Soggy grounded Grunts

Me, enjoying life!

This past weekend was the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, and the Pig has come to encompass a whole bunch of races over two days. Covington Latin School provides the volunteers to pass out water and gatorade at two fluid stops during the 10K race and the 5K Hope and Possibilites run on the Saturday before the 'big pig' race. I didn't look away quickly enough when the Latin School Boosters were looking for someone to be the volunteer coordinator for our fluid stations, so I got the job of getting all of the supplies and organizing as many kids (and parents, gratefully) as I could find to show up and help with this.

The thing I really love about this race is the humor that goes with it. First of all...it's called the Flying Pig...you have to smile at that. And the volunteers are all called "Grunts"--and we get t-shirts that proudly declare our status! The spectators are called "Squealers". People both in the races and along the way are known to dress up in all kinds of pig suits...some people Saturday were running with pig noses on , some had ears...very cool.

That is Sam in the camoflage rain poncho. He says next year he might run if it will get him out of having to stand around in the rain.

This is the crew at Newport on the Levee. What a mess! See that cluster of kids standing down there on the left? Interestingly, the people passing out water are PARENTS!

It really is alot of fun, and the weather cleared up for the majority of both of the races we worked at...but the before and after times were pretty miserable there in the rain!

Here is Daniel, in the middle, and Ellen and Christopher, having a blast raking up cups. Don't you love Dan's hat? That is mine from when I worked at Hardee's in high school. I can't believe I have carried that hat along with me as I've moved around--what was I thinking? Now I can't get it away from him to throw it out!