Flying Pig Marathon Training Plans

The Flying Pig Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K courses travel through two states (Ohio and Kentucky). The 5K course presents little elevation change and is the only one that stays entirely in Ohio. It gives runners a mini-tour of the downtown area with several Ohio sports landmarks along the way. The route begins in the shadow of the Paul Brown Stadium and turns downtown, making a loop past the Taft Art Museum as it heads toward the river. The 5K route drops down onto Pete Rose Way, taking the pack past the remains of the old Riverfront Stadium and its successor, Great American Ballpark, before arriving at the finish line at Riverfront Park.

The Flying Pig 10K is run later the same day, and along with the additional length, its course gains a few rolling hills. After leaving Paul Brown Stadium, the 10K route makes a lazy loop away from downtown to send runners over the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge into Kentucky, where the route follows Fourth Street over the Licking River near the Rowing Club. The 10K race hits its halfway point just before crossing over the Taylor Southgate Bridge back into Ohio to follow Pete Rose Way along the riverfront to the finish line.

All of the Flying Pig events are welcoming to beginners, and the 5K and 10K are a great place to start. Whether you’re brand new to running, lacing up your shoes after an absence, or you’re just seeking the next challenge, following a training plan designed to prepare you for the race you’re about to run is key. CTP’s Flying Pig 5K training plans and Flying Pig 10K training plans include customized workouts that build the endurance and strength that can help you reach the finish line.

The Flying Pig Marathon and Half Marathon are run the next day, and both start in front of Paul Brown Stadium. The course stays relatively flat for the first five miles as it winds through downtown, taking a detour into Kentucky before returning to the Ohio side of the river. As the course leaves downtown, it begins a three-mile-long, stair-step-style incline called “The Climb” that rewards runners with a magnificent view from the top. During these miles, the course takes participants through Eden Park past the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Krohn Observatory. As the route reaches the summit of The Climb, the half marathon route diverges from the full marathon. The last few miles of the half marathon course are all downhill, giving this race an especially enjoyable home stretch toward the finish line in Smale Riverfront Park.

The marathon course, on the other hand, continues on to tackle another set of hills. While there are a couple of bigger climbs between miles 8 and 11, none are quite as dramatic as The Climb. The scenic course follows a gentle downhill east to the Mariemont area, where it loops back toward Cincinnati and the finish line at Smale Riverfront Park.

Despite its hilliness, the course is both beginner- and PR-friendly. Cincinnati’s May weather tends to be mild and sunny, with little wind and low humidity, and because the Flying Pig is a midsize event, there are more opportunities for you to use the course’s elevation changes to your advantage. CTP’s 16-week Flying Pig Marathon training plans and 12-week Flying Pig Half Marathon plans include workouts that target the kind of strength you need to run your best race. Pace work helps you stay relaxed and on pace until the race exits the hills, and hill repeats can help you to build the power you need to climb the hills with confidence. We also offer couch-to-marathon and half marathon training plans that include four to eight weeks of pre-conditioning to help you prepare for training.

No matter which distance – or distances – you’re getting ready to run, choose Custom Training Plans. Our Flying Pig Marathon training plans are developed by professionals to provide you with a safe and effective way to train for your Flying Pig race.