Great event and highly recommend this marathon if you want some hill work. Little rainy but so well…read morerun!

Fantastic race. The course is hilly but the uphill is early, giving lots of nice rolling downhills…read morefrom mile 8.5 on for both the full and half. The entire city comes out to support the race, which is really great. Aid stations were plentiful, well stocked and had great volunteers. Three improvements: 1) Marathon finishers jacket pick up should be located closer to finish - perhaps near baggage bus. Way confusing to find for post-race brains. Plus shoving through family/friends over and back wasn't fun. 2) Post-race food was amazing but would be even better with addition of chocolate milk or muscle milk 3) Hotel shuttles should have had separate runs to KY hotels and Cinci hotels and should have left more frequently than every 20 min. We could have hobbled back to KY faster.

One of the most fun races I've ever done, from beginning to afterparty. A $35 registration fee gets…read moreyou a good quality t-shirt, participation in a 5k at Ault Park, and admission to the post-race festivities. You get 4 beer/wine tickets and unlimited access to 30 food and drink booths. They had a great reggae band playing that made for a fun atmosphere. They clearly know what they're doing after 17 years. All the pre-race logistics went smoothly, with quick packet pickup and convenient shuttle buses to the park. The course itself is a beast. Never-ending hills on top of hills. Good thing I love a challenging run. I felt like I earned my right to pig out at the afterparty. Burgers, BBQ wings,Gliers Goetta, Yagoot, Subway, corn on the cob, dessert, and so much more... it was a smorgasbord. Minus one star for not having mile markers or official chip timing. Even though that's probably part of it truly being a 'fun' run, it's just nice to know, y'know? Other than that, I'm definitely thinking this will be an annual event on my race calendar. Kudos to the organizers.

This was my first 5k. I picked it, because I had heard it is the most fun, and the best party…read more The first tip I would give is, unless you are arriving super, super early and want to leave immediately do NOT park at Ault Park. It is a mess up there. The shuttle service is very well organized and they will definitely get you there on time. And don't worry the buses are heated (that was important this year ;-)) I would also recommend picking up your packet before the day of the race. That way you can avoid the long lines on race day. Unfortunately you'll still have to stand in a line to get your drinking bracelet, but that's worth waiting for, right? Speaking of waiting, that's the big let-down for me. Too many people. Everything required processing too many people. When the race started it took minutes before I could get up to speed, and I was constantly running in a crowd. When the race finished you then get to go to the way too many people at the food and drink tents. I would recommend training hard to be under the 40 minute mark. That way you can get to the eats before the big crowd comes in. I finished at 32:10 and my wife and I were able to try a few different food items before a huge crush of people arrived. Part of the problem is there just isn't enough room for all those people. Why don't they use more of the park for the food area? There were huge empty areas that could've been used for more space. I just don't get. The variety of food items is amazing. They had something for everyone. My pregnant wife particularly enjoyed the fried pickles (I know, what a cliché). And I enjoyed the desert tent. It's a great race, and you get a lot for your money. I just wish it wasn't quite so popular.

This was a fantastic race event! There are two distances to choose from 7K (4.3 miles) and 14K…read more(8.6). This event is presented by The Flying Pig and that is evident by its excellent organization. Included in registration is a shirt, bib with timing chip, pint glass, and snacks. I chose to run the 14K distance which lead me past historic brewery sites that really showcase Cincinnati's rich brewing history. This event is just 3 weeks before The Queen Bee half marathon and 4 Miler so it's a great practice distance to help gear you up for the half marathon distance. This is the third race part of the Christian Moerlein Beer Series. The first race is the Bochfest 5K in March. The second is The Little Kings Mile which is the Friday before The Flying Pig Marathon. Finally, the Hudepohl 7K/14K finishes off the series. Complete all 3 and be declared a Brew Hog and receive a special Brew Hog stein!

