Saturday, May 05, 2001
Pig starts before rooster crows
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Flying Pig Marathon is for early risers. The wheelchair race begins at 6:25 a.m. Sunday. The runners take off at 6:30. The new Papa John's Flying Pig 5-Mile starts at 6:45.
The reason for the early start is to beat the heat. Sunday's forecast calls for a high of 77 and a low of 59.
“It doesn't get to the high temperature until 2 o'clock in the afternoon,” race director Rich Williams said. “We should be all right.”
Last year, the Pig was run in low-40s temperatures. The first Pig, in 1999, was run in low-70s temperatures.
“We'll be ready, whatever the weather is,” Williams said.
The two big changes this year are the new course and the addition of the 5-mile race.
The course was changed to take out the far eastern portion, which was unpopular among runners. It was replaced with a stretch along Central Parkway and Spring Grove Avenue.
The race starts on Seventh Street between Race and Elm streets downtown. The finish is at Sawyer Point/Yeatman's Cove. The postrace party will be at Yeatman's Cove.
The 5-mile race is a hit. More than 1,200 people have registered.
“It builds on a festival concept,” Williams said. “It lets a lot more people partici pate. The relays were very popular, but they've sold out both years.”
The favorites for the Pig are Rudolf Jun and Rebecca Gallaher, the defending champions.
The race will be televised live on Channel 9 from 6:30-10 a.m.
Sports Stories
Grove, Little may be charged in bar fight
Matta starts settling in
XU schedule upgraded, almost complete
Padres 11, Reds 5
Reds attendance off 21 percent
Specialist eases concern about Larkin
Larson makes Red for a day
Castro, Stennett sign extensions
Harnisch works on mechanics
Padres find HR stroke
Reds box, runs
Bengals all here for minicamp
Pig starts before rooster crows