Flying Pig Half Marathon Pre-Race Coverage

The last year has been a very prolific running year for Otter, one in which he has run many races at varying distances.  However, what’s important to note is his recent half marathon PR at the inaugural Chi-Town Half Marathon (1:52:24).  A few weeks prior to that stellar performance he publicly declared that he was out to finish 28 races before his 28th birthday.  In the process, he has set more than one personal best, which has helped him keep his training strong.  This recent momentum will definitely help him out leading up to the Flying Pig.

However, he is not without faults.  Though he is known to throw the hammer down at the final sprint of a race, it is not entirely uncommon to see him getting “hammer drunk” the night before the event.  If the bars in Cinci cast an appealing lure, he might bite and jeopardize his time, giving Laura the upper hand.

Though not as enthusiastic with races as Otter, Laura has many cards up her sleeve going into this race.  Her 1:55 PR was set on a notoriously hilly course and the Flying Pig is sure to challenge runners with a gradual ascent between miles 5 and 8.  As someone who used to “run uphill really fast?” Laura is no stranger to burning quadriceps.  This will definitely serve her well going up against her competitor, whose half marathon PR, though two minutes faster, was set on a surfboard flat course.

An additional X factor with Ms. Melle is her imminent departure for south Africa.  Knowing that her opportunities for overblown and expensive races will be limited for the near future, she might give that extra 10%, giving her fans an impressive performance.  Assuming her shins don’t complain between now and race day, I think we should expect this train to run express all the way to the finish line.

Looking at the elements, it’s still definitely too early to call this race in favor of either runner.  As we’ve mentioned, the course for the half marathon sends runners on a consistent 3-mile ascent.  Will Otter’s increased training be enough to overcome Laura’s natural climbing abilities?  Additionally, the 10-day forecast is predicting an overnight low of 61 and a race-day high of 79 for Cincinnati.  These conditions aren’t ideal and have the potential for some serious heat if the humidity is high.  We will definitely see both runners paying close attention to hydration, especially Otter, who Perspiration Monthly named their Man of the Year.

The experts are equally torn about the anticipated result.  Nicholas Restauri, editor-in-chief of Exercising with 1L’s has his money on Otter, citing that “historically men have dominated in everything competitive.”  However, chief nutritionist for Robert RPAG industries Jayne Kenney is gunning for Laura first and foremost because she’s a girl and secondly because she “trusts her not to go out and wreck her body with booze the night beforehand.” 

It is therefore clear that, despite all public declarations, meticulous analysis and conventional wisdom, we can’t accurately predict who will come out on top.  What is certain is that both competitors are eager to please their fans and will therefore be bringing their A-games to this race.

Stay tuned for updates and next week’s recap of the epic showdown.