Harvey Lewis: A Century of Marathons at the Flying Pig

Harvey Lewis: The Heart of Cincinnati Running

Harvey Lewis toed his first starting line at the Revco Cleveland Marathon in April 1991. He was just 15 years old, a fledgling runner yet to weave his name into the fabric of Cincinnati's vibrant running community.

"I was not a very accomplished runner at all. I would finish more toward the back. I told my team I was going to run this marathon, and they said, 'No way, Harvey. There's no way you're going to be able to do that,'" Lewis recalled, a smile creeping into his voice as he reminisced about those early days. He set out at an eight-minute pace, a speed manageable for seven or eight miles, but as he hit mile ten, he faced a reality check.

Feeling the familiar knots of desperation and fatigue, he switched to intervals of running and walking. He crossed the finish line in just over five hours. Although it took him five years to break that barrier, the journey ignited a fire within him. Today, Lewis stands among the elite runners in the marathon world, particularly as he gears up for the iconic Flying Pig Marathon—the place where he'll mark his 100th official race this year.

More Than Just a Race

The Flying Pig Marathon holds a sacred place in Lewis's heart. Weathering the ups and downs of life and running, he has turned this annual event into a personal pilgrimage. Speaking of his experiences, Lewis said, “The greatest expression is gratitude and the elation of feeling the energy of the group.”

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia and settling in Cincinnati in the late 90s, the Flying Pig has become the backdrop for countless memories. That initial leap into running was transformative, making a small-town kid feel like part of something monumental.

“It's kind of cool to see the evolution of a race across so many years. I like to say I started running this race a century ago.”

Indeed, since its inception, he has been a continuous participant, receiving unwavering support from the community that celebrates his milestones as eagerly as he does.

A Tapestry of Memories

While every iteration of this marathon has been special for Lewis, a few memories stick out more than the rest. There was one occasion when he lived in Clifton, and a party at a neighboring house disrupted his sleep the night before the race. He woke up minutes before the 7 AM start, sprinting to the downtown line just as the last waves of runners were hitting the course.

Then there was the 2008 marathon—an unexpected fire on Riverside Drive forced officials to reroute the course, which led to a run slightly longer than 26.2 miles. Ironically, this was the very race where Lewis qualified for the Boston Marathon, cementing his status as a serious contender.

His personal best stands at two hours, 48 minutes, and 58 seconds, a time he achieved in Athens, Greece, the marathon's birthplace. Interestingly, his swiftest Flying Pig time came in 2018, when he galloped across the finish line in 2:50:39.

While times once held significant weight, Lewis's perspective has shifted. He feels he can actually run the Flying Pig faster now at 50 than he did in prior years. His focus has evolved into fostering connections and building community. Lewis often leads a pace group during the race, helping novices and seasoned athletes alike achieve their dreams, proving that running is as much about camaraderie as it is about competition.

“There will definitely be some people going for their (personal best), or people running their first marathon, or people running for X number of reasons. It's just great to be a piece of that,” Lewis expressed with warmth.

Running for More Than Personal Victory

In recent years, Lewis's motivation has taken on a profound personal significance. His late mother, Betty, who passed away in January 2025, has ignited a renewed passion within him. She had been a single parent and a nurse, always encouraging her children to dream big.

Lewis recalls witnessing her resilience after she suffered a stroke in 1994. As she worked tirelessly to regain her health, he drew inspiration from her courage while navigating his own journey in running.

“My mother was very supportive of ideas that seemed sort of unconventional. She always let me go for it,” he reminisced.

Pushing Boundaries

In the world of endurance athletes, Lewis truly embodies the term. At his 50th birthday, rather than a celebratory party, he found himself immobilized after competing in the grueling Go One More Ultramarathon outside Austin, Texas. Over four days, he ran an astonishing 243 miles, showcasing a tenacity that defies age norms.

As he asserts, those longer distances keep his spirit alive. He has found success against younger competitors in ultra-events, attributing his triumphs to grit and strategy. His multi-faceted journey through ultras includes 15 Badwater Ultramarathons and setting a world record by completing 450 miles over five days just last summer.

He attributes his long-standing success to a healthy lifestyle, having embraced vegetarianism in 1996. Active release therapy, a keen focus on sleep, and a blend of cross-training maintain his resilience. Yet, at times, the act of running serves purely for love, tapping into personal relationships and the narratives of friends who have faced adversity.

A Legacy in Motion

As he prepares for his 100th marathon, Lewis also looks toward a greater purpose. He has run to raise funds for social justice causes, tracing historical paths like Mahatma Gandhi's salt march and the route of Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery. His essence as a runner goes beyond individual glory; it resonates with community values and the quest for justice.

After the Go One More Ultra, he continued training, often running 15 miles from the airport to his home upon returning to Cincinnati, indicating the depth of his commitment to this marathon milestone. Today, he averages 60 miles a week, embodying what it means to live a life devoted to endurance.

Most days, you can find him running to his teaching job at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where he's made a lasting impact for two decades.

Today, he has logged over 100,000 miles and aims to remain an integral part of Cincinnati's marathon community for years to come. His determination echoes that of local legends like Mike Fremont and Wayne Hinaman, who continued racing into their 90s.

In this exciting chapter, Lewis stands as living proof of a mantra often quoted by marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge: "No human is limited." As we celebrate Harvey Lewis's monumental journey, we are reminded that the human spirit can defy boundaries.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's Harvey Lewis marks marathon milestone at Flying Pig