Nashville Rock-n-Roll vs Flying Pig Half Marathons

[DianeL]

For those that have done both which would you recommend doing 1st? Did you find one a bit easier than the other?

I'm leaning towards Nashville, the group will be there and it's on a Saturday.

Flying Pig is really cool, we did the 10K in 2007 but it's a Sunday and after those hills I know I will need to take Monday off.

So which way should we go?

 

[FireDancer]

I have done the Nashville half but haven’t done the flying pig yet. I am slowly getting through all the Ohio half marathons (Cleveland, Akron, Columbus down) and haven’t gotten to the Flying Pig yet. I can say that that Nashville half was the best run non-Disney half I have done. There were bands almost every mile and the spectator participation was great.

I can tell you the profile of the Nashville race is flatter than Cincinnati but I can only speak from the elevation maps, not experience.

Good luck whichever you choose.

 

[BamaEd1]

Ditto what fire dancer. Nashville was a blast. Very well organized, great crowds, and the music was great (it is Music City USA after all). I'm thinking about doing the full this year, if I survive Disney's Full and am able to ramp back up that quickly that is. From everything that I've read, I don't think either would be a bad choice.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I'm thinking about the 1/2 in Nashville. Will not be available for Flying Pig. Glad to hear good things about Nashville and thanks for asking the question Diane.

 

[DianeL]

Thanks Frank and Ed!!!

Glad to help Lily

 

[WDWFAN9]

Oh do Nashville AND Chicago and you get a bonus medal!!

 

[chimera]

You rock, Diane! Do 'em both

 

[DianeL]

But Pat!!!! If all goes well in January then Susan has us back in DL so she can go for the Coast to Coast which means August in Chicago might not be the bestest idea. Ok that is the excuse I am holding on to for dear life LOL Because you have to know that Chicago DID cross my mind already LOL

And where in 2009 will I find time to actually TRAIN for 2010. You people are nothing but enablers!!!!! Let's stay focused on Nashville and Flying Pig before I add any more.

*sighs* Chicago. Which is like what a 5 hour drive for me.

Our DHs (Susan's and mine) never understand why we have to go out of state for our races. I'm just going to point to all of you from now on when our DHs ask why just why we have to leave the state again. Chicago. *shaking my head at you* Now that Indianpolis medal of yours! Now there's another. LOL

 

[WDWFAN9]

But Diane - think of Chicago as part of your training for 2010!!

 

[DianeL]

Do you and Wendy have the same training schedule?

Week 1 - low mile weekend of 6 miles
Week 2 - 1/2 marathon
Week 3 - maybe 7 miles
Week 4 - 1/2 marathon
and so on???? oh toss in a Tri somewhere in there.

Enablers! I have to go now, my ice pack is thawed LOL

BTW, my DH dragged me whining and pouting last night to the local high school's track. I actually liked it! Just me, him and 1 other. It wasn't lit but had a street lamp close enough to not be extremely scary. I managed my longest running distance DL ... a whole 3/4 mile I think I could have managed a full mile had I not needed a bathroom LOL

If the wonderful people who have done Nashville can tell me was the Expo good size? I liked the Flying Pig with their own merchandise plus all the other wonderful vendors like those Skirt people, Clif and so on.

Pat say I Hi to jim for me!!! Oh and Pat... Susan who HATES water, I don't think I can even get her on a Disney cruise.... she has been talking about the Bingham cruise to Alaska LOL as I said.... ENABLER!!!

 

[WDWFAN9]

Diane - no TRI's for me!! I don't swim in water unless I can see what is in there with me, and I can't remember the last time I was on a bike!!

About Nashville's expo - just looking at the race website a lot of merchandise is offered - pins, different shirts, hats, etc. so I would guess the expo is pretty good.

RE the GAMM cruise - it is so cool. One thing that Susan might like since she hates water is that you aren't often out of sight of land, and the scenery is amazing. When the cruise ship was in Glacier Bay just about all the passengers were outside on the decks and mostly silent - kind of hushed like in church because the views were just so spectacular and spell-binding.

Hey, I hope it all works out, and I don't have a problem with you blaming me!! I just blame Anne!!

 

[getnthinr]

Training schedule? You mean I'm supposed to have a SCHEDULE?!?!?!?!?

I loved both the Flying Pig and Nashville -- and I say that after doing the full marathons at both, so I know you can rock either half. Sounds like you might have a bigger WISH gathering at Nashville though and I know you know the people "make" the race.

Nashville's expo the year I did it was HUGE -- don't know if they've scaled back or not in recent years, but I managed to spend a ton of money there.

Whatever your decision, Diane, ENJOY!

 

[TriMom]

Nashville!!!! - Ok, I am local so I am biased. But it is a great race, and you will have lots of crowd support. I love the part though the neighborhoods where everyone is sitting in their lawn chairs watching and cheering. The full is on my list for this year.