I may have found my most favorite run event! This is my first time running the series and I did…read morethe 7K. For $38.00 for 7K (including fees) you get a bib (with built in microchip, which you don't have to turn in after the race), a beer glass, T-shirt, and three tickets- 2 complimentary beers and a coney. However, there are water bottles, pretzels, fruit and other food items given at the event. Hudepohl 14K/7K Brewery Run is part of the Christian Moerlein Beer Series presented by the Flying Pig. There are three series you can complete: Bockfest (in March), Little Kings (April), and of course Hudepohl (September). The Christian Moerlein Beer Series benefits the Over-The-Rhine Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation. It is a non-profit organization committed to making the Brewery District - restoring and redeveloping our unique brewing history and historic urban fabric. The Hudepohl 14K/7K Brewery Run wraps up the Christian Moerlein Beer Series and at the same time kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. It is named after the iconic Cincinnati-brewed beer and shorter 7K start and end just south of the Moerlein Lager House along Cincinnati's riverfront. Along the course, you'll pass by many of the historic brewery sites of early Cincinnati and follow the routes that the horse-drawn carts took to bring the beer from the breweries to the riverboats that would take the beer throughout the country. And once you're finished, the party continues at the Moerlein Lager House with brews and snacks! The course for the 14K/7K: The 14K route (8.6 miles) takes you along the riverfront, past several historic brewery sites into Over-the-Rhine and back to the Moerlein Lager House. The 7K route (4.3 miles) starts with the 14K and turns off at Gest Street and W. Pete Rose Way. Finish for both is on Mehring Way just east of Joe Nuxhall Way. The weather was just perfect! It didn't rain and the humidity was not bad! This was such a fun event and I can't wait to run it next year!

If you are looking for a half marathon that runs through Cincinnati, this is it! I run the flying…read morepig marathon every year and have for about the past 10 years. If you are looking for a race that runs through Cincinnati, and you do not want to run 26 miles, check out the queen bee half marathon. It runs a little section of the flying pig, as you do run through Eden park and through Oakley, as well as a portion of Riverside Drive. It is definitely a shorter version of the pig but a perfect way to get a glimpse of Cincinnati. Good news: This race is in the fall! That means you'll get all the views, but it won't be as hot as the flying pig. History starts at the hard rock casino downtown Cincinnati and ends and saw your point. It's a great one to add to your list!

The Queen Bee is such an amazing Cincinnati event, I'm really glad I did the 4 miler this year!…read more The Queen Bee is a 4 mile and half-marathon race put on by the same people as the Flying Pig. The difference is that it is a race just for women! Yes, men can run it too, but they put them in a separate corral in the back and when I ran it almost 95% of the people running were women. So it's super empowering and fun! The 4 miler is a great distance if you're not a serious runner. Just a little bit more than a 5K, but I didn't have to train for it or anything. We started near Jack Casino and ran up to Eden Park past the Krohn Conservatory and then back down and ended near the Sawyer Point area. There are people cheering you on all along the race, runners dress up like Wonder Woman or fun outfits, and people are just having a great time. The race is extremely well-organized, and I do feel like I got my money's worth for my registration fee ($45 for 4 mile race). There is an expo the day before where you pick up your packet. There is also a party after the race with live music, mimosas, etc and it was a great time. The medals are also the prettiest medals I've ever gotten from a race...They're sparkly and cute and come with a really nice ribbon. I can't wait to display it! I jog-walked it with a group of girlfriends and we will definitely do it again next year. I highly recommend women of all fitness levels sign up, since there were quite a few walkers for the 4 mile race!

