Sunday, May 09, 1999

Marathon lures family of runners

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BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Special section

        Adrenalin, determination or sheer numbing pain will push some people over the finish line in today's first Flying Pig Marathon. But John Habib wants to make it to his family reunion.

        The Phoenix, Ariz., man traveled to the Queen City this weekend not only for his first marathon, but also to meet with 16 family members for the first Flying Pig Marathon Habib Family Reunion.

        That blooming tradition depends, of course, on how Mr. Habib, his brother and brother-in-law end the race.

        “We will definitely not make any commitments until we see those hills at mile 13,” said the 35-year-old Mr. Habib.

        The three brought their spouses and children from Arizona and New York to Cincinnati, where another Habib brother lives with his family, after learning the city's course was supposed to be easy on first-time marathon runners.

        While John Habib and his sister's husband, Michael Joyce, are novices, this will be the fourth marathon for 37-year-old brother Tom Habib of New York.

        The family will celebrate during a reunion banquet after the race.

        “This is one other aspect of the marathon, to bring people together,” John Habib said.

       

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