As “double weekends” become more and more popular in the running community, there is often one race that gets more of the attention than the other. These weekends are planned to maximize travel time, and reach goals such as 50 states. The weekend of my Ohio double of Capital City in Columbus and Flying Pig in Cincinnati, I had more of a focus on Flying Pig. However, as often happens, it is the one with less anticipation that ends up being the favorite.
Coming into Cincinnati, I had already been to the Flying Pig expo. I checked into my room at the Renaissance Hotel before heading to my second expo of the day. When I arrived in the room to put my things away I discovered there was only a walk in shower. My epsom salt baths are a crucial part of my recovery routine, luckily, the staff at the hotel graciously moved me to another lovely room with a tub… this will now go on my “preferences” list for all future reservations!
I made my way to the expo, just a few blocks down the street. It was small, but easy to get around, a welcome break after the chaos of the flying pig set-up. I was pleasantly surprised by the under armor race shirts. A great design, material, and quality. The picture below is of the two shirts for my weekend side-by-side… this one was actually my favorite!
On the recommendation of the Hotel Staff I ate dinner at Due Amici and was not disappointed! The service and ambiance were great – and the pasta was perfectly cooked.
Race morning came and the weather was perfect. An easy walk to the start line and the energy in the air was magnetic. Crowds were gathered to watch the 11th annual race take off… Craig Leon, Ohio Native and Elite Runner, was there to encourage runners at the start line. He referred to the chilly air as the “weather of champions” – 1:09:55 later Leon would win the half marathon. The crowd was pumped up with an OHIO chant from special guests SWAGG and FBA
The race ran through the streets of Columbus and around the Ohio State Campus. Great crowd support and organized entertainment made the miles pass quickly. One of my favorite highlights of the course however was the time in the Historic German Village, an area settled by immigrants in the early 1800’s and is now recognized as a model of urban neighborhood preservation. I love races that make me want to learn more about one city I spent time in – this was one of those times. The finishers medal was simple, classic, and high quality. Of the 93 half-marathons I have run, it stands out as one of my favorites. The finish line festival was great – with live performances by SWAGG kept the energy alive even as the last runners came in. I would recommend this race to anyone looking for a companion for Flying Pig in 2015 – or all on its own!