Flying Pig Marathon: Pacing & Race-Day Strategy
A hilly, festive loop with an early river crossing and a long mid-course climb known as “the Climb.”
- Where:
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- When:
- May
- Course:
- Hilly · river crossings · loop
- Best run as:
- Even pace
Course & elevation
The Flying Pig is hillier than most spring marathons, with around 900–1,200 feet of climbing. The course stays relatively flat through the first few miles, then “the Climb” steps up over roughly miles 5–8 — a long, stair-step ascent of about 300 feet through the city’s hilliest neighborhoods. After cresting near Eden Park it descends and runs fast toward the downtown riverfront finish.
- Start → Finish
- 490 → 495 ft
- Net
- +5 ft
- Total gain
- ≈ 300 ft
Key moments
- Mile 1–3Early Ohio River crossing into Northern Kentucky and back — controlled, scenic opening.
- Mile 5–8“The Climb” up through Gilbert Avenue and the hills — the defining grind; ease your effort up it.
- Mile 6–8Eden Park near the top of the climb, with sweeping Ohio River valley views.
- Mile 23–26.2Descend back to the riverfront for a fast downtown finish.
Pacing strategy
This is not a flat PR course — pace by effort and budget for the climb. Bank nothing in the easy opening miles, ease your effort (not your form) up “the Climb,” and use the downhill back half to finish strong.
Plan your mile splits
Enter your goal time to get a mile-by-mile pacing band for Flying Pig Marathon. The even pace option is pre-selected to suit this course.
| Mile | Pace | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:09/mi | 9:09 |
| 2 | 9:09/mi | 18:18 |
| 3 | 9:09/mi | 27:28 |
| 4 | 9:09/mi | 36:37 |
| 5 | 9:09/mi | 45:46 |
| 6 | 9:09/mi | 54:55 |
| 7 | 9:09/mi | 1:04:05 |
| 8 | 9:09/mi | 1:13:14 |
| 9 | 9:09/mi | 1:22:23 |
| 10 | 9:09/mi | 1:31:32 |
| 11 | 9:09/mi | 1:40:41 |
| 12 | 9:09/mi | 1:49:51 |
| 13 | 9:09/mi | 1:59:00 |
| 14 | 9:09/mi | 2:08:09 |
| 15 | 9:09/mi | 2:17:18 |
| 16 | 9:09/mi | 2:26:28 |
| 17 | 9:09/mi | 2:35:37 |
| 18 | 9:09/mi | 2:44:46 |
| 19 | 9:09/mi | 2:53:55 |
| 20 | 9:09/mi | 3:03:05 |
| 21 | 9:09/mi | 3:12:14 |
| 22 | 9:09/mi | 3:21:23 |
| 23 | 9:09/mi | 3:30:32 |
| 24 | 9:09/mi | 3:39:41 |
| 25 | 9:09/mi | 3:48:51 |
| 26 | 9:09/mi | 3:58:00 |
| 26.22 | 9:09/mi | 4:00:00 |
Fueling & hydration
Aid stations roughly every 1.5–2 miles with water and sports drink. The big mid-course climb raises the workload, so fuel before it rather than during — take a gel by the early miles and keep them coming on schedule.
Weather
Early-May Cincinnati is mild but can be humid — typically lows around 50 and highs near 70, with the occasional warm, muggy, or rainy year.
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