Flying Pig can still soar despite cancellation

Race officials made the announcement Friday the Flying Pig is grounded.

The 2020 run has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Party, and then lat minuterealize you can't haveit."NEW AT 11 -- "THE FLYINGPIG" IS OFFICIALLY GROUNDEDTHIS YEAR.OFFICIALS ORIGINALLYPUSHED IT BACK -- FROM MAY TOOCTOBER.BUT THEY HAD TO MAKETHE DECISION TO END ITALTOGETHER -- DUE TO THEPANDEMIC.NOW -- MUCH LIKE THESE RUNNERSFROM YEARS PAST -- THE CITY ISMISSING OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY-- TO BRING IN THOUSANDS OFPEOPLE -- AND MILLIONS OFDOLLARS INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.BUT AS WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTERJAKE RYLE SHOWS US -- THOSEWHO REGISTERED CAN STILL MAKEA DIFFERENCE, COME RACE DAY.MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH.."Oh mygoodness, that line is long."TENS OF THOUSANDS.."Welcome tothe pig."WON'T BE GREETED BYTHE SMILING SNOUT OF THEMARATHON'S FIRST EVER RUNNER.(SOT) BOB PLATT/FIRST EVERENTRY INTO RACE"Doesn't meanI'm fast.

Just means I got tothe mailbox first.FORRUNNERS..

THEY'VE MISSEDOPPORTUNITY.(SOT) FRANKDEJULIUS/OWNER, FLEET FEETCINCINNATI######03:02,"There's a lot of miles wedidn't get to run together.There's a thousand people Ididn't get to see this Spring."FRANK DEJULIUS..

OWNS FLEETFEET..

HE SAYS FOR SALES..

THEFLYING PIG..

IS LIKE THESTORE'S SUPER BOWL..

02:08,"It's the thing we lookforward to the first weekendin May.

We plan for it everyyear.

It's really thecrescendo of our year."(SOT)JAKE RYLE/@JAKEWCPO"But for somany - the cancellation of therace - means much more thanmissing out on a marathon."(SOT) JOHN CAPPELLA/RACEDIRECTOR, FLYING PIG MARATHON01:43, "What we'll miss most,is likely what you'll missmost.

The excitement, energyand anxiety at the start line.The spectators and volunteersthat make our course comealive.

And the emotionalfinish line filled with hugsand high fives."######06:23,'People miss that because youput the training in.

What mostpeople miss is just theopportunity to have a goodtime for a weekend.WHAT'SLOST..

PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TODO SOMETHING GOOD.######09:44,'Maybe the gut reaction is tosend an email Monday.

Ask fora refund, Get your money back.Look.

I know money is as tightas it is for anyone.

If at allpossible, defer to next year.Allow them to put that moneyto work."HE'S HOPING FOLKSDEFER..

OR DONATE THEIRREGISTRATION.PIG WORKS AND THEFLYING PIG MARATHON..

GIVEBACK LOCALLY TO 300 NON PROFITORGANIZATIONS..######10:06,"They do a lot of good withit.

We're missing out on arun.

That will come back.

Allof the charities they need thehelp right now."EVERY DAY..11:16, "133 more days.

ONESTEP CLOSER..

TO NEXT YEAR'SRUN..SOMETHING DEJULIUS SAYS..HE WOULDN'T MISS..11:16,"Hopefully we'll be running arace."IN DOWNTOWN..JAKE R