I read the reviews and they are accurate. You really have to read all of the packets and scour the web site to make sure you you know what's going on here. Overall, I had a great time on the ultra course and would recommend the run to others.

Good:
+ Traffic was allowed on the roads but the police and crew did a great job of keeping runners safe.
+ There aren't huge crowds but the people who came out were awesome. Thank you! The family with the "finish line" at mile 15, you rule. The family with those crackers, awesome. The guy with the Snickers, my hero.
+ I took home 4 shirts from the event, 2 technical.
+ Great aid stations; thanks to all volunteers! People were helpful. Course was clearly marked to me.
+ I guess California has more hills because I thought this course was flat - nice. And, perfect weather for running.
+ Great finisher's medal.
+ The people in Fort Worth are awesome. Fort Worth is a very nice, welcoming town. (I live in California.)

To improve:
- Volunteers at packet pickup didn't know where to get the chip, where to get shirts, where to enter the lottery.... I appreciate volunteers but some basic training is needed. Something is wrong when you have to ask 3 people for answers.
- Event info is poorly presented. Those guys should check out the Flying Pig or other marathon web sites. Info is scattered here and there. I didn't know about the finisher's shirt until last minute but I will treasure mine.
- Having 2 start areas is a bit confusing. At least 3 people asked me (a joker from out of state) where the start area was.

Again, I had a great time and would recommend this event.

I really don't expect much from any marathon. I am one of those runners who doesn't need the crowds or the delicacies at the end. I expect marathon organizers and volunteers to know a little more about their race, however....

On the good side:

- interesting course; I like it a little hilly, and I read other reviews and expected this

- helpful traffic control officers at intersections

- volunteers calling out times and sometimes approximate paces at most mile marks - very helpful


The bad (can't be controlled):

- the town of Fort Worth shows no signs of caring about this race (at least that I saw)

- cambered (curved) streets- a bit rough on the legs

- a little windy at times


The ugly (can be controlled):

- a website that doesn't give any information (all garbled); I actually needed to look at a local news article to even know where the packet pick up was

- I pick up the chip: "Is there somewhere to check this?" Reply: "I think it is somewhere in the back." This became a recurrent theme - volunteers/workers who didn't know basic information.

A different volunteer/worker: "Do you know where the start line is? Where is the best place to park?" Reply: "I don't know; here is a paper that should have that information." Hmmm.

At the end of the race: "I understand there is a finisher's tech shirt; where do I pick this up?" Reply: "What shirt?" Later in the week I read from another runner posting on this site that they happened to find the mysterious tech shirt tent.... I e-mailed the race organizers to send me one - and of course, I got no response (very "bush league").

Overall this is a marathon that is trying to be a bit bigger than your local small race; but if you want to be a "bigger fish," you've got to act like one in the details.

This is really a great marathon to run. Well organized run, with a nice, scenic, rolling course. There are not a lot of spectators because it is a rather small marathon but those that are out there are great.

I registered Friday afternoon before the race. There was no waiting line, and I also noticed that there was no waiting line for packet pickup.

Only negative was the plastic water cups at some of the water stops. One cannot pinch and drink out of them. But the water stops were well staffed and supplied.

The negative comments typically would have kept me away from this race but timing was too good on this one to pass up. I don't do Sunday races, it was time for a marathon, and Cowtown started out by running under the hotel I was staying at so I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

As is turned out, this year's race was great. I suspect the organizers took seriously past complaints and did all they could to make this a great race.

Support was outstanding. There were so many aid stations that for the 1st time I actually skipped a couple stations. I agree with the anti-plastic cup comment - they break when folded to ease drinking and plastic can't be good for the environment. Other than that, the aid stations were great as well as were the locals offering refreshments from their unofficial stations (a group from TCU even offered beer!).

Fan support was great, considering that this is not a major marathon.

The course had many more turns than the other marathons I've run but at no time did I ever not know where to go.

The course had a few more hills than I would have liked and the last one leading to the finish line was a challenge, but overall, great race.

If I ever find myself in the DFW area in February again, I will definitely give this race another try.

Since I'm able to compare a number of marathons, I can say that I wouldn't recommend this one to a first-timer. The first-time experience deserves to get more than they will from this event. It could be that they try to do to many races at once or simply they need a new perspective on what direction it needs to go, but it was lacking almost everything and I expected more from Ft. Worth. Yes, it was easy to get in and out of the city and parking was free, but that's about it. No signs telling you where to go. No banner marking the start or finish. I didn't realize we had started because there was no anthem sung or a gun that went off - nothing. People just started to move forward. The course went mostly unmarked. They had repainted some of the arrows from last year but not all, so in a couple of spots it was tricky figuring out in which direction to go. Once a group of us were on the trail while a group was on the road; not sure who was right. The spectators who were there were great, but there were very few of them, and in your 22nd mile you start to need a little extra support and encouragement and there wasn't any except at the aid stations. This would be especially important for the first-timer. And if you didn't know to look in a tent for the finisher shirt, then you didn't get one like most people. I think the entire race needs to be revamped.

Ran the Cowtown in 2003 and decided would not do it again until there were significant changes, including improving the course, starting the run downtown and separating the start of the marathon from the 5K and 10K races. Lo and behold, it has happened. This marathon is now a sleeper. Not an easy course but a very attractive course. Way to go, Cowtown. Keep up the good work. I have run the old Austin course and White Rock several times, and definitely prefer the new Cowtown course.

I ran the Ultra (50K) and I was a little worried because I had read about a lack of Gatorade from last year's race. I also grew concerned because for the first 10 miles, they were already out of Gatorade for the mid-packers. However, after I passed the half-marathon turn-around, there were food trays with bananas, orange slices, Snickers bars and other great snacks to help keep the energy up. I was very impressed at how the ultra was organized. I loved the trails that we ran on toward the end; it was a great diversion from the roads. I can't thank the volunteers enough - they did a great job. It was a wonderful experience for my first ultra marathon. The hills were tough, but they added to the flavor of the course. It was great. Not a lot of spectators, though... but marathoners and ultra runners run without them most of the time anyway. Great experience!

My first marathon was in Anchorage last year. What a difference. Total lack of organization at Cowtown. Where's the Gatorade or any replenishing fluid other than water? ....Not to mention all the distractions with the huge 5K and 10K turnout. Too many people, too little space and no apparent organization equals one big joke of an event. The shuttle from LaGrave Field was great, but no one knew where to catch the return bus to LaGrave - very frustrating.

This was my 14th marathon in my 10th state and I would have to rank this marathon in the top half of those I have run. It's a good marathon and DFW is lucky to have it.

Spectators were average in number but were very enthusiastic. Organization was exceptional. There were plenty of aid stations and lots of candies, gels and orange slices at many of them.

The course was well marked and there were a number of volunteers giving times and AVERAGE PACE at many of the mile markers. I personally prefer fewer turns and intersections and I got honked at once by a grumpy ol' man.

But overall, the course was OK.

The expo rocked and there was plenty of post-race recovery food.

Thanks Cowtown.

Did the half this year. I need to second the paper cup issue. And handing me an open plastic water bottle... why? Such a waste. But great, wonderful volunteers... made my day. Move 2 porta-potties from mile 23 to 5 on White Settlement Rd. (Well, I've gotta try.) Why did you move the start line? Anyway, overall, a nice day and a fine event... just be more green with plastic stuff.