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The complete, course-first guide

Flying Pig Marathon

Sunday, May 2, 2027 · 6:30 a.m. (wheelchair and handcycle 6:25 a.m.)
Rosa Parks Street at Freedom Way, between Paycor Stadium and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at The Banks

Marathon26.2 miles
Register for the 2027 Flying Pig Marathon →on Race Roster
Aerial course portraitCincinnatiPublished course model · 26.2 miles
Gold marks the published course model. Public-domain aerial photography: USGS and USDA.

The race in 60 seconds

Marathon
Sunday, May 2, 20276:30 a.m. (wheelchair and handcycle 6:25 a.m.)
Start line
Rosa Parks Street at Freedom Way, between Paycor Stadium and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at The BanksCincinnati, OH
Modeled elevation
About 1380 ft of climbroughly 483 to 823 ft
Course shape
Loop coursestart and finish stay close
Race week weather
52°F to 69°F2016-2025 average, 58% of days wet
Published course limit
7 hours16:01 per mile

First run in 1999, Flying Pig Marathon has had time to become part of the city's running calendar. The route is a loop, keeping the start and finish in the same part of the city. The modeled line carries about 1380 feet of total climb and ranges from roughly 483 to 823 feet above sea level. The elevation profile calls out Gilbert Avenue climb so the defining work is visible before race morning. Look for Scripps Center, Great American Tower at Queen City Square, Great American Ball Park, The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge in the flyover, with recognizable forms modeled from architectural records.

Fly the course

The whole course, built from the best available published route trace and an extruded model of Cincinnati. Scrub it, change the camera, or let it play. Nothing here is a video: it is drawing the city live.

Route statusCurrent community course trace cross-checked against the published route. 2026 race GPX matching the new Rosa Parks St start; the official MapMyRun embed predates the 2026 start move

The route line uses the best published course trace available. Public-domain USGS and USDA aerial photography plus USGS 3DEP elevation are baked into RunRace USA, so the flyover makes no paid map API or third-party runtime requests. Buildings, roads, parks and water use OpenStreetMap, ODbL. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details are approximations; the organizer's published route remains the reference.

