Please read these instructions completely and carefully. They contain information about all of our Sunday events, including parking and the race course. There are many new changes this year including the start line, finish line and parts of the course. Share this with your family and friends who will be waiting for you at the finish line area.
Be sure to download the Flying Pig Marathon app, sponsored by TQL, available on your
Apple
or
Android
device. This will be a great tool to use throughout the weekend for information on race schedules, participant tracking, getting around and more!
At the Expo:
The P&G Health and Fitness Expo will again fill all three halls of the Duke Energy Convention Center! When you enter the convention center, you'll be able to pick up your packet, visit our vendors and charity partners and collect your race premium items. The Duke Energy Convention Center is located at 525 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. The expo is open from 12-7 p.m. on Friday, May 4 and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, May 5.
For marathon participants, there will NOT be on-site packet pick-up on race morning. If you cannot make the expo, you can have someone else pickup your packet with the Packet Pickup Authorization Form.
Be sure to review our
parking guides
for the entire weekend including the expo and race day. Or, take the bus to the P&G Health & Fitness Expo.
There are six routes that stop at the Duke Energy Convention Center, 11 one block away and 28 bus routes that come to Government Square, just three blocks from the Expo. You can plan your route using Google Transit. Just put in your home address and the address of the Duke Energy Convention Center and get a list of buses and times to use.
NOTE:
All Second St. ramps off I-75 and Route 50 will close at 6:00 a.m. race morning. Navigate to the start line and around the course using the Waze app. We've shared our course and street closures with them and they will be reflected within the app when navigating.
Getting to the Start
NEW: Start location for all events on Sunday, May 6 is on Elm Street between Second St. and W. Freedom Way, just east of Paul Brown Stadium. All Sunday races start at 6:30 a.m.
The Start is within walking distance of the downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky hotels.
Driving from the South:
I-75 North into Ohio to the 5th Street Exit. Right on Central to various lots.
I-471 North to the 3rd Street Exit. Various lots and garages along 3rd St.
Driving from the North:
I-75 South to the 5th Street Exit. Right on Central to various lots.
I-71 South to Gilbert Avenue Exit. Continue on Gilbert to 8th St. Turn left on Sycamore, right on 3rd Street to various lots.
I-71 South to the 3rd Street Exit.
Various lots and garages along 3rd St.
Walking from Northern Kentucky hotels:
Walk across the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, right on 3rd Street, right on Elm St.
Walk across the John A. Roebling Bridge, left on Rosa Parks Street, left on Freedom Way.
Parking
Parking Sunday morning will be available in Lots A, B, E, 1 and Central Riverfront Garage near Paul Brown Stadium for those arriving by 5:30 a.m. Parking will also be available in several garages along 3rd Street & throughout downtown Cincinnati. Streets south of 4th Street close at 6 a.m. Most parking is between $5 - $15. Please have money ready to expedite entrance into lots.
Free parking is available to those who carpool on Sunday morning in Longworth Hall. The lot will be open beginning at 5:00 a.m. and is a short walk to the start line. Parking in this lot is by permit only. You can pick up your permit at the P&G Health & Fitness Expo in the Carpool Parking Booth (booth number 505).
At the Starting Line, Sunday, May 6
With the start line relocated to Elm St., the east plaza level of Paul Brown Stadium will be home to baggage buses, restrooms, water and other pre-race routine essentials. The best way to access the stadium will be on Elm St. from Second St., Freedom Way or (the easiest) from the west side of Paul Brown Stadium using pedestrian ramps. The start line and stadium will not be accessible from Elm St. after 6:15 a.m. so we can start the race on time. Please use Freedom Way or the west side of the stadium after 6:15 a.m.
Portable restrooms will be on the plaza level near the baggage buses to the north and the water and information tents on the south. Additional restroom facilities will be available at Paul Brown Stadium inside Gate D near Freedom Way and individual corrals. Allow plenty of time to get to the Start Line in order to check any gear and position yourself in your assigned corral.
Gear Check/Baggage Claim
Sunday event participants may check gear at the Start Line. Gear check buses will be located on the east plaza level near the Bengals Pro Shop.
Place all of your items in the clear bag provided at the Expo. A tear tag will be provided (detach from your race bib number) as a means of I.D. Attach the tear tag to your bag prior to drop off at the bus.
Allow plenty of time to get to the Start Line in order to check any gear and position yourself in your assigned corral. Gear must be placed in clear bag and checked in by 6:30 a.m., or it will not be accepted.
Participants can claim their gear after the race on Mehring Way just outside the exit to the race recovery area. Show your bib number to the volunteers at the bus to claim your bag.
