This year's marathon was totally different from my previous two runs. Having something to drink other than water, the bananas and other food at different areas, and finally the support from the people working the tables were a great plus. Great job Cowtown. I will definitely run next year

If they just could have controlled Mother Nature it would have been great. This year there was plenty of water and sports drinks about every mile and half. They offered fruit/candy/cookies closer to the end of the race. There were a few folks who lived in the neighborhoods playing music and singing as we went by. The race was well run. We had no problems getting our packets and there was plenty of food afterwards. Everyone working was wet but very friendly. The police did a fantastic job of controlling the streets. The course was pretty good. We ran through parts of old downtown, in neighborhoods, along the river, by two golf courses. After reading other comments I think the problem with water was fixed, and although there were not a lot of fans, I don't expect that unless you get into Boston/Chicago. But what people were out did great. Would run this again.

I have to agree with the other posts. Just water, and no bathrooms. As I was running the first 5 to 10 miles, I kept seeing people breaking off from the pack, and relieving themselves behind cars, buildings, houses, trees, etc. Water is fine for a 3 to 5 mile race. But for 26.2 miles, a runner needs more. But overall, I'll run it again. I live here, and I will continue to support it. The people that worked the stations were very nice.

This being my first marathon I have nothing to compare it to. I trained with Lukes so parts of the course were very familer - that was a plus. ONLY WATER! What's up with that? What am I, a camel? Lucky for me I had family and friends on the course to provide some Powerade for me and who ever I happened to be running next to at the time. The other runners were very happy for the boost. Special thanks to the local running clubs for the food and fuel at 22 & 23 miles. Some one even offered me fried chicken. Post-race was ok, the tortilla soup was the bomb. What no massage at the finish? I'd do it again just to beat my time.

Cowtown needs to get up with the times! There was no use of chips for timing, no food, no Gatorade, plastic cups that when you squeezed them to not spill the water they fell apart in your hand... the list can go on and on...

I?ve seen Luke?s Locker put on a far better 5K run than this afterthought of a marathon. What happened? Cowtown needs to get some help from Dallas or something.

But one of the disappointing things I found out after the race was that there were no finishing pictures of runners. I ran my heart out and dropped my marathon time by almost 2 hours from running my first marathon, Run the Rock, in December. Crossed the finished line a little over four hours (4:08:32 to be exact). Yeah, go me! And I have no pics of me and my clock...

But looking past all the negative parts, it was fun to run around Fort Worth. Fort Worth has its own unique character and personality. I enjoyed the course greatly, for me it made the miles fly by. So yeah I?ll probably run it again, but it won?t be one that I?ll train for this year.

I had run Houston in January and have run about 3 half-marathons and compared to Houston, the Cowtown Marathon is lacking in many categories. The course itself is okay, some of the volunteers are pretty rude and the awards are unfairly distributed. I came in second place overall female and I do not think I will be running it again next year because of all of my negative feelings towards the race.

Houston is a much better race, I think it makes a great first marathon, the course is flat and scenic, lots of fans, very friendly volunteers (one even wiped my nose for me and waited with me 'til my ride got there at the finish), and it was not overpopulated (you had space, but still had the camaraderie of a pace group). The Cowtown is the complete reverse - no one cheering you on and rude volunteers, no finisher t-shirt or great medal or trophy for placing high.

This marathon needs a few more things to make it a pretty good marathon. First, paper cups work a lot better than plastic ones so you can squeeze the top and drink on the run. Second, having the mile markers in the correct locations is a real plus, (I had a difficult time gauging my pace). Thirdly, massage tables at the end are important for runners who have aching or cramping muscles. I did enjoy starting and finishing in downtown Fort Worth, but don't plan on running this one again.

The Cowtown Marathon was my first marathon. I enjoyed it enough to say that I will be back next year. I don't know how it compares to other marathons, but I will say that I needed and expected more food and sports drinks on the course. I also want to say that I have traveled all over the world in the army and I will tell you that I have never seen so many friendly, helpful, and polite citizens and police officers as you have in Ft. Worth, Tx. People of Ft. Worth and the FTWPD, I thank you for a very enjoyable stay in your city.

I enjoyed every step! The weather was perfect, the south wind did push me back a few steps now and then, the course was great, the second half (13 miles to the finish) added to my runner's high, the last two miles gave the marathon its signature of 'its up to you' and the finish was a closing to a great race! Naturally, there are a few 'bugs' to iron out for next year. However, I have full confidence those 'bugs' will be addressed and corrected. This was my 17th Cowtown Marathon and my 88th marathon in 20 years. I plan to run Cowtown again and again and again! A marathon is a personal challenge!

This was my 6th marathon and 1st (& last) Cowtown Marathon. First of all, really comfortable and relatively flat course. Started out OK but when I didn't see ANYTHING beyond an occasional water stop prior to mile 10, I knew this one was going to bust. And there, at mile 10, a guy holding a bag of tootsie rolls. Also practically NO porta-potties! Only ones I saw were at the relay hand-off stations and those were swapped by the relay 'runners' and their well-wishers. Though I honestly didn't have enough fluid in me to use the facilities, I'm sure the Ft. Worth residents along the route truly appreciated the runners who had NO choice but to go in their yards. Worst marathon organization/planning job I've seen so far. A disgrace to the City of Fort Worth. HOWEVER, fantastic job by the UNT-HSC volunteers AND the FT. police and fire departments!!!