The elevation profile

Marathon elevation26.2 miles · about 1380 ft of climb
440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 620 640 660 680 700 720 740 760 780 800 820 840 860 Mile 0.0 to 0.2: +1.0% Mile 0.2 to 0.4: +1.8% Mile 0.4 to 0.6: +0.9% Mile 0.6 to 0.8: +3.0% Mile 0.8 to 1.0: -5.1% Mile 1.0 to 1.2: -0.8% Mile 1.2 to 1.4: +0.2% Mile 1.4 to 1.6: +0.5% Mile 1.6 to 1.8: +0.1% Mile 1.8 to 2.0: -0.2% Mile 2.0 to 2.2: +0.7% Mile 2.2 to 2.4: +1.9% Mile 2.4 to 2.6: -1.4% Mile 2.6 to 2.8: +1.6% Mile 2.8 to 3.0: -1.4% Mile 3.0 to 3.2: +0.9% Mile 3.2 to 3.4: -0.3% Mile 3.4 to 3.6: -0.7% Mile 3.6 to 3.8: +0.0% Mile 3.8 to 4.0: +3.7% Mile 4.0 to 4.2: +1.2% Mile 4.2 to 4.4: +0.1% Mile 4.4 to 4.6: -5.3% Mile 4.6 to 4.8: +0.8% Mile 4.8 to 5.0: -0.3% Mile 5.0 to 5.2: +2.8% Mile 5.2 to 5.4: +0.6% Mile 5.4 to 5.6: -0.2% Mile 5.6 to 5.8: -0.4% Mile 5.8 to 6.0: -0.8% Mile 6.0 to 6.2: +1.3% Mile 6.2 to 6.4: +2.6% Mile 6.4 to 6.6: +2.7% Mile 6.6 to 6.8: +3.6% Mile 6.8 to 7.0: +1.2% Mile 7.0 to 7.2: +0.8% Mile 7.2 to 7.4: +4.2% Mile 7.4 to 7.6: +3.6% Mile 7.6 to 7.8: -3.3% Mile 7.8 to 8.0: +4.3% Mile 8.0 to 8.2: +0.4% Mile 8.2 to 8.4: +2.0% Mile 8.4 to 8.6: +1.3% Mile 8.6 to 8.8: -0.2% Mile 8.8 to 9.0: -1.0% Mile 9.0 to 9.2: +0.3% Mile 9.2 to 9.4: -2.6% Mile 9.4 to 9.6: +0.6% Mile 9.6 to 9.8: -2.7% Mile 9.8 to 10.0: +2.3% Mile 10.0 to 10.2: -2.5% Mile 10.2 to 10.4: +1.2% Mile 10.4 to 10.6: -2.9% Mile 10.6 to 10.8: -1.8% Mile 10.8 to 11.0: +0.7% Mile 11.0 to 11.2: -1.7% Mile 11.2 to 11.4: +0.2% Mile 11.4 to 11.6: +2.4% Mile 11.6 to 11.8: +1.4% Mile 11.8 to 12.0: +1.4% Mile 12.0 to 12.2: +0.9% Mile 12.2 to 12.4: -4.2% Mile 12.4 to 12.6: -1.6% Mile 12.6 to 12.8: -1.0% Mile 12.8 to 13.0: -1.1% Mile 13.0 to 13.2: -2.0% Mile 13.2 to 13.4: -3.2% Mile 13.4 to 13.6: -0.9% Mile 13.6 to 13.8: +1.0% Mile 13.8 to 14.0: +3.1% Mile 14.0 to 14.2: -2.2% Mile 14.2 to 14.4: -1.9% Mile 14.4 to 14.6: -0.0% Mile 14.6 to 14.8: +1.5% Mile 14.8 to 15.0: +0.1% Mile 15.0 to 15.2: +0.4% Mile 15.2 to 15.4: -0.1% Mile 15.4 to 15.6: +0.4% Mile 15.6 to 15.8: -0.1% Mile 15.8 to 16.0: -0.1% Mile 16.0 to 16.2: +0.3% Mile 16.2 to 16.4: -0.1% Mile 16.4 to 16.6: -0.0% Mile 16.6 to 16.8: -0.1% Mile 16.8 to 17.0: -1.1% Mile 17.0 to 17.2: +0.3% Mile 17.2 to 17.4: -0.1% Mile 17.4 to 17.6: -2.2% Mile 17.6 to 17.8: -0.6% Mile 17.8 to 18.0: -0.5% Mile 18.0 to 18.2: +1.5% Mile 18.2 to 18.4: -3.0% Mile 18.4 to 18.6: +0.8% Mile 18.6 to 18.8: +0.1% Mile 18.8 to 19.0: -1.3% Mile 19.0 to 19.2: +0.6% Mile 19.2 to 19.4: -0.4% Mile 19.4 to 19.6: +1.4% Mile 19.6 to 19.8: +0.8% Mile 19.8 to 20.0: +0.0% Mile 20.0 to 20.2: +0.2% Mile 20.2 to 20.4: -0.5% Mile 20.4 to 20.6: -1.2% Mile 20.6 to 20.8: -1.4% Mile 20.8 to 21.0: -0.2% Mile 21.0 to 21.2: -0.7% Mile 21.2 to 21.4: +0.1% Mile 21.4 to 21.6: +0.7% Mile 21.6 to 21.8: -0.1% Mile 21.8 to 22.0: -0.1% Mile 22.0 to 22.2: +1.0% Mile 22.2 to 22.4: -0.3% Mile 22.4 to 22.6: +0.0% Mile 22.6 to 22.8: -0.9% Mile 22.8 to 23.0: -0.1% Mile 23.0 to 23.2: -0.4% Mile 23.2 to 23.4: +1.2% Mile 23.4 to 23.6: +0.0% Mile 23.6 to 23.8: +0.1% Mile 23.8 to 24.0: +0.3% Mile 24.0 to 24.2: +1.3% Mile 24.2 to 24.4: -0.9% Mile 24.4 to 24.6: -1.4% Mile 24.6 to 24.8: -0.1% Mile 24.8 to 25.0: +0.3% Mile 25.0 to 25.2: +0.2% Mile 25.2 to 25.4: -1.9% Mile 25.4 to 25.6: +1.1% Mile 25.6 to 25.8: -1.6% Mile 25.8 to 26.0: -0.3% Mile 26.0 to 26.2: +0.1% 5 10 15 20 25 mile Gilbert Avenue climb +236 ft +115 ft +101 ft +82 ft +64 ft
steep up up flat down steep down

This Marathon profile covers 26.2 miles, ranges from roughly 483 to 823 feet, and contains about 1380 feet of modeled climb.

