Posted: March 23, 2006

Athletics: Flying Pig Marathon Training T-Shirts Head to Kuwait

From: Betsy Ross, Game Day Communications

CINCINNATI - (March 21, 2006) - Three boxes of training t-shirts from the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon are headed to Kuwait to help members of our armed forces train for the Middle East version of the Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday, May 7.

"We are honored to have the men and women who are serving our country, think of the Flying Pig Marathon while they're so far from home," said Iris Simpson-Bush, executive director. "The least we can do is help them dress appropriately for the 'Pig.'"

The idea for the Kuwait Flying Pig Marathon came about when a group of Navy reservists who had planned to enter the marathon events were sent to the Kuwait Naval Base in Kuwait over the winter. Instead of giving up on the idea of running the "Pig," the group decided to train and run it in Kuwait. An estimated 50 runners are planning to run the full marathon, while up to 300 are scheduled to participate in 5K and 10K events.

The Kuwait Flying Pig Marathon will be run on Sunday, May 7, although the start will be a little earlier than the Cincinnati version. While runners in Cincinnati will step off at 6am local time, the Kuwait Marathon will start around 4am (Kuwait time) to beat the desert heat.

"While we're running our eighth Cincinnati Flying Pig, it's exciting to see another group organize our first overseas Flying Pig," said Simpson-Bush. "It just shows how popular the Marathon has become in such a short time."

The eighth annual Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon will be held Sunday, May 7 with the Flying Pig Marathon, Half Marathon presented by National City, the Ernst & Young 4-person relay and the Corporate Express Corporate Challenge Relay. Saturday, May 6 features the 10K, the 5K presented by girls!can, Flying Piglet and biggs' Family Fun Festival. Presenting sponsors are CoActive Marketing, Corporate Express, Ernst & Young, Old Spice High Endurance, Mercy Health Partners, National City and Paycor. Visit the race website at: FlyingPigMarathon.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.

Comment on this story.

Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest