Brian List of Miamiville, Ohio, took the lead at the 22-mile mark and held on to win the 12th Flying Pig Marathon, completed in sometimes heavy rain on Sunday morning.The 26-year-old runner finished in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 56 seconds, getting his first Flying Pig title. He was the runner-up two years ago.
He and two others from the same local running club Tilahun Abebe and Rob Morwood finished in the top three spots, with List winning by nearly three minutes. He overtook the 30-year-old Abebe for the lead and never relinquished it.
"I've been aiming for a 2:30 time the last three years," List said. "This year, I said, even though I fall off the 2:30 pace, I'll just try to run a little faster than I had before. I've always been a good runner from behind."
Cynthia Arnold of Glenwood Springs, Colo., finished the hilly course in 2 hours, 55 minutes, 2 seconds, winning her first traditional marathon. The 26-year-old won the USA Track and Field Marathon Trail championship in Oregon last year.
Arnold was visiting family in Lexington, Ky., and decided to enter, even though she was coming off a foot injury that required a cortisone shot and prompted her to wear a bigger shoe.
"I didn't know how fast I could run today, but I was in the front pretty much," she said. "When the half broke off, I was by myself and the crowd kept telling me how I was doing. In fact, that's my favorite part of these races, the crowd support. In trail races, nobody knows where you are."
Marnie Staehly from Houston, Texas, and Rachel Bea of Cincinnati took the next two spots.
ShareThis