  • Gilbert Avenue climb, mile 5.94 to 7.55: 236 feet up, the steepest part of the roughly 300-foot rise from the river to Eden Park; gradient rarely gets above 6%.
  • , mile 7.72 to 8.67: 115 feet up, 2.3% average.
  • , mile 11.19 to 12.13: 101 feet up, 2.0% average.
  • , mile 3.9 to 5.32: 82 feet up, 1.1% average.
  • , mile 13.61 to 13.98: 64 feet up, 3.2% average.

Open the full course breakdown →

The route at a glance

1 5 10 13 15 20 25 26
Marathon route26.2 miles
course featured climb start/finish

Gold is the selected modeled course; route provenance is stated beside the flyover.

Race-week weather, measured

At the start line, April 28-May 6 averaged a low of 52°F and a high of 69°F across 2016-2025. The same window reached 85°F at its warmest and 36°F at its coldest. Measurable rain appeared on about 58% of sampled days. Treat the range, not just the average, as the packing list.

Pace it by effort

The profile and grade strip come from the same route currently loaded in the flyover. Use even pace as a baseline, then protect effort on the highlighted climbs and exposed sections.

FinishEven paceHalfway
3:006:52 /mi1:30
3:308:01 /mi1:45
4:009:09 /mi2:00
4:3010:18 /mi2:15
5:0011:27 /mi2:30
Published course limit, 7:0016:01 /mi3:30

Build your race weekend

The course

Live 3D flyover, synchronized elevation, route map, mile-by-mile shape and local landmarks.

Where to stay

31 mapped places to stay, compared by the endpoint that matters.

Expo and logistics

Packet pickup, the published weekend schedule, transit, parking and current entry tiers.

Spectators

Route-aware viewing anchors and a plan that respects the actual course geography.

The weekend

A city guide built around the places modeled beside the course.

Race listing

Dates, distances and the official registration link.

Common questions

Is there race-day packet pickup?

No, and this is the single thing that catches people out. There is no Sunday pickup for the marathon, half marathon or 4-person relay, and packets are not mailed before the race. You must reach the expo at 525 Elm St on Friday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. or Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday-event runners are the exception: their pickup opens 6:00 a.m. race morning at Lot E, 297 W Mehring Way.

Can someone else collect my packet?

Yes. Give them the completed Packet Pickup Authorization Form plus a copy of your photo ID. A photo of the ID shown on a phone is explicitly accepted. Packets are distributed by bib number, not last name, and bib numbers are emailed out in advance, so look yours up first.

Can I get a refund, defer, or transfer?

No refunds, none. No deferrals either, and the last 2020 deferral codes expired after 2023 registration closed. You can transfer your entry to another person or switch to a different distance for a $20 fee, up to April 17 at noon ET, provided the race you want is not sold out. Contact [email protected] or work through Race Roster.

How hilly is it, honestly?

Pig Works' own answer: all the hills are in the first nine miles. Two of them are just the bridge crossings into and out of Kentucky. Then several flat miles, then a 300-foot climb between miles 6 and 9 up through Eden Park. After mile 9 the course is downhill and flat, with the final 4.3 miles along the Ohio River Scenic Byway. Run the first nine on effort, not pace.

What is the time limit and what happens if I am behind it?

Seven hours for the marathon and relay, 3.5 hours for the half, both enforced as a 16-minute-per-mile pace. Runners behind it are asked to move to the sidewalk rather than pulled from the race. There is one hard gate: if you are not at Frisch's Mainliner, between miles 17 and 18, by 12:15 p.m., you get bussed forward to the Eastern Avenue section. The finish line stays open until every participant is in.

Is it a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The marathon is a USATF-certified course and a Boston qualifier when completed as a live event. The virtual option does not qualify.

How do the corrals work?

Nine 'Pig Pens', A through I, printed on your bib as both a colour and a letter, assigned from the finish time you predicted at registration. Pig Pen A is 3:15 and faster for the full, 1:43 and faster for the half; Pig Pen I is 6:00-plus for the full, 3:00-plus for the half. You can move backward freely on race morning but need proof of time to move up into A or B, handled at the expo corral booth or the race-morning registration tent.

What time do I actually need to be there?

Be in your assigned corral no later than 6:20 a.m. per the event guide. Corrals are released incrementally between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., so the 6:30 gun is not necessarily your gun. Pig Works advises arriving at the start area 30 to 60 minutes before your event. Enter your corral from the rear via the sidewalks. Runners in B through F should hit the gear-check buses first, then use the Second Street sidewalks and Marian Spencer Way to reach their pen.

Where do I put my bag?

