Thousands of runners are hitting Cincinnati streets this morning for the Queen Bee Half Marathon, the sister race of the Flying Pig. The half marathon steps off at 7:30 a.m. from Reading Road and Pendleton Street downtown, followed by the 4-miler at 8 a.m. A Michelob Ultra Victory Party awaits finishers at Sawyer Point Park from 8 a.m. to noon.
Race weekend brings a long list of road closures across downtown, Eden Park, Mount Adams and the riverfront — including Reading Road, Eggleston Avenue, Court Street, Pete Rose Way, Eden Park Drive, Victory Parkway, McMillan Street, Woodburn Avenue, Madison Road, Observatory Avenue, Linwood Avenue, Eastern Avenue, Delta Avenue and Riverside Drive. Race organizers note that all closures are reflected in real time on the Waze navigation app.
Compounding the traffic picture, roads and sidewalks around Vice President JD Vance’s East Walnut Hills home are closed from Friday morning through Monday afternoon for Secret Service security — William Howard Taft Road, Collins Avenue, Taft Road Lane and Heatherhill Lane. City officials say drivers detouring on Saturday will be directed to cross between groups of half-marathon runners, and residents in the secured area can pass through three marked checkpoints.
Motorists heading downtown for the race should arrive before 7:30 a.m. to avoid closures, and Metro warns bus riders to expect delays. The Bee-U-Tique Expo at the First Financial Center wrapped up Friday evening.
