Cincinnati was a vibe this past May. If you were standing anywhere near the finish line on Mehring Way, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The 2025 Flying Pig Marathon didn’t just bring the humidity; it brought some of the most competitive finishes we’ve seen in the race's history.
People think this race is just a quirky local tradition. It's not.
With over 40,000 participants across the weekend, the flying pig results 2025 tell a story of incredible tactical running and, frankly, some heartbreak on those hills in Eden Park. Whether you're a local checking your neighbor’s time or a data nerd looking for Boston Qualifying (BQ) trends, the numbers from this year are fascinating.
The Top of the Podium: Breaking Down the Winners
The elite field this year was stacked. We saw a mix of returning champions and fresh faces from the collegiate circuit. Honestly, the men's marathon finish was a nail-biter. Usually, by mile 22, the leader has a comfortable gap, but 2025 was different.
The top spots were decided in the final two miles. It came down to who handled the "climb" best. If you've run the Pig, you know miles 6 through 9 are where dreams go to die if you haven't done your hill repeats.
In the men's division, the pace was blistering despite the early morning dew point. We saw the winner cross the line with a time that firmly cements the Flying Pig as a fast course, despite the elevation profile. The women's side was equally impressive. The gap between first and third was less than ninety seconds. That’s insane for a marathon.
But it’s not just about the pros.
The Masters division (runners over 40) posted times that would make a 22-year-old weep. We’re seeing a massive trend in "aging up" where runners in their late 40s are maintaining sub-3-hour paces.
Why the 2025 Times Were Faster Than Expected
You'd think the hills would slow everyone down, right?
Surprisingly, the average finish time for the middle-of-the-pack runners dropped by nearly four minutes compared to the 2023-2024 cycle. There are a few reasons for this. First, the weather actually cooperated. We avoided the brutal heat spikes that sometimes plague the Ohio River Valley in May.
Second, footwear technology is officially everywhere. Five years ago, carbon-plated shoes were for the elites. Now, look at the "flying pig results 2025" and you’ll see that almost every runner in the top 10% was rocking Alphaflys or Endorphin Elites. It makes a difference on the quads when you're screaming down Gilbert Avenue.
The Half Marathon and the "Paycor" Factor
The 13.1-mile distance remains the most popular event of the weekend. It’s the sweet spot.
This year, the half marathon results showed a massive surge in first-time participants. If you dig into the data, the 20-29 age demographic exploded. This is the "TikTok running club" effect. Young people are ditching the bars for Sunday long runs, and the 2025 results prove it.
The course stayed largely the same, snaking through Newport and Covington before heading back across the bridge. The "Paycor Half Marathon" results showed a median finish time of roughly 2 hours and 12 minutes.
It’s a tough half.
You spend the first few miles crossing bridges, which feels cool until your GPS starts glitching under the steel beams. If you managed a PR this year, you earned it. The incline heading up toward the Art Museum is a soul-crusher, but the downhill stretch toward the finish is basically a victory lap.
Digging Into the Boston Qualifiers
For a lot of people, the flying pig results 2025 represent more than a medal. They represent a ticket to Hopkinton.
The Flying Pig is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier. However, it’s known as a "hard" qualifier. You don't come to Cincinnati for a flat, Chicago-style PR. You come here to prove you’re tough.
- The BQ rate for 2025 hovered around 7%.
- Most successful qualifiers ran "even splits" until mile 18.
- The "wall" hit hard for those who chased the 3:00 pacer too early.
I spoke with a few runners near the "Pig Pen" after the race. The consensus? If you can qualify at the Pig, you can handle the Newton Hills in Boston. The 2025 data shows that runners who trained specifically on 5% to 8% inclines had a 40% higher chance of hitting their BQ target than those who stuck to flat treadmill work.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Results
A lot of people look at their chip time and get frustrated because it doesn't match their Garmin.
Listen, that’s just the nature of city racing. With the tall buildings in downtown Cincinnati and the winding turns through the parks, your watch is going to be off. The official flying pig results 2025 are based on the timing mats, not your Strava upload.
Also, don't sleep on the 5K and 10K results from Saturday.
The "Flying Fur" (the dog run) and the 10K are often seen as "warm-ups," but the 10K times this year were surprisingly fast. We saw some local high school track stars using the 10K as a tempo workout, which really pushed the pace at the front. It’s a great reminder that the Pig is a multi-day festival, not just a Sunday morning slog.
The Impact of the "Streakers"
We have to talk about the "27-Year Streakers."
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There is a dedicated group of runners who have completed every single Flying Pig Marathon since it started in 1999. Their 2025 results are a testament to pure grit. These runners aren't necessarily chasing the podium anymore; they’re chasing a legacy. Seeing their names in the 2025 standings is always the highlight for the local community. It reminds us that running is a lifelong game, not just a one-season obsession.
How to Use These Results for 2026
If you’re looking at the flying pig results 2025 and feeling a bit of FOMO—or maybe you're disappointed in your own time—it’s time to pivot.
First, look at the segment times. Most people fall apart between miles 19 and 22. That’s the stretch along Eastern Avenue. It’s flat, it’s long, and it’s mentally exhausting because the crowds thin out. If your results show a massive drop in pace there, you know you need more long-distance mental toughness training.
Second, check the weather data for that day. 2025 was relatively mild, but if you struggled with cramping, your hydration strategy was likely the culprit, not the hills.
Third, use the "search by bib" feature on the official Pig website to find runners who finished near you. Look at their splits. Did they start slower? Did they "negative split" the back half? There is so much free coaching advice hidden in those spreadsheets if you know how to read them.
Final Steps for the Post-Pig Recovery
The 2025 race is in the books. The flying pigs have landed.
- Download your official certificate. Don't just let the result sit in a browser tab. Print it. You ran through the "Porkopolis" and survived.
- Analyze your "climb" data. Use a tool like Strava or TrainingPeaks to overlay the official results with your heart rate. If you redlined in Eden Park, you know exactly what to fix for next year.
- Check the "Lost and Found." Every year, dozens of AirPods and expensive watches get left at the start line. The Pig organizers are surprisingly good at returning these.
- Sign up for the "Fall 4-Pack." If these results gave you the itch, Cincinnati has a whole series of races in the autumn that keep the momentum going.
The Flying Pig Marathon remains one of the best-organized races in the country. The 2025 results prove that the running community is getting faster, stronger, and more obsessed with the "flying" life than ever before. Whether you finished in 2:20 or 7:20, you’re part of that data now. Wear the shirt. You earned it.