Race (Bib) Number Requirements
Each participant will receive a Race (Bib) number that must be worn on race day. Please complete emergency information on back of bib. DO NOT alter your race number in any way. Your bib number must be visible and worn on the front outside of all clothing during the entire race so that it may be clearly seen for runner identification and race photographers on the course.
Bib numbers are non-transferable and MUST be worn by the runner to whom it is assigned.
REMINDER: At the start line, we will be starting participants incrementally by corral between 6:30-7:00am. Please be in your corral no later than 6:30am and follow the instructions from the volunteers.
"Pig Pen" Start Corrals
The assigned Pig Pen will be indicated on each participant's race bib with both a color and a letter. Our Pig Pens will be structured as follows:
|
Color
|
Full Marathon Projected Finish
|
Half Marathon
Projected Finish
|
|
Pig Pen A
|
Black
|
3:15 and faster
|
1:43 and faster
|
|
Pig Pen B
|
Red
|
3:16 - 3:40
|
1:44 - 1:50
|
|
Pig Pen C
|
Purple
|
3:41 - 3:59
|
1:51 - 1:59
|
|
Pig Pen D
|
Orange
|
4:00 - 4:10
|
2:00 - 2:05
|
|
Pig Pen E
|
Pink
|
4:11 - 4:24
|
2:06 - 2:10
|
|
Pig Pen F
|
Green
|
4:25 - 4:40
|
2:10 - 2:20
|
|
Pig Pen G
|
Brown
|
4:41 - 5:00
|
2:21 - 2:30
|
|
Pig Pen H
|
Blue
|
5:01 - 5:59
|
2:31 - 2:59
|
|
Pig Pen I
|
Yellow
|
6:00+
|
3:00+
|
Corrals A-B will be located on W. Freedom Way between Elm and Race. Corrals C, D and E will be on Elm St. between W. Freedom Way and Mehring Way. The remainder of the corrals, F-I will be on Mehring Way between Elm and Central Ave. The color and letter scheme will be reflected in the corresponding signage indicating each Pig Pen's entrance. Entrances will be accessed at the rear of each corral by using the sidewalks on either side of the street which will only be open to participants. Pig Pen entrances will be monitored and correct placement will be enforced. Portable restrooms will be located in each corral near the back. Please review the
Start Line Map
for the full setup.
On race day, participants will
not
be able to move forward to another corral. However, they will be permitted to move backwards if they feel that is a better option for them or would like to start with another participant. If a participant would like to move up a corral because they think their estimated finish time will be better,
please visit the Pig Pen/Corral Assignment Booth during packet pick-up.
Please allow extra time to find and position yourself in the correct Pig Pen. Late arriving participants will not be guaranteed placement their correct Pig Pen.
For Spectators:
The best place to watch near the start on Second St. east of Elm St. Afterward, head to Moerlein Lager House to watch the finish! Join them for their viewing party breakfast as early as 6 a.m. The breakfast buffet is $15.99 per person, but call now to make your reservation: 513-421-2337.
New for Spectators: Energy Broadcast System App
There's a story behind every bib number, and this year you can know them all. Experience the Flying Pig in a brand new way with the Energy Broadcast System - visit
2018Pig.com for the latest details!
On The Course
2018 Course Updates
Participant Rules
Please observe the official rules of the Flying Pig Marathon's Sunday events: Please NO pets, skateboards, bicycles, roller blades, baby joggers or any other types of vehicles. Participants may not run/walk more than two abreast on the course.
Official Fluid Stations
There will be water at the Start Line, and both water and Gatorade at 25 fluid stations on the full course, and 12 fluid stations on the half course, Gatorade first.
GU Energy Gels
GU Energy Gels will be provided on the course at miles 18 and 21.
Portable Restrooms
There will be portable restrooms every mile and at each relay transition zone.
Mile Markers/Digital Clocks
A mile marker sign will be placed at the beginning of each mile. Digital clocks are placed at every 5 miles, at the Relay Zones, (6.38, 11.74 and 19.9 miles), the halfway point of the full, mile 25.2 and at the Finish Line. Timing mats will be at the Relay Exchange Zones, the halfway point of the full marathon and one mile to the finish.
Medical Support/Radio Communications
Medical Staff members will be ready to assist you at any time. Volunteers at fluid stations are able to assist in finding a radio communicator at the nearest mile marker. Participants may also stop at any of the fire stations along the course if serious medical assistance is needed. There will also be athletic trainers at 20 locations on the course with band-aids, 2Toms Sportshield and Vaseline.
The Medical Staff and Marathon officials have the right to withdraw any participant from the race that appears in distress or at risk. There will be a fully equipped Medical Facility at the Finish Line, staffed by a team of professionals until 3:00 p.m. If you have a health or medical problem at the Finish Line, you will be directed to the Medical Area. Please cooperate if you are asked to go for a checkup.