My message to three roles: Dear walkers - runners aren't…read moreelitist, we love the fact that you're up and at 'em on Thanksgiving morning vs sleeping in... However in a race we often have goals like setting a personal record or getting a qualifying time for another race. I implore you that if you're going to walk some or all of this 10K please, I beg of you, line up behind a 10+ minute sign. Only line up with the 7 or 8 minute pace group if you're an Olympic qualifying speed walker because you most certainly will not be walking faster than 10 minutes a mile. You've got to trust me on this one. Also don't walk shoulder to shoulder more than a few to several people wide, instead please "stack" yourselves two by two, or three by three. Lastly do the same thing you'd do on the interstate - don't walk slow in the speed lane but rather veer to the right (lane) and walk away. RACE ORGANIZERS - if you care about your brand and event reputation then work harder to resolve the problems above. Also, where the heck was the post-race hydration, bananas, etc.? I know you're not going to say a quarter-mile away at Paul Brown Stadium! They certainly weren't visible once out of the finish corral or around the corner of the building immediately after that... I can't believe I paid $40 for this stress and lackluster experience! I know it'll take a little extra work on your end, but one race which gets it right is the Indy Mini-Marathon each May, their qualifying corrals properly places walkers in perfect pace corrals. Runners - Until a few days ago I had skipped this race for years because of organization problems, walkers, etc. Unfortunately not much has changed in the last decade so you'll likely want to choose another event which doesn't have the fundamental flaws and lack of common courtesy. My running partner and I did an 11 minute first mile because of all the zig zagging around walkers and we probably added an extra quarter mile because of all the running we had to do in a serpentine fashion.

This was the first 10K I've done other than the Flying Pig so I don't know if my expectations are…read morejust set too high but I was really disappointed with this race. The race as a whole just seemed disorganized. My group took off from the starting line about 20 mins after starting time and I still don't know what the hold up was about. I'm not sure where ANY of the cameras were and I never got a notice about my pictures being ready. The post race snack tables were practically bare by the time my slow butt finished (I did it in less than 90 mins)! To top it off the race doesn't even give you a shirt or a medal for the race. The only bright spot was the course route. The course was updated this year I hear and it was by far the BEST part of the event. We went down Vine St and then by the casino and over into KY. The view was great! Next year I think I'll save the hassle and just head to the gym before my turkey day feast.

Organized and well run race. This 5K started on the East side of Washington Park and went north on…read moreVine St. It was a decent hill so pace yourself and refrain from starting too fast. The temperature was way too hot in my opinion which comes from the rather late start time (9AM). The finishing segment of the race is a lot of turns which will slow one down so probably not going to PR on this one. Just have fun exploring OTR with empty streets and really cool architecture. The City Flea is great for post race shopping and browsing. The vendors were not as numerous as some races, but they represented some quality businesses and had samples before you purchased anything food or drink wise. Parking is often an issue in the heart of OTR, so give yourself extra time to park a few blocks away in the free spots and do a warm up run to the start/finish line. Leave all items in your car out of sight too. There was bag check at this race for any post race "stuff" you have to bring with you.

5 stars for the party/atmosphere, but only 3 for the race itself... Ok the last quarter to a half…read moremile or so. I loved that this race encourages walkers, and dogs, and strollers. I mean what other races out there do that?! Personally I think its kinda neat. The setup, and packet pickup before race day is great and easy. Race day itself... could use a little work. Just a few volunteers making sure things work is all it needs. The last leg of the race comes back through the party... which is awesome if you're at the front... if you're a slow runner or a walker, everyone's forgotten about you. People spill into the pass over area on Vine where the start line was. Theres no markings telling you where turn (we found out we went a block out of the way, along with about 7 other people) and they have some nice roped off areas after the finish line, but I personally think they should extend that down the whole block as people browsing at the tents just seemed to forget there are slower people out there. ok those are my gripes. And maybe section people at the beginning runners, runners with dogs/strollers and then walkers. it might not be such a clusterfuck then. But enough of that. Everyone gets a t-shirt. score!, and "medals" are awesome Rookwood pieces, which i guess I kinda understand not everyone getting.. but still. The party afterward is great. There are jazz bands, brass sections, local artists, and just a whole lot of mingling. It's a great block party in which everyone can just hangout, browse some shops, and locals can throw their wares out. Its honestly a great time, just could use a little more organization I think.

