Flying Pigs?

[DianeL]

Ok, I think someone else brought this Marathon Weekend up before but can't remember who.

I can't get down for the Minnie Marathon Weekend and yes it is killing me! So the Flying Pig Marathon has been squealing thru my brain for the past couple of days. Since hearing about it months ago and again from OUR Marathon Weekend I talked to a lady who had done the Half for the Flying Pig and she said they really did a great job and it was lots of fun.

Well we don't want to try anything longer than a 10K (or a 15K had I been able to get to WDW lol) before the DL Half in Sept. So I brought it up to Susan again today. Tempting her with a 5K, thinking to myself worst case I could do a 5K myself. Then at dinner with DH I started to wonder if they had a 10K and yup they do. Another call to Susan and it's becoming a bigger possiblity.

One of the big questions we have after seeing the course map for the 10K is the bridges. The 10K crosses 2 bridges and I'm afraid of heights. I handled the overpasses at Disney ok this year (last year I was a little worried looking over, this year I focused on those coming behind me, amazing sight all those runners!)

So my question for anyone here that lives in Cinn, OH or has done the Marathon Weekend there, do you know if those bridges are solid road bridges that look like any other road OR are they grated and you can see the river rushing underneath? If I can see the river underneath me then I can't do it, I was able to cross over the grated mini bridge at Mile 6 in the Half but focuses on the slippery feeling (ick!) rather than the water beneath it. But that was a short distance compared to crossing a river. If the bridge is solid and no view of the water I can focus on those before me and whatever else. Plus if it's solid I've made Susan promise she'll do bridge duty and make sure she is there to keep my mind off it otherwise I'll be on the side as she put it "in the fetal position"

So what's those bridges like? Scary grated or no worries solid?

In case the course changes the bridges lists on the map are....

Clay Wade Bailey Bridge
Taylor Southgate Bridge

I did a quick surf on those 2 and the pictures I found looked to be solid but I'd prefer to hear from someone who knows those if possible to confirm this. I'd rather not have a wicked surprise at mile 3 and 5.5.

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I don't know, but it is a great question. I would definitely not be able to do the grates either. (jumping out of a plane, yes, have done--grates no thank you.)

 

[DianeL]

You've jumped out of planes? You really are GOOFY

I did email the contact person for the Flying Pig weekend so if I hear back from them before someone posts here I'll be sure to pass on the info.

I think it was Carrie that mentioned another race to me that the first thought was I couldn't do because it was a bridge I KNEW to be very long and had the grates. You'll find me on EE next January but you won't catch me running on a bridge with grates LOL Mile 6 I can handle, i about slowed to a snails pace but I crossed it LOL

 

[skfulkers]

Diane,

I live in Cincinnati and while I've never run the Flying Pig, my DW and I have run some races downtown and there is a Thanksgiving Day Race that follows almost the same path as the 10k for the Flying Pig. The Taylor Southgate Bridge and Clay Wade Bailey Bridge are both paved, solid bridges. There is no bar-grating in sight. Krista (my wife) was a little worried about this, too, before the race last Thanksgiving, so we did a little research and I talked to friends who have run the Pig.
So no need to worry. I will say, however, that the inclines for these bridges are fairly long. You can probably tell from the pictures, but I thought I'd mention it just in case you hadn't thought about it. But as long as you're used to some hill work in training, this shouldn't be a big deal.
Have fun in the race. Everyone who runs it here says it's a great time. We'd be running it ourselves, but we have another half marathon the weekend before.
Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[DianeL]

Thanks Steve!!!! I saw you post on the weekly running/walking thread and hoped you would see this Excellent point about the inclines on the bridges, no I had not given those thought since we jumped from the 5K to the possiblity of the 10K.

I'm so on fence about it now. Last night I laid awake thinking I shouldn't because when all was done and said for the 1 day it would probably cost me around $200.00 from registration (not much), hotel, meals, and gas the biggest cost. I figured do I really need to spend that for a 5 or 10? Today DH mentioned I should work up a possible price on the Minnie again since it's the same weekend. I might wait and see if I can get some lower airfares for Disney especially since we're AP holders.

If I didn't have the cost of DL in Sept, it would be easier. I really really want to do the Minnie.

Thanks again Steve!!!! At least I now know there are no grates and will keep those inclines in mind

 

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

DH sitting in room as I read your message and he concurred - no need for "fetal position" breakdown He did this race as his first marathon (6 years after heart triple by-pass). He said the major hills are in the first half, so do your hill training so you can have "fun" the day of the race.

The atmosphere at this race is great - and those I know who compete say very well organized and look forward to entering year after year.

If "The Pig" squeals the loudest and you end up registering make sure you get your room soon - they are usually filled pretty quickly.

Good luck and have a good race wherever you may go!

 

[DianeL]

Thanks AlreadyexcitedGrammy!

I'm passing on the info about the hills and bridges to my running partner just in case.

I came acros this weekend last fall and it sounds like it really is a wonderful time, I had the pleasure of talking to another on marathon weekend at WDW and when she found out me and Susan were new to running she brought the Flying Pig up as being a very fun race to do. And how can it not be? Sounds like those at the Flying Pig are just as crazy as us Disney addicts If people are dressing up as Pigs and going "hog crazy" you know they are a bunch of kewl people.

Thanks for the info!!!!

 

[DianeL]

I received a reply from the people at the Flying Pig and in addition to the bridges being concrete they are also closed to traffic for the races so if anyone else is like me you can then run down the middle of the road away from the beautiful view of the river below LOL

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Diane--I found some more info about the Pig I thought you might like.

http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com/race_information/course/

This gives a very complete description of the course, where you can run on the whole street or when you can only run on the right-hand side. There is also a fairly detailed course tour that I thought you might like, as it talks about the dreaded bridges. I've heard this is a great race to run, I'd LOVE to run it, but I'm doing the Country Music 1/2 the week before. Good luck!!!

Oh, the website for the marathon is www.flyingpigmarathon.com in case you've never been on that site before.

 

[DianeL]

Thanks Krista!

I'll checkc out the course details

I'm keeping it open as a possible. Hubby was even talking about driving down the morning of but it's like a 5 hr drive. The problem is my running partner would have to bring her dogs which means a hotel for dogs which kinda makes it the whole thing a bother for her. Drive 5 hours for a 10K, spend the night in a hotel that allows dogs, not nearby, then she will have to turn around and drive straight home. No celebratory lunch. Nothing.

We'll keep it open because we both want to do it. I had originally pushed it off till 2008 because if they do the Minnie again in 2007 then we will be there doing the 15K. I really want to do the Flying Pig but hey if I have to push it off till 2008 then I can probably do their Half instead of just the 10K

Frankly it's all the Minnie's fault, I'm feeling sad that I can't fit it in this year so trying to cheer myself up

We do have a 8K the weekend before Memorial Weekend and then a 10K closer to home the weekend AFTER Memorial Weekend. Truly, the weekend of the Minnie/Pig we should behave ourselves and train but it's soooo hard wanting to do one of those 2 races. Guess I'll just have to buy more Disneyland Race gear to make up for missing the other 2

But if anyone has experiences they'd like to share about the Flying Pig we're all ears. Either way someday this race is on our list just a matter of how fast we can fit it in