Flying Pig 2014

It's that time of year again when I begin to sneeze and cough.  I know that it is time to listen for little piggies hitting the pavement.  The Flying Pig is held in Cincinnati each spring.  It is a really big deal.  And each year the scouts volunteer their time and energy and become  'grunts' for 5 hours. 

 

We shuttle down Columbia Parkway to mile marker #19.  We are at the crest of the hill before the exit ramp that is thankfully downhill for the racers.  It is our very own 'greased pig station.'  We hand out Vaseline, tissues, anti chafing towelettes and cheer like there is no tomorrow. (Well the cheering like there is no tomorrow last for a few hours)

Everyone lined up for instructions...or was it the coffee and donuts?

We were ready for the runners to go past a little after 8am. 

He wasn't a runner but he was the first little piggy we saw for the day.

Some chose to nap in the sun while waiting.

Others were ready and waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

Sometimes it becomes a family affair!

There is always time to kill.

 Our home for the morning.

 

 Cooling off in the shade.

 

These guys don't just cheer...they MOTIVATE!

Correct positioning for a hand off.

This little piggy is fried!

And this is what mile 19 looks like in a marathon!  My hat is off to them!

 

I was able to walk a marathon a few years back and I can tell you just walking that far is an challenge.  I could never imaging running a marathon.  It was fun to look for people we knew.  First person we saw as Mitchell..a cousin of a 'family' friend.  Then Tini blazed by us.  That would be our daughter-in-law.  And Mark even saw a guy he knew from work.