On the recordMay 5, 2010
Today I rise to recognize not only all of those who participated in Sunday's Flying Pig Marathon, but most importantly, our male winner from my area, Milford, Ohio. Let me tell you the conditions 18,000 participants faced on Sunday. Six-thirty in the morning, torrential downpour, with a forecast of a 90 percent chance it wouldn't let up. And unfortunately, they were right. But as 18,000 of us decided to go at least part of the distance, 6,000 of us decided to go the full 26.2-mile distance. The Flying Pig Marathon was the brainchild of Bob Coughlin 12 years ago. Twenty-five thousand people participated in the weekend event. And it took an enormous amount of folks, including 3,000 volunteers, to help make that event happen. For all of us that participated, we want to say 'thank you'. But I think this year's winner, Brian List, really wants to say thanks to those that helped because his dream came true. This young man, Milford High School graduate, cross country participant in high school, cross country participant in college, came back to his hometown to raise a family and to continue to pursue his dream of running. This was his fourth try at the marathon in Cincinnati. He never really thought he had what it took to actually be a winner. But on Sunday, he was. He posted a great time, 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 20 seconds. He followed his dream, his heart, and achieved his goal. And I am so proud of him.
