Friday, April 27, 2001
Flying Pig hopes bonus attracts better runners
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Since its inception, the Flying Pig Marathon has been a people's race. More money was spent to keep the 10-minute milers happy than to attract elite runners.
The emphasis remains on the middle- and the back-of-the-packers, but Pig organizers are looking for a better field and a more competitive race.
To that end, a $5,000 bonus will be there for breaking the course record at this year's May 6 running of the Pig. That's in addition to $2,000 in prize money paid to first-place male and female finishers.
|
HOW TO REGISTER
|
The third Pig already has 6,200 runners registered. That's as many as last year's record field.
“It's been going great,” race director Rich Williams said. “Last year at this point, we were at 5,800.”
The new Papa John's Flying Pig 5 Mile has drawn 1,200 runners so far.
You can register for the Flying Pig at flyingpigmarathon.com or by calling 513-721-PIGS.
|
“We're trying to create a race,” director Rich Williams said. “We don't want to have one guy way out in front like we've had the last two years.”
Elly Rono, a Kenyan, won the first Pig in 2:21:15. He finished a minute and 15 seconds ahead of Rudolf Jun. Last year Jun won in 2:23:14, more than eight minutes ahead of Isaac Barnes.
The women's race also has been a runaway. Sommer Settell won in 2:58:10 in '99, 7:16 ahead of Joan Ellis. Last year, Rebecca Gallaher won in 2:49:32, almost 13 minutes ahead of Patti Shepard.
Gallaher is the only one of the four registered for this year's race.
But word of the bonus is starting to get out.
“I've been talking to agents,” Williams said. “Jun's agent said he was going to decide after his run (Thursday).”
Rono is running in the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, which offers $100,000 in prize money. The Pig offers a total of $13,300. With Nashville offering so much money and the fact that the Boston Marathon was two weeks ago, it could be tough for the Pig to attract top runners.
The two local men who have run under 2:21 — John Sence and T.J. Lentz — will not run in the Pig.
“(The bonus) is enticing,” Lentz said. “But the training isn't there. The closest I'm going to come to running is working at a water stop.”
Sports Stories
Reds 7, Giants 5
Yankees turn up interest in Reyes
Young challenges fans
Soto to enter Reds Hall of Fame
Reds-Rockies Scouting Report
Reds box, runs
Xavier to interview Greensboro coach
Highlands star commits to Xavier
New Bengal overcame prison, homelessness
Flying Pig hopes bonus attracts better runners
