The streets were buzzing outside the Duke Energy Convention Center around mid-afternoon Friday.
At the intersection of W. 5th and Elm streets, each street-corner "walk" signal ushered across the thoroughfare a wave of ultra-fit athletes of all ages.
Women and men alike were awash in fluorescent neon-colored sneakers and replete with all manner of running attire, swag bags, racing bibs, and posters.
The driveways to the Millenium Hotel at 150 W. 5th St. and the Hyatt Regency at 151 W. 5th St. were bustling with some of these same athlete-types. Some, if not most, were checking into rooms for the weekend and surely hoping for a restful night's sleep in the days to come.
This was just a snapshot of the excitement around the 2018 Flying Pig Marathon for which festivities began Thursday, continue with races Saturday and culminate with Sunday's running of the 20th edition of Cincinnati's 26.2-mile race, as well as the 13.1-mile Paycor Half Marathon.
A cast of tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers will be there, too, to ensure the weekend goes off without a negative squeal.
It shouldn't be a surprise Downtown was swamped late this week given the number of expected attendees.
Since the inaugural Flying Pig in 1999 drew 6,163 entrants, the number of participants has grown each year and could push 40,000 come Sunday after last year's marathon and half marathon drew 37,244 registrants (14,758 finished the races).
Last year's event, which featured big performances from a number of locals, was run in conditions described by participants as ideally cool.
The weather for Saturday's and Sunday's racers, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, will feature early-morning lows between 56-58 degrees with daytime highs reaching into the upper 70's later.
Temperatures during the early portion of the races should be about in-keeping with the average May daily temperature (61.7 F) while the record for highest race day temperature at noon – 73 F – could be threatened on Sunday.
The weather should be fine for spectating. The race saw about 150,000 "street squealers" last year.
More: New Flying Pig app lets you track progress of racers
SATURDAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
8 a.m. – Flying Pig Toyota 10K.
10 a.m. – Tri-State Running Company 5K and Kroger Family Fun Festival.
12 p.m. – Kids' Marathon 26th Mile.
1 p.m. – Flying Piglet Kids' Fun Run.
1:30 p.m. – Flying Fur Dog Run.
5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Kroger Flying Pig "Pig Out" Pasta Party.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
6 a.m. – Moerlein Lager House viewing party.
6:25 a.m. – Race start (wheelchair division; prizes awarded for male and female open chair).
6:30 a.m. – All-participant start for Flying Pig Marathon and Paycor Half Marathon
8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Michelob Ultra Victory Party.
THE RACE COURSE: The Pig race takes mainly a scenic riverside course along the streets of Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport, and through Fairfax and Mariemont to the east. The course is relevant to participants and non-racers going about their normal Sunday routines as road closures will be in effect around the area.
More: View the Flying Pig Marathon race course
The finish line is downtown next to US Bank Arena, just across the street from Great American Ball Park.
