Fact: Rudolf Jun and Rebecca Gallaher, the defending Flying Pig Marathon champions, are registered and set to compete in Sunday's third running. Rumor: Elly Rono, the 1999 winner, may join them.

        “I heard from a friend of mine at ESPN that Elly might be coming,” race director Rich Williams said. “If that happens, he's going to blow everyone out.”

        Rono, a Kenyan living in Evansville, Ind., won the 1999 Pig in 2:21:15, 1:16 faster than Jun. But Rono has improved substantially since. He won October's Columbus Marathon in 2:15:27 and has run marathons as fast as 2:12.

HOW TO REGISTER

You can register for the Flying Pig or the Papa John's Flying Pig 5 Mile at flyingpigmarathon.com or by calling 513-721-PIGS.

        The Flying Pig, which will start at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, is offering a $5,000 bonus to anyone breaking the men's or women's race record.

        Rono holds the men's record; Gallaher holds the women's mark of 2:49:32.

        According to the race's Web site, www.cincymarathon.com, more than 6,200 marathoners have signed up for Sunday's race. The top woman registered other than Gallaher is Maddy Tormoen of Pueblo, Colo. She is a former top triathlete and duathlete.

        “She's getting near Masters age (over 40 years old),” Williams said. “But she said she expects to run under 2:50.”

        Williams is in contact with several agents, including Shawn Hellebuyck of Albuquerque, N.M. Among the runners she represents is her husband, Eddy. He's 40 years old but has run more sub-2:12 marathons than anyone.

        “Shawn said he may run,” Williams said. “So, who knows?”

        With a potential $7,000 payday — first-place money plus the record bonus — the Pig is likely to draw someone fast. It could be a situation like in 1999 when Rono arrived two minutes after registration closed and got in the field only after race founder Bob Coughlin intervened on his behalf.

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