Two commissioners run in the Pig

Hamilton County Commissioners David Pepper and Pat DeWine ran for the "Finish Swine" in separate relay races for the the Flying Pig Marathon Sunday.

Pepper was invited to be the last leg of the "SWOFCA" team's relay (Southwest Ohio Family Care Affiliate.) He said he was asked to participate several weeks before the race and practiced by running 5K or 10K runs every weekend leading up to it. The team, which included county Job and Family Services workers Mary Eck, chief of the foster care section, and Jeff Felton, assistant director of Children Services, Ashley Roberts, a teacher and friend of another participant, finished in 4:07:08. They placed 126th out of 387 in their division (coed relays) and 234th overall.

"It was neat," said Pepper "running in the last leg you get to see what the marathoners experience at the end. The crowds and bands, it was really energizing."



DeWine, also ran the last leg of the race in his relay, "Slow As Schmitt" made up of a group of friends. Turns out, Schmitt, whoever that is, must have been pretty fast. The team finished in 4:01:22 ranking 100th out of 387 in their division and 194th overall.

"It's always great fun. I love doing these things. Just how positive everyone is on the course," said DeWine, who a runner and has tackled the full marathon before by himself. "I feel guilty because you're running with these people who are running for 26 miles and you start at mile 20. You try to encourage them."

DeWine must have passed Pepper somewhere in the final leg, but says he didn't see him.

Several other Hamilton County employees also ran in the Pig including Assistant Prosecutor Jim Harper, who was on a relay team from the prosecutor's office.