2027 Flying Pig Marathon - May 2 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Flying Pig Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Flying Pig Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027, as part of the Flying Pig race weekend (April 30 – May 2). The full marathon starts at 6:30 a.m. ET in downtown Cincinnati, traditionally on the first Sunday in May.

Q: How hard is the Flying Pig Marathon course?

It is a genuinely hilly course, not a flat PR layout. After a mostly flat first five miles along the river, runners hit 'the Climb' — a long stair-step ascent from about mile 5 to mile 9 that rises to roughly 800 ft through Eden Park and East Walnut Hills. The reward is a fast, downhill final six miles. Total climbing is about +954 ft (290 m), so it favors runners who trained on hills.

Q: How much elevation gain does the Flying Pig Marathon have?

The full marathon has roughly +954 ft (about 290 m) of total elevation gain. Most of it is concentrated in 'the Climb' between miles 5 and 9, where the course rises to about 800 ft above sea level before a long descent back to the riverfront finish.

Q: Is the Flying Pig Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Flying Pig Marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier. Because of the mid-race hills it is not the easiest course to run a fast time on, so a Boston-qualifying effort here rewards specific hill training and controlled downhill running. You can check your target in our Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: Where does the Flying Pig Marathon course go?

The course starts and finishes in downtown Cincinnati and crosses the Ohio River into Kentucky early on, passing through Newport and Covington before returning to Ohio over the bridges. It then climbs through Eden Park, East Walnut Hills and Mariemont before a fast descent along the Ohio River Scenic Byway to the downtown 'Finish Swine.'

Q: What is the time limit for the Flying Pig Marathon?

The Flying Pig Marathon has a 7-hour time limit, with the course closing at a continuous pace of 16:00 minutes per mile. Runners who fall behind that pace are asked to move to the sidewalk, and there is an intermediate cutoff around miles 17–18 that you must reach by a set time to stay on the full course.

Q: How do I register for the Flying Pig Marathon and is it a charity race?

Registration is handled online through RaceRoster, and the full marathon typically fills well ahead of race weekend, so register early. The Flying Pig is run by the nonprofit Pig Works and is famously charity-driven — its 'Flying Piganthropy' program has helped participating charities raise nearly $19 million over the years, with many runners raising funds for a cause.

Q: How big is the Flying Pig Marathon?

The 2026 full marathon had about 5,267 finishers, and the broader race weekend (full, half, relay and shorter races) drew a record 45,000+ participants from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. It is one of the most popular spring marathons in the U.S. Midwest.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Flying Pig Marathon - May 2
City	Cincinnati
Date	2027-05-02 at 06:30
Field Size	~5,267 runners
Time Limit	7 hours
Cutoff pace	9:57/km
Timezone	America/New_York
Official Site	Pig Works
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	15.1°C / 59°F
Humidity	79%
Wind	11.9 km/h
Rain Chance	47%
Typical Conditions	Mild, often overcast early-May Cincinnati morning — comfortable for racing but humid

What to Prepare: Early May in Cincinnati usually starts mild and damp, around 56°F / 13°C at the 6:30 a.m. gun and climbing into the upper 60s°F / ~20°C by late morning, often with high humidity and a chance of overcast skies or a passing shower. A singlet or short sleeves with throwaway gloves works well; the humidity makes the climb feel harder, so start conservatively and carry your own electrolytes if you sweat heavily.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 11.9 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	9.2°C	15.3°C	20.5°C
Dew point	4.4°C	11.4°C	17.7°C

Wet-day chance: 47% Runnability: 73/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	City point-to-loop
Elevation Gain	290m
Terrain	Road (riverfront flats, a sustained mid-course climb, and a fast downhill finish)
Profile	A genuinely hilly, scenic Cincinnati classic that is honest about being a challenge rather than a flat PR machine. The first five miles roll mostly flat along the downtown riverfront and cross the Ohio River into Newport and Covington, Kentucky, before returning to Ohio over the bridges. Then comes 'the Climb' — a long, stair-step ascent from roughly mile 5 to mile 9 that rises to about 800 ft above sea level through Eden Park and the hillside neighborhoods of East Walnut Hills, the signature test of the day. From there the course rolls through Mariemont and turns into a fast, gravity-assisted descent along the Ohio River Scenic Byway over the final six miles back to the downtown 'Finish Swine.' With about +954 ft (290 m) of total climbing it is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, but the mid-race hills mean a BQ here rewards specific hill and quad-descent training rather than even-effort pacing.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Flying Pig Marathon - May 2

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Flying Pig Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Flying Pig Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027, as part of the Flying Pig race weekend (April 30 – May 2). The full marathon starts at 6:30 a.m. ET in downtown Cincinnati, traditionally on the first Sunday in May.

How hard is the Flying Pig Marathon course?

It is a genuinely hilly course, not a flat PR layout. After a mostly flat first five miles along the river, runners hit 'the Climb' — a long stair-step ascent from about mile 5 to mile 9 that rises to roughly 800 ft through Eden Park and East Walnut Hills. The reward is a fast, downhill final six miles. Total climbing is about +954 ft (290 m), so it favors runners who trained on hills.

How much elevation gain does the Flying Pig Marathon have?

The full marathon has roughly +954 ft (about 290 m) of total elevation gain. Most of it is concentrated in 'the Climb' between miles 5 and 9, where the course rises to about 800 ft above sea level before a long descent back to the riverfront finish.

Is the Flying Pig Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Flying Pig Marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier. Because of the mid-race hills it is not the easiest course to run a fast time on, so a Boston-qualifying effort here rewards specific hill training and controlled downhill running. You can check your target in our Boston qualifying calculator.

Where does the Flying Pig Marathon course go?

The course starts and finishes in downtown Cincinnati and crosses the Ohio River into Kentucky early on, passing through Newport and Covington before returning to Ohio over the bridges. It then climbs through Eden Park, East Walnut Hills and Mariemont before a fast descent along the Ohio River Scenic Byway to the downtown 'Finish Swine.'

What is the time limit for the Flying Pig Marathon?

The Flying Pig Marathon has a 7-hour time limit, with the course closing at a continuous pace of 16:00 minutes per mile. Runners who fall behind that pace are asked to move to the sidewalk, and there is an intermediate cutoff around miles 17–18 that you must reach by a set time to stay on the full course.

How do I register for the Flying Pig Marathon and is it a charity race?

Registration is handled online through RaceRoster, and the full marathon typically fills well ahead of race weekend, so register early. The Flying Pig is run by the nonprofit Pig Works and is famously charity-driven — its 'Flying Piganthropy' program has helped participating charities raise nearly $19 million over the years, with many runners raising funds for a cause.

How big is the Flying Pig Marathon?

The 2026 full marathon had about 5,267 finishers, and the broader race weekend (full, half, relay and shorter races) drew a record 45,000+ participants from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. It is one of the most popular spring marathons in the U.S. Midwest.