Oct 102009
Well, I’m in for it now.
I’ve signed up for the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati on May 2. It’s 206 days away — and there’s a lot of running to be done between now and then.
To date, I’ve run four half marathons (soon to be five) with mixed success. I’ve finished them fine and generally felt good, though I’ve not really improved my time. I decided that it’s time to put some dedicated effort into it and finish at least one full marathon.
Cincinnati is a great choice, too. It’s not the flattest course (see the elevation profile below), but I’m from Cincinnati, it’s a great marathon, and I should be able to have family and friends there to cheer me on.
And let’s be honest — the Flying Pig marathon? The moniker is perfect. I’m reminded of the “Pigasus,” a personal stamp used by John Steinbeck with the latin motto Ad astra per alia porci (to the stars on the wings of a pig). The pigasus was supposed to symbolize Steinbeck’s “earthbound but aspiring” nature, as he was a “lumbering soul but trying to fly…(with)…not enough wingspread but plenty of attention.” Sounds a lot like my running. I’m currently researching training, but hope to come up with a plan soon!
I love the flying pig– and the pigasus! I never knew that Steinbeck used that symbol, but it’s super cute and very apt. Sometimes I feel like I’m being borne on the wings of a pig as well! Great blog, btw. Just curious, who is the author with the “extra portion of whimsy?”