in some years.
- BibRave reviewsRaced 2016-2025 · aggregator · Positive
98% recommend across 85 reviews. Hills are doable with training, long descents punish quads, yard parties and aid stations are frequent, and parking is a complaint.
- Marathon Training Academy recapRaced 2017 · blog · Positive
13th marathon in 4:56:51. Long gradual climb from miles 6 to 8, shadeless US 52 near miles 18 to 19, strong humorous crowds, water every mile, bacon stop at mile 15, late pig-pen corrals.
“Pain is temporary, online race results are forever”
- WeeViews reviewRaced undated · aggregator · Positive
Challenging but beautiful course, spectators along most of the route, aid and bacon, easy logistics and swag worth the fee.
Show 3 more
- Soapbox Media 2012 reportRaced 2012 · article · Positive
Winner Sergio Reyes called it one of the most scenic courses he had run; route follows the Ohio River for several miles.
- Spectrum News 2024Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Nearly 40,000 participants across the weekend in the 26th year.
- Endorphins Running listingRaced 2026 · aggregator · neutral
Lists 376 m (1,234 ft) gain, USD 50 to 302 fee range across distances and mild typical weather.
Raced Flying Pig Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Flying Pig Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.