Signs of the Times: Marathon Signs That Could Totally Work for Bar Exam Takers, Too

I ran the Flying Pig Marathon last weekend—specifically the Skyline 3-Way Challenge—and while I didn’t take pictures of the signs, I definitely saw them. You know the kind: funny, motivational, slightly unhinged, and somehow exactly what you needed to read at mile 11. Or mile 1.

And honestly? Some of those signs felt weirdly perfect for bar prep. Because whether you're running 13.1 miles or writing 13 essays, you hit walls, doubt your life choices, and desperately need a stranger holding a glittery poster to tell you to keep going.

Source: Cincinnati Business Courier

So here’s a roundup of real or typical race signs—followed by what they’d say if they were meant for bar takers instead.

🪧 “Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.”

Bar Prep Version: “Pain is temporary. A bar card is forever.”

🪧 “Worst parade ever.”

Bar Prep Version: “Worst MPT ever.”

🪧 “Run like you stole something!”

Bar Prep Version: “Write like you remembered the rule just in time.”

🪧 “You’re not slow. You’re just tapering.”

Bar Prep Version: “You’re not behind. You’re in your diagnostic phase.”

🪧 “Never trust a fart.”

Bar Prep Version: “Never trust your gut on a Con Law MCQ—read it twice.”

🪧 “Toenails are for losers.”

Bar Prep Version: “Free time is for people who aren’t taking the bar.”

🪧 “Smile if you peed a little.”

Bar Prep Version: “Smile if you blanked on the rule but wrote something anyway.”

🪧 “Remember: You paid to do this.”

Bar Prep Version: “You paid for the bar review course. Might as well do all the assignments.”

🪧 “Chuck Norris never ran a marathon.”

Bar Prep Version: “Chuck Norris never passed the bar. You will.”

🪧 “If Britney can survive 2007, you can survive this.”

Bar Prep Version: “If Britney made it, so can you—just finish this MPT.”

🪧 “Don’t stop. People are watching.”

Bar Prep Version: “Don’t stop. Your July self is counting on you.”

🪧 “This seemed like a good idea 4 months ago.”

Bar Prep Version: “Law school seemed like a good idea 3 years ago. No turning back now.”

🪧 “There’s beer at the end.”

Bar Prep Version: “There’s brunch, sleep, and Netflix at the end.”

🪧 “You’re running better than the government.”

Bar Prep Version: “You’re writing better than most Supreme Court dissents.”

🪧 “You’ve trained for this.”

Bar Prep Version: “You’ve done thousands of MBE questions. You’re ready.”

🪧 “You’ve got this!”

Bar Prep Version: “You know this. Trust your outline. Trust your prep.”

🪧 “Seems like a lot of work for a banana."

Bar Prep Version: “Seems like a lot of work for a license you have to frame yourself.”

Funny thing about those signs: Most of them are held by strangers. People who don’t know your name or your story—but they still show up to cheer you on. That’s something to remember during bar prep, too. Support comes in many forms: Professors, classmates, your bar prep provider, a podcast, a flashcard app, or maybe even a silly little blog post like this one.

So wherever you are in your bar prep marathon, I hope one of these signs hits at just the right moment. And if it doesn’t, here’s one more:

🪧 “You’re almost there. Don’t quit now.”