By Nancy Young
Enquirer contributor

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - Robin Pendery had run in more than 20 marathons across the country before the inaugural Flying Pig Marathon in 1999 opened a new world to her.

"The Flying Pig had more community support and spirit than any race I had run in,'' the Terrace Park woman said. "It got me thinking about all the things that training for a marathon teaches you - motivation, not giving up, the importance of nutrition. It is so much more than just a race."

Pleasant Run Middle School principal David Maine breaks into a jog during a brisk walk around the school with sixth-grade students Monday. (Michael E. Keating photo)

Pendery discussed her feelings about marathon training with her children's teachers and her co-workers at the Nutrition Council of Cincinnati.

The result is Flying Piglets, which began in 2000and is now used in eight schools across Greater Cincinnati.

Flying Piglets is a youth fitness program coordinated with the Nutrition Council, where Pendery works as a dietitian. It's an offshoot of Cincinnati Walks, an adult lifestyle fitness program coordinated by Pendery.

Pleasant Run Middle School has one of the most ambitious Flying Piglets programs in the region - it's the only one that holds activities within the school day.

Since March 1 and continuing until April 30 (the Flying Pig is May 2), Pleasant Run students, teachers and parents are walking a mile during students' lunch break in an effort to reach the 26.2-mile marathon distance. More than 250 of the school's 1,200 students are participating.

"Besides the obvious benefits of physical fitness and helping the kids to be in the best shape they can be, students are working their way toward small incentives offered by various sponsors. They are also given healthy snacks as a reward for their efforts," said nurse Jane Roden.

Flying Piglets has generated excitement at Pleasant Run Middle, perhaps in part due to school Principal David Maine's personal training for the Flying Pig.

"I have run more than 40 marathons and am training for my second Flying Pig," Maine says.

"The Flying Piglets program has allowed me to develop a more personal connection with my students. They also have a lot of energy, and this is a good way to focus it.''

Participating schools

Flying Piglets can be found at:

Bond Hill Academy

Fairfax Elementary

Our Mother of Sorrows, Roselawn

Parham, Evanston

Pleasant Run Middle, Colerain Township

Stewart Elementary, Sharonville

Terrace Park Elementary

Yavneh Day School, Kenwood

For information on Flying Piglets, call 621-3262 or visit www.nutritioncouncil.org.

About childhood obesity

Only 2 percent of children ages 2-19)meet the recommendations for a healthy diet from the Food Guide Pyramid.

The number of overweight children has doubled over the last two decades and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled.

One-quarter of children ages 5-10 show early warning signs for heart disease, such as elevated cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Soft drink consumption has doubled over the last 30 years. Boys and girls both now consume twice as much soda as milk.

Source: Nutrition Council of Cincinnati

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E-mail nancy@cincyhomes.com