Hundreds to thousands of runners at the starting line, getting ready to push to get across the finish line. Within those people was one of Highlands’ teachers.

On Saturday, May 6, the Flying Pig, which got its name from the word, “Porkopolis” because of all the stockyards and the meat packing industry in the 1800s, took place in Cincinnati. 

There are many events for the Flying Pig which include “The Flying Pig Marathon”, “Half Marathon”, “10K”, “5K”, “Flying Piglet” and more. 

Andrew Eckerle, a Highlands High School teacher, ran the Flying Pig marathon. 

“I decided to run the Flying Pig because I turned 50 on the same day as the race and wanted to celebrate by torturing myself.” 

Eckerle has been running for about 25 years and has run 11 marathons. 

“I have run many Flying Pig Marathons, but also in Chicago, Columbus, Bar Harbor Maine, and Johannesburg, South Africa.” 

Eckerle is not sure if this will be his last marathon or not. 

“As soon as I finished, I told my wife that I was finished running marathons, but I’m already starting to think about it. So, I don’t know.”  

Eckerle shares his favorite part of the race was finishing because his family was there to cheer him on.