 

[FireDancer]

You can get a special medal if you do any 2 or more Elite races. It is called the heavy medal series and the explanation is here.

The Elite races are:

01-18-09 Phoenix Full and Half
04-25-09 Nashville Full and Half
05-31-09 San Diego Full
06-27-09 Seattle Full and Half
08-02-09 Chicago Half
09-06-09 VA Beach Half
10-04-09 San Jose Half
11-16-08 San Antonio Full and Half

If I had the extra funds I would do a couple of them.

 

[goofyinohio]

I'm thinking about doing both the Nashville Half and the Chicago Half. We'll see how that works out.

The Flying Pig was a great time. Plenty of support, a great course and a really fun run.

 

[kareneast]

For those that have done both which would you recommend doing 1st? Did you find one a bit easier than the other?

I'm leaning towards Nashville, the group will be there and it's on a Saturday.

Flying Pig is really cool, we did the 10K in 2007 but it's a Sunday and after those hills I know I will need to take Monday off.

So which way should we go?

I haven't done either race yet, so I can't compare, but.....I vote you do Nashville. John & I will be there. We're registering next week while we are at the San Antonio Expo.

 

[DianeL]

As soon as I register I will let you know But it's looking like Nashville. Between the 2 races I can't pass up the team. Plus all those bands.

Tonight I FINALLY made our Princess hotel reservations. Next up pay for the actual Princess race registration then register and book the Nashville race stuff.

Gotta pay for my Princess race 1st since we have the air and hotel already booked now. LOL

If anyone hears of Nashville filling up please post about it.

Pat .... Chicago is still on the list LOL I'm laughing because I can't believe how insane I've become. 2008 saw my most long distance racing year. Jan 26.2.. April 13.1 May the Minnie 15K and DL 13.1. And 2009 is filling up with 13.1's left and right. I figured i'd only race at Disney when we started. If I do all the ones I have planned for 2009 it will be like 5

I think you should all introduce yourselves ..... Hi my name is ______ and I'm a Distance Racing Enabler.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone!!! Good luck to my Enablers as they race in San Antonio!!!! Go get that bling!!!!!

 

[WDWFAN9]

Pat .... Chicago is still on the list LOL I'm laughing because I can't believe how insane I've become. 2008 saw my most long distance racing year. Jan 26.2.. April 13.1 May the Minnie 15K and DL 13.1. And 2009 is filling up with 13.1's left and right. I figured i'd only race at Disney when we started. If I do all the ones I have planned for 2009 it will be like 5

I think you should all introduce yourselves ..... Hi my name is ______ and I'm a Distance Racing Enabler.

Oh boy do I hear what you are saying....I'll have done 8 halfs in 2008, but won't do that many in 2009 (I think), and I've dragged to Jim to most of those!! I blame Anne, she's the one that gave me a book to read about a guy doing the 50 state thing, and got me thinking about it! Yep, it is all Anne's doing!! But really, traveling to cool places, seeing my WISH friends, doing something that is good for my health - it is a win, win, win situation as far as I am concerned. I hope to see you in Nashville and Chicago in 2009.

And, if you are thinking 2010 (besides the GAMM cruise) there is the Kentucky Derby half the end of April that I have tentatively penciled in on my calendar!!

 

[getnthinr]

And, if you are thinking 2010 (besides the GAMM cruise) there is the Kentucky Derby half the end of April that I have tentatively penciled in on my calendar!!

Ooooo! Oooooo! Ooooo! I've done the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (half) -- it was great fun -- lots of stuff going on that week too if you can manage the time away from work. I just went for the weekend and went to the festival venue outside my hotel -- live music, lots of food booths, cool Kentucky Derby merchandise.

Now, be aware, it's Kentucky, so there are rolling hills. (Or maybe Kentucky's flattened out some since I did it several years ago. )

 

[WDWFAN9]

Ooooo! Oooooo! Ooooo! I've done the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (half) -- it was great fun -- lots of stuff going on that week too if you can manage the time away from work. I just went for the weekend and went to the festival venue outside my hotel -- live music, lots of food booths, cool Kentucky Derby merchandise.

Now, be aware, it's Kentucky, so there are rolling hills. (Or maybe Kentucky's flattened out some since I did it several years ago. )

uh-oh! More hills than Nashville? My sister and her family live in IN just across from Louisville, and yes it can be hilly.

They really know how to party for the Kentucky Derby! I've been to Thunder over Louisville a few times - it is one of the world's largest fireworks celebrations and it makes Disney fireworks look like a backyard show, so I guess we need to try the KD half. Plus the medal should be pretty cool. Of course we are talking end of April 2010, but I do like to plan ahead!!