Gear check buses sit on Elm Street between Freedom Way and Second Street. Your gear must be in the clear bag you were given at the expo and checked by 6:30 a.m. or it will not be accepted. Claim it after the race near the Elm and Mehring Way intersection, just outside the recovery area exit, before 2:30 p.m. Any non-clear bag anywhere on site is subject to inspection.

What is the minimum age?

18 on race day for the marathon. 14 on race day for the half marathon and the relay. 12 for the 10K.

Are there pacers, and how do I find them?

Yes, free to all half and full participants. Marathon groups run 3:05, 3:10, 3:15, 3:20, 3:25, 3:30, 3:35, 3:40, 3:45, 3:50, 4:00, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00, 6:00 and 6:15. Half groups run 1:40 through 3:30. Official Galloway run-walk pacers cover 3:15 and 3:30 in the half and 6:00 and 6:15 in the full. Look for the Pace Team signs inside your corral and get there 30 minutes before the start to beat the congestion.

What is on the course?

25 fluid stations on the full and 11 on the half, with Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance served first and water second at every one. GU Energy gels at miles 18 and 21 on the full, GU chews at mile 9 on the half. Portable restrooms every mile on both courses. Medical teams at 18 points, plus a fully equipped UC Health facility at the finish staffed until 2:00 p.m.

Can I push a stroller?

Not on Sunday. Strollers are banned from the marathon, half marathon and relay courses. They are allowed on all Saturday courses, where you are asked to start toward the back.

What is the weather usually like?

Pig Works' own line: mid-40s at the start, rising to the mid-60s by afternoon. It is an early-spring race on the Ohio River and genuinely hard to forecast. Watch the colour-coded flag system at the medical tents on race morning: green is good, yellow means moderate heat risk and consider slowing, red means high risk, black means cancelled.

Is there a discount?

Yes, 20% off registration for active military, veterans, first responders and licensed medical professionals.

How big is this race?

40,000-plus participants across the weekend, averaging about 21,000 on Sunday and about 20,000 across the Saturday events. Roughly 8,000 volunteers work the weekend.

Where does it finish, and what happens after?

The finish, called the Finish Swine, is on Mehring Way beside Smale Riverfront Park. Every finisher in every event gets a two-sided, three-dimensional medal. You pass through the Kroger Recovery Area for food and refreshments, then exit straight into the Michelob Ultra Victory Party in the reunion area, running 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. under the Roebling Bridge. Challenge medals are at a separate tent inside the party, not at the finish line.

Did the course change recently?

Yes, and it matters if you have run the Pig before. The 2026 edition rerouted both the marathon and the Kentucky sections after the loss of the Fourth Street bridge in Newport plus construction on both sides of the river. Pig Works re-measured and re-certified the new courses. Old split sheets from 2025 and earlier no longer apply.

Where should my family watch?

Culligan Party Zones, with complimentary snacks, sit at Fountain Square on the Vine Street side (mile 5), Clark Point Park at 2041 Madison Road (mile 10), Hyde Park Square (mile 11), Eggleston and Reedy (mile 12), Madisonville at 3912 Plainville Rd (mile 15), Delta and Eastern at 265 Delta Ave (mile 21), and the start/finish at Rosa Parks St. and Mehring Way. Moerlein Lager House opens a breakfast buffet at 6 a.m. and Streetside Brewery runs live music near mile 21.5. Pig Works' own advice is to stand on a hill, where runners need it most.

Why is it called the Flying Pig?

Cincinnati was known as 'Porkopolis' in the 1800s on the back of its stockyards and meat packing. Riverfront development in the 1980s commissioned winged pig sculptures as a nod to that history, and the founders took the name in 1997. The 2027 race is the 29th running; the first was in 1999.

Can I track a runner or watch it live?

Yes to both. Download the Pig Works Event app for free participant tracking, the schedule, course maps and parking. WLWT Channel 5 broadcasts live on Sunday from 5 a.m. through 11 a.m. Pig Works also encourages runners to set up a RaceSafe profile with emergency contact and medical history for the medical team.

Ready to commit? Registration is open on Race Roster. As of August 2026 the marathon was $125.03, and the price only moves one direction.

Register for the 2027 Flying Pig Marathon →on Race Roster

Course geometry provenance is stated beside the player; elevation profiles always use the same route loaded there. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Aerial imagery is from USGS and USDA; other images carry their own source credits. Weather figures use Open-Meteo reanalysis for April 28-May 6 across 2016-2025 at the start line. Schedule, prices and expo hours were checked in August 2026 and are the fields most likely to move: confirm them on flyingpigmarathon.com before you book anything. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.