By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After five years of near-perfect weather for the Flying Pig Marathon, race organizers had their hands full with chilly temperatures and constant rain in Sunday's sixth running of the Pig.

2004 FLYING PIG

Clifton residents champions Last year's Flying Pig Marathon runners made race history as the first locals to win the men's and women's races. T.J. Lentz and P.J. Ball one-upped the defending champs by being the first tandem crowned from the same neighborhood. • ONLINE EXTRA: Photos from the race • Complete race results • Daugherty: Pastry, coffee fuel for this soul • Lentz a tenacious victor • Ball's 1st win comes at home • Wrong turn costly in the 10K event; Borling wins it • 2004 Flying Pig by the numbers

"On an operations level, the weather caused quite a few challenges," Pig executive director Iris Simpson-Bush said Monday. "But now we can try to come up with alternative solutions to be more prepared for bad weather. You need a rainy day to prepare for that . . . You can't learn how to deal with it until you experience it."

While registration for the weekend's events was at an all-time high of 11,928 (49 states, eight countries), official start and finish numbers are not yet available to see how many registrants opted to stay dry and warm instead of attending the races. Simpson-Bush said she heard that many runners dropped out midrace, including the Pig's two wheelchair participants, who left the marathon at mile 15. Marathon runner signup was at 4,802 Sunday, but only 3,918 were shown as recording finishing times.

The biggest challenge Pig officials faced came with regulating the runners' body temperatures post-race in the 40-degree, wet weather. Simpson-Bush said organizers had to scramble to pass out extra Mylar blankets and to board participants onto heated school buses to prevent hypothermia.

"That weather really puts a strain on your body," Simpson-Bush said.

Volunteer and spectator numbers were also not as high as expected. The race was still able to man 24 of its 25 planned water stations, but many of the more than 50 entertainment groups Pig organizers had arranged were not on the course, either because they couldn't set up or they didn't show up, Simpson-Bush said.

Despite the weather, Simpson-Bush said the initial reactions to the new course, which sent runners over the Northern Kentucky bridges first and farther east to Mariemont this year, was positive. Organizers were also pleased with Saturday's first 5K race, which drew 811 participants and Simpson-Bush said will likely be back next year.

Notably missing from this year's Pig activities was the City Cup Challenge. In the past, local standout runners like this year's Pig winner T.J. Lentz, 2004 course adviser John Sence, Henry Dennis and Jill Tranter combined to compete against top runners from other major cities in a four-person marathon relay. This year, interest from other cities "just fizzled out," said the Challenge's organizer Bob Roncker, of the Running Spot stores.

Roncker said they will continue to work with other cities' marathon organizers and local running groups to re-establish a city challenge next year, something he hopes could be run at various marathons throughout the year.

"We want to try to have each city field as good a team as it can," Roncker said. "It's haltingly going . . . We would like to do it next year."

After a few days off, Pig officials will begin to set up meetings for the next two weeks that will address concerns and necessary changes for the 7th Flying Pig. One discussion will be had about the mid-race 10K and marathon traffic merge that some of the top 10K runners complained about, Simpson-Bush said. Any other race input is welcome and can be sent to info@flyingpigmarathon.com.

BECKMAN UPDATE: David Beckman, 48, of Milford, who was taken by ambulance to University Hospital after collapsing at the finish line during the 10K race Sunday, is still listed in serious condition, a hospital official said Monday. Simpson-Bush said Monday that it was the first time Pig medical officials had to deal with a runner in "such serious distress at the finish."