Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati

While many concentrate on the prestigious fields of the Boston Marathon, the New York Marathon or the London Marathon, the coveted Flying Pig Marathon happened Sunday, May 2, 2010, in Cincinnati, Ohio despite a constant downpour.

Miamiville resident Brian List and Colorado native Cynthia Lauren Arnold were crowned winners of the 12th annual event, besting a field that competed in a steady downpour. Second-place men’s finisher Tilahun Abebe controlled the overall pace until List stole the lead with five miles to go. List finished in 2:31.55.

“Every year I come I just assume someone from out of town is going to win and get sponsored by Asics or something,” joked List, 26, a mechanical engineer. “It has really been great to (win).”

List said that he was so exhausted by the time he passed Abebe in the Pig that he could only offer a thumbs-up. Abebe was not surprised to be caught.

“After 21 miles, I was feeling bad. I let him go and stayed running by myself,” an upbeat Abebe said. “I’m OK.”

Abebe, 30, won the 2006 half-marathon after working two jobs the previous day and not sleeping. This time, the Western Hills resident asked for Saturday off and completed the course in 2:34:41.

In the women’s race, Arnold attributed her victory to a recent cortisone shot in her left foot and a pair of comfortably big running shoes. She broke the wire at 2:55:00.

The 26-year-old Colorado resident – the reigning USA Trail Marathon champion and a full-time nanny – was eager to compete in a road race but worried about a pinched nerve in her foot.

Arnold signed up for the Pig because she knew she would be in the area for the Kentucky Derby and to visit family in Lexington. But after the late-week cortisone shot, she wasn’t sure if she would run or not.

“I didn’t really know how I was going to do. I just tried to start out up front and keep going,” Arnold said.

Houston resident Marnie Staehly, 32, never even saw Arnold in the race.

“I was out of shape and out of weight so I thought, ‘I’ll give it a shot.’ I’ve always been athletic but I’ve never been a runner. I just started doing it, and the more I did, the more I loved it,” Staehly said.

Rachel Bea of Kenwood finished third in the women’s race. Bea, 28, is a physical education teacher at Ryland Heights Elementary in Covington and a track and cross country coach at Simon Kenton High School.