This 14k (8.7 mile) race is a great challenge for those that have done the 10k and are working…read moretheir way up to the half. Or for marathoners that are looking for a short run this week :) The course winds it was through the historic brewery district in downtown Cincinnati. Much of the course winds it way through the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, including the nicer and not-so-nice areas. The start and finish line is in front of Smale Park by the Red's Stadium. The course is mostly flat, but there is one killer hill as you wind your way up into Clifton. Pretty much everyone stopped and walked on this one! There are a lot of pretty historic and not-so-historic buildings that you pass along the way, making the route somewhat interesting. The swag on this one is pretty darn good! A logo beer stein and bottle opener medal. Also, two beers and coneys to resupply your body with essential nutrients. Lines to get all of these things were a little outrageous. I hope they fix this issue next year. There were plenty of water stops throughout, but bring your own energy BLOKS etc. Definitely a good value for the money. Go for it!

If you aren't laughing or having a good time, you're doing it wrong!…read more Wow! I never thought I'd find myself running around sans shirt in Yelp pasties http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/5wmxXfDLfT0_Ub16QwJtrA?select=VczvidtpSZjxcnEw1J13OQ in 40 degree weather for a good cause (Freestore Foodbank), but I'm so glad I did. *BTW, going topless is rather crazy and totally optional. Ditto Stacey and Nathan's tips. Overall, my advice is to just have fun and don't take it too seriously. There are of course people that treat this like the Olympics, and the prizes are decent (money$$$), but I'd rather just enjoy my time with friends. Whoever had the silly string really got that stuff everywhere. I saw it at so many points along the route, you must have had a dozen cans of it. *Very special thanks to the team that let us look at their map (ours might have been stolen??, curses sabotagers, ha ha!), we'd still be wandering around without you. There were some very creative and hilarious teams. It's amazing what people can come up with! I really liked the Forrest Gump team. And if you guys are reading this, that team that gave you $%&# about not being tethered, blah blah blah, well they can go (fill in the blank). Oh, and thanks for the chocolate :) So, next year, rustle up 4 other friends and a shopping cart, and have an amazing time. You only live once...

Cinciditarod is an annual scavenger hunt race that benefits the Freestore Foodbank. Held the first…read moreweekend in March during Bockfest, teams consist of five players pulling a (legally acquired) shopping cart. It's a reverse dog sled race, and the players must stay tethered to the cart at all times. Teams come up with a theme, wear costumes, and decorate their cart. I was on team Material Girls, which featured five genres of Madonnas through the ages. While there is an award for fastest time, most people participate in the race because its fun, not because they're marathon runners. Heck, my team ran for five blocks before we got winded and decided to walk the rest of the journey. Along the 5 mile route, teams trek from Fountain Square to as far north as Findlay Market, as far south as Covington, and up the grueling steep Liberty Hill. Armed with a map and cunning, teams must perform tasks at check points along the way: - Purchase a $25.00 bag of groceries from Kroger on Vine Street. - Deliver bag of groceries to Freestore Foodbank - Perform a musical skit - Eat a sack of pretzels and drink a gallon of generic Sunny Delight - Complete a trivia sheet about Cincinnati history - Run an obstacle course - Get your picture taken by event officials While all this is going on, other teams may be trying to booby-trap your team by spraying silly string, glitter, or duct taping your cart. "Who would do such a thing!?!" you ask. Teams like mine, who sabotaged 16 carts this year. Mwahaha! Our team finished just under two hours, and while we did not win any awards (nor were we trying to) we all had an amazing time. Tips: - Bring plenty of water in your cart - Bring a knife or scissors to cut yourself free from any duct tape sabotage - Wear layers and bring a coat. You can throw in in the cart when once you're running and warm. It's early March. It's cold outside. You'll need a coat. Suggestions: - Instead of the eating contest consisting of junk food, perhaps we could have a healthy alternative? I'm intolerant of processed foods (like Generic Sunny D) and in previous years people have vomited from eating junk (Cheetos, nutty buddy bars, liters of soda, Hawaiian Punch). How about some veg? COST: Registration Fee: $45.00 ($9.00 per team member) Grocery donation from Kroger: $25.00 ($5.00 per team member)