If you are unable to finish the race for any reason, please notify a race official of your bib number so that medical personnel are aware.
There will be flags at the medical tents on-course to indicate race conditions. Green flag means good conditions for racing. Yellow flag means moderate risk of heat injury, consider slowing your pace. Red flag means high risk of heat injury or serious environmental condition such as lightning. Consider greatly reducing pace or discontinuing race. Black flag means the race has been canceled.
The Flying Pig Marathon and its medical team care deeply about your safety on race day. We have partnered with RaceSafe to elevate your level of care from start to finish. Please take a few minutes to set up a secure and free online health profile that will maximize your treatment, should the need arise. Only if treated on race day, will medical team members designated by Flying Pig Marathon be granted access to your profile. The easiest way is to click the following link:
https://www.iracesafe.com/registration/participant?race_id=382
Thank you and enjoy a safe race!
Course Time Limit
ATTENTION ALL PARTICIPANTS:
For your safety and to be in compliance with course re-opening times, we must remind all participants of the seven-hour course limit. ANYONE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SEVEN-HOUR PACE MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING MILE CLOSING MARKS!
- At the Half Marathon split at Woodburn and Madison roads we strongly suggest that anyone behind the seven-hour pace follow the half marathon course to the finish.
- At Frisch's at Columbia and Meadowlark Lane anyone not across this point by 12:15pm (5 ¾ hours after the start) will not be permitted onto Columbia Parkway. Buses will have to take anyone slower than this time down to Eastern Avenue to complete the course.
- At approximately MILE 19 near Linwood Avenue at Eastern, at 12:45pm and after, all will be directed onto the sidewalks to finish.
- At approximately MILE 21 near Delta and Kellogg, at 1:00pm and after, all will be directed onto the sidewalks to finish.
- At approximately MILE 23 at Collins and Riverside Drive, anyone reaching this point at 1:15pm and after, will be directed onto the sidewalks to finish.
It is our goal to assist every participant in finishing their particular event. We are, however, by order of the police department, required to move all participants who cannot maintain the seven hour finisher pace, on sidewalks. We will have support vehicles that can provide water or Gatorade if needed.
We appreciate your compliance with these time restrictions and look forward to seeing you at the finish line!
Awards and Prizes
Overall and Division award winners will be given for the Flying Pig Marathon powered by P&G. Full marathoners will be eligible for the Old Spice High Endurance Mile to the Finish (fastest male/female final mile per age group) and Charmin's Fastest Split Time awards. Overall awards to the top 3 men and women will be determined by gun time, all other division awards by chip time. Overall prizes are awarded at the finish line; division awards will be mailed 3-4 weeks after the race.
At the Finish Swine
When participants cross the Finish Swine, they will be greeted by volunteers who will provide a mylar blanket and the coveted Flying Pig Finisher Medal. Then it's on to the Kroger Recovery Area, where finishers receive food and refreshments provided by Private Selection, Simple Truth, Dole, Pure Protein, LaRosa's and Caruso Produce!
Access to the Kroger Recovery Area is limited to participants only.
Continue through the Kroger Recovery Area and proceed to Smale Riverfront Park and the Michelob Ultra Victory Party. Celebrate the Pig with food, fun, and great music!
Participants can meet up with family and friends outside of the Kroger Recovery Area in the lawn near the wind walkers and signs marked with letters of the alphabet.
Full Marathon participants can pick up their coveted Finishers jacket within the post race party at the DHL Premium Pick-Up area. Look for the yellow DHL trucks near the Roebling Suspension Bridge.
Green Team volunteers will be in both locations to assist with our recycling and composting efforts.
Then proceed to Yeatman's Cove and the Michelob Ultra Victory Party. Celebrate the Pig with a free food, fun, and great music brought to you by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly!
You can meet your family and friends, who will be waiting for you in the lawn area, near the wind walkers and signs marked with letters of the alphabet.
Brewed for those who go the extra mile, Michelob Ultra is rewarding all Sunday participants with a cold one after the race! Redeem the ticket on your race bib at any of the beer booths at the Michelob Ultra Victory Party (must be 21 or older and have ID).
Shuttle buses, provided by First Student Charter, will be provided for those who are returning to the downtown area and Northern Kentucky. The shuttle will pick up near the start line on Elm St. and drop off near the hotels on 5
th
Street, Paul Brown Stadium and carpool lot. Buses will also make trips to the Covington, KY hotels. The buses will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participant Tracking
FLYING PIG MARATHON APP, DRIVEN BY TOTAL QUALITY LOGISTICS
- Download the Flying Pig Events app, driven by Total Quality Logistics on your Apple or Android Device
- Click on Participant Tracking
- Enter your athlete's information and follow them as the progress along the course
Good luck to all participants, we'll see you at the Finish Swine!
