This was my third in-person marathon and the most fun I've ever had on race weekend. It's hard to be nervous when you're surrounded by Pig-themed everything :D

To kick off the weekend, there was a large banner at the airport welcoming Flying Pig runners. When we got to our hotel (Hyatt Regency), we mentioned we were here for The Pig and they gave us some snacks with a little note wishing us good luck. The hotel is right across the street from the Expo which was super convenient.

We actually stopped by the expo twice - Friday to pick up my packet (along with the free backpack, t shirt and poster), and then again on Saturday to shop for swag (there is A LOT of awesome Pig stuff for sale). Walking around town we saw a lot of other runners with their Pig swag and it was so fun to feel the excitement of the entire city.

Race morning was super easy since I stayed at one of the host hotels. It was about a half mile walk to the start area, which was bumping with music and a DJ.

The corral (Pig Pen) set up was another awesome thing about this race. In other large races, people often line up in the faster corrals even if they don't belong there, causing bunching at the start. The Pig Pens at the Flying Pig are strictly enforced - there was only one way in to each pig pen, with a race volunteer checking your bib before allowing access. I was in the second pig pen and I felt like I had plenty of space at the start.

The course "flies" through many different neighborhoods, and it was nice to see the different themed support stations. I think there is some type of vote after the race for which cheer station was the best - so the crowds were really getting into it! The race does thin out after the half and full split off, but there was still a lot of support. My favorite part was around miles 15-16, we ran through one neighborhood that had pig balloons and decorations all over, people were camped out in their yards cheering and offering water and Gatorade, etc.

One thing you'll definitely want to be prepared for is hills. Uphill AND DOWN! I prepared a lot for the uphill climb from miles 5-8, and it honestly went by smoother than I expected. But the massive downhills afterwards were what killed my quads and knees. I had to slow down a lot the last 10K because I was in so much pain.

Once I crossed the Finish Swine, a volunteer came up to me with a Gatorade and uncapped it for me as she could tell I was really hurting. The volunteers placed the medal around my neck and it was off to the "recovery" area to grab my slice of pizza and other snacks. Then, onto the post race party to meet my family. There was a lot going on at the after party, including a giant blow up Pig, different photo ops and a free PT adjustment by the Fleet Feet tent.

Even though the course absolutely destroyed my legs, I would definitely come back. The Pig theme made everything 10x more fun, and I absolutely loved how nice everyone was - the other runners, the volunteers and the people of Cincinnati. Plus, it was super easy logistically to get around. If you do this race make sure to join the Flying Pig Marathon Community Facebook group to connect with other runners and learn some tips from the Pig veterans.

I originally signed up for this race because the marathon I was planning to do was cancelled. I don’t think I would have ever considered it if not for the covid pandemic. It was one of the few marathons actually happening in person.

One thing you’ll realize about this race is that it’s SMALL. I think there were just over 300 marathon finishers, not sure about the half. Smaller races make me nervous because you never know how well the course will be marked, if you’ll get lost running on your own, etc. But this race was meticulously organized from start to finish. We were separated into different corrals with a staggered start. The course was very well marked by cones, mile marker signs and green arrows painted on the road. I was never running completely alone, there was always someone to chase in front of me. The aid stations were stocked up with water, Gatorade and gels. There were police officers manning every intersection so runners felt super safe.

I was really impressed by how well the runner tracking worked for such a small race. They had timing mats set out for 5 mile, 10 mile, half, 15 mile, 20 mile and 25 mile increments. A lot of big races don’t even capture that many splits!! My friends and family were able to track me and even leave comments on the runner tracking page :)

Another thing to note is the gorgeous views along the course. Salisbury is a really small town so I thought this course might be “boring”... but it’s really not. The race starts in a local park and then out onto the country roads. You’re surrounded by open fields, blue skies and the occasional horse barn. You run through Salisbury University and along the river. The last section of the marathon goes through this really pretty neighborhood surrounded by pine trees.

One thing to note is that the last .2 is a steady uphill climb to the finish. But it’s a straight shot to the finish arch so you’ll have all the adrenaline to keep you going.

Overall, I was really impressed by this race. The only thing is that, if you don’t live locally on the peninsula, it is a huge pain in the ass to get over the Bay Bridge.

I used to do this race every year and loved it. But in 2021 they changed the course and now it starts and finishes on the beach. They did this because they did not want to provide shuttle buses to and from the start anymore.

Now, the course is not certified and there are no mile markers. This was extremely frustrating to not know where you are on the course and how much longer you have until the finish.

For a half thats over $100, having USATF certification and mile markers are a must. Very disappointing and will not be doing this race again.