What Running the 3-Way Skyline Challenge Taught Me About the Bar Exam

This past weekend, I crossed four finish lines in Cincinnati as part of the Flying Pig Marathon’s 3-Way Skyline Challenge. Just under an hour south of Dayton, Cincinnati offers the perfect quick getaway. For me, it feels close to home but just far enough to make the experience feel special. I’ve always believed that stepping slightly outside our usual routine can offer powerful lessons—and this race proved that yet again.

Four races. One weekend. That’s not a typo. Here’s how it breaks down:

🏃🏻 Friday night: A 1-mile race to kick things off

🏃🏻 Saturday morning: A 10K (6.2 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles), run back-to-back

🏃🏻 Sunday morning: The grand finale—a half marathon (13.1 miles)

The more adventurous runners complete the 4-Way Skyline Challenge, where they run a full marathon instead of the half marathon. That’s not me!

The Skyline Challenges are quirky and iconic challenges that capture the spirit of Cincinnati—festive, a little offbeat, and full of heart. Between the pig-themed race names, vibrant crowd support, and unique local traditions, it’s the kind of weekend that leaves a lasting impression, whether you’re a local or just visiting.

And as I recovered last night, one thought kept returning: This whole weekend was the perfect metaphor for bar prep.

Let me walk you through it—one race at a time.

The 1-Mile Race: The Start of Bar Prep

The first leg of the Skyline Challenge was the 50 West Mile race on Friday evening. A single mile might sound easy, especially compared to what’s to come, but it’s surprisingly tough. It’s over in a flash, and if you start too fast or aren’t warmed up, you’ll feel it. You’re excited but maybe anxious. You’re trying to find your pace.

This is exactly what the beginning of bar prep feels like.

The first week or two are all about finding your rhythm. You’ve got your materials. You’ve made a study plan—or at least opened a calendar. You’re trying to figure out how to balance watching lectures, reading outlines, completing practice questions, and, oh right, balancing real life.

That opening mile of bar prep isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting going. Just like that Friday night race, your only job is to start moving. You’ll have time to settle in. But for now, it’s enough to show up, cross the first start line, and take those first few (sometimes shaky) steps forward.

The 10K: The Grind of Daily Study

Saturday morning begins early with the longest race of the day: The Flying Pig 10K Presented by Toyota. This is the meat of the Skyline Challenge. It’s where the real work happens.

This is bar prep weeks 3 through 7.

You’re now fully in it. There’s no easing in anymore. Every day has a to-do list: lectures to watch, outlines to build, flashcards to review, MBE questions to complete, and essays to write. You’re reviewing topics you never loved—like Secured Transactions and Conflict of Laws—and realizing just how much there is to cover.

Like the 10K, this part of bar prep is about pacing. Push too hard without structure, and you’ll burn out. Coast too much, and you won’t be ready. It’s all about staying steady, managing your energy, and building endurance. You may not see results every day—but every mile you run, every question you review, is building strength.

You might not be having fun. But you’re becoming strong. Sharper. More prepared.

The 5K: The Final Review and Taper

After the 10K, you turn around and run the Flying Pig 5K Presented by Queen City Running almost immediately. It’s shorter, but your legs are heavy. The adrenaline has worn off. You’ve already accomplished a lot—and you’re starting to feel it.

This is the final stretch of bar prep—the last week or two before the exam.

You’re no longer learning brand-new material. You’re reviewing. Refining. Polishing outlines. Practicing essays. Maybe you’re doing a full-length simulated exam. You’re tired, but focused.

The 5K phase of the Skyline Challenge reminded me of how hard it is to stay mentally sharp when your body and brain are worn out. It’s tempting to coast or say, “I’ve already done so much.” But this last stretch matters. Not because you’ll learn a ton of new content—but because you’ll prove to yourself that you can follow through and finish strong.

The Half Marathon: The Bar Exam Itself

Then comes Sunday. The final race. The 13.1-mile Half Marathon Presented by Paycor.

By now, you’ve already run three races in less than 36 hours. You’re not fresh anymore. You’re sore, tired, and probably wondering why you signed up for this in the first place.

Sound familiar? That’s the bar exam.

The bar isn’t just hard because of the material. It’s hard because of the mental fatigue. Two full days of testing. Essays. Multiple-choice questions. Performance tests. You might feel energized at the start. But by the end of Day Two, you’ll be running on fumes.

This is where your training kicks in. All the early morning study sessions. The practice exams. The outlines. The feedback. It’s all there, somewhere in your brain, ready to help you finish. Not sprinting. But steady. Focused. Ready.

You don’t need to feel amazing on bar exam day. You just need to keep going. Just like that half marathon, it’s not about speed. It’s about endurance and execution.

But Why “Skyline”?

If you’re not from Ohio, the term “Skyline” might throw you off. It’s the name of a beloved local Skyline Chili chain, where a “3-way” refers to spaghetti topped with chili and shredded cheese. (There are also 4-ways and 5-ways, depending on what toppings you add.)

So why name a race challenge after a chili dish?

Because Cincinnati knows that great things come from layering the right ingredients.

That’s bar prep too. It’s not just about knowing rules. It’s about layering:

✅ Knowledge (your legal content)

✅ Practice (MBE sets, essays, MPTs)

✅ Strategy (time management, outlining, reviewing)

✅ Support (professors, classmates, bar prep teams)

✅ Mindset (resilience, confidence, grit)

The more layers you have, the stronger your finish.

What I’ll Remember

Crossing the final finish line of the half marathon, I wasn’t thinking about my pace or time. I was thinking about the journey. The weirdness of a race weekend full of pigs in tutus. The miles run on tired legs. The thousands of other athletes accomplishing the same goal. And how proud I felt—not because I was fast (I certianly wasn’t!) , but because I finished what I started.

Bar prep is the same. You don’t need to be the fastest. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be consistent, persistent, and prepared. The results will follow.

So if you’re starting bar prep now, here’s my challenge to you:

✅ Run your own Skyline Challenge.

✅ Start strong.

✅ Keep showing up.

✅ Finish proud.