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Latest reviews by Matthew Crooker
Matthew Crooker recommends this race
(2019)
"I Want To Fly Like A Pig!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
First and foremost, the Flying Pig holds a special place in my heart since it is my hometown race. When I ran the Half, I knew it was going to be challenging because the course is unique. It's mostly flat for the first 5 miles, despite the bridges going into and out of Kentucky, and then it goes 5 miles up hill (for the most part), and finished by going downhill for the last 3 miles. The scenery is great! You get to run through two states, and get to run by Cincinnati landmarks. The T-shirts are great from what you get for singing up. The aid stations are every mile and there is a stations where they give you energy gels to keep you fueled. The elevation gain is real for this race, but it's not rolling hills. Parking is a bit tricky since it is limited. If you have the chance to carpool, do it! A hint of advice would be to park in Kentucky and walk over one of the bridges to the start line. It helps for leaving too.
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Matthew Crooker recommends this race
(2019)
"Hills for Breakfast, Hills In My Dreams That Night!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Run the Bluegrass is probably the hardest Half Marathon I have ever ran in my entire life. It was also my first. When I signed up, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I saw it was "America's Prettiest" and I wanted to find out for myself. I recruited a friend of mine to join me, also his first Half Marathon. We heard and saw rumors that the race was hilly, but didn't think anything of it since we ran hills in Ohio, where we live. When we started the race, we thought to ourselves, "It can't be that bad?" Well after mile 3, we saw that the rumors and rumblings were real. It was nothing but hills! Right when we thought we would have a break... BOOM! Another hill! It got to the point where we lost count of the hills. We think there's over 30, but that might contribute to the myth! In terms of scenery, the race is beautiful! Watching the horses run on their respective farms was an alluring sight. The swag is great! There are endless choices to choose from. The water stations were plentiful and there's really no need to carry your own hydration. I highly recommend this race for not only its sights, but the challenge it presents as well.
P.S. the medals for this race are probably the best ones you can find anywhere!