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☰
Cowtown Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Cowtown Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 3.4
Number of comments: 184 [displaying comments 161 to 171]
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G. G. from Denton, Texas
(3/1/2004)
 "Better course but a few misses" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The course was better than last year -- more scenic and interesting; however, the start was a bit of a disaster in that you took a hard left within 1/2 block of the starting line. Hopefully, this can be fixed... I must say that I do miss the finish at the Stockyards. Everyone has pretty much nailed the big miss at the water stations -- if it had been as warm as last year, this would have been disasterous. Lastly, the food was much better than last year. Thanks for the improvements race organizers; please keep working to make it better. I love Ft. Worth so I'll be back again next year. | |
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K. B. from McKinney, TX
(2/29/2004)
 "Quite possibly the worst marathon in the country" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 How does a marathon with Coca-Cola as the sponsor not have Powerade at the water stations? I ran this sorry excuse for a marathon and I can say that I will never be back. The whole time all I can think of is that this must be some sort of sick joke. The Cowtown Marathon does nothing more than provide a name for the 10K. After all, there isn't much appeal to 'Cowtown 10K'. I really felt sorry for the volunteers. You could tell they really took a lot of pride in their city. Unfortunately the race organization really blew it and made the whole city look bad. I would even go as far as to put some of the blame on NBC5. After all, they were the main sponsor and did a very poor job of promoting the event to the city. I think they need to re-evaluate which local events they want to sponsor because the Cowtown Marathon is a losing proposition. | |
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M. L. from Plano, Texas
(2/29/2004)
 "Great job Cowtown!" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my fourth marathon and my first Cowtown Marathon and I really enjoyed the Cowtown. I have only read about the old course but the new course was challenging to me. Mile 24 and 25 had some hills and a 20 mph wind was right in your face. The marathon started before the other more populated races (5K and 10K) and most of the marathoners finished after the big crowd was gone. The course did have plenty of water on the course but no sports drink or gels. So, bring your own gels (most everybody does). This is a smaller marathon than the others that I've run (Dallas and Austin). However, it is very intimate and everyone was friendly. I thought the food after the marathon was great. I would definitely do this marathon again! | |
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V. F. from Fort Worth, Texas
(2/29/2004)
 "Great Town; Poor Organization" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon. I was physically prepared, but was extremely disappointed that my fair city couldn't muster up anything besides water until Mile 18. I was fortunate since I was supplied GU by my loving husband at strategic points along the course... my running partner, however, (who prefers fruit/Gatorade for food) faired terribly after her initial food supply dwindled. We had both expected to find SOMETHING other than water at the fueling stations. (Although one group of misinformed folks were serving beer at mile 13 & 22...) The fans were extremely supportive (although few). Overall, (as much as I love my own city) I do not recommend this marathon unless you do well with JUST water. | |
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Name Here from TX
(2/29/2004)
 "A 10K w/ a marathon afterthought" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Cowtown Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The Cowtown Marathon is a great 10K that adds an un-supported marathon as an afterthought every year. New, different course? Yes. Water only? Yes. Chip timing? Heresay. The organizers follow a 26 year old format and aren't interested in change. Be cautious and use a 'crew' to support yourself (fluid, gels, etc) if you run this in '05. | |
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J. B. from Fort Worth
(2/29/2004)
"Why subject yourself to this race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Cowtown Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I ran the Cowtwon Marathon yesterday. This marathon had only water on the course. No Powerade, no food, no gel - nothing but water. Some water stops had plastic cups so when you squeezed the cup to not spill the water, it just fell apart in your hand. There were stretches of several miles that I saw no more than 10 spectators. After mile 4 I ran the next 22 miles alone. No decent food at the end, but there was plenty of beer (Miller Lite is a sponsor) to help you forget about the race. The marathon is an afterthought to the kiddie 5k, the regular 5k and the 10k. Same management for almost 30 years - please get some new blood in here with some vision. Austin, Houston, Dallas, Abilene, San Antonio put on great marathons - why does this have to be such a mess every year? Every year I complain and every year it gets worse; I have no one to blame but myself at this point. | |
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J. S. from Dallas, Texas
(2/28/2004)
 "Urban Course With Variety" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I?d have given ?organization? 5 stars but they didn?t have any Gatorade at any of the official water stops. A private running club had the only Gatorade and it was a mile 18! Oh well, crap happens I guess. I did learn that I do very well on just plain water. However, had the temp been other than the mid-40?s to the low 50?s, things could have gotten ugly. I had ten bucks in my shorts and there were 7-11?s going by so I had a ?Plan B? if I needed it. All of that said, no Gatorade or Powerade is significant. This was my 6th marathon and I had a ball. Cowtown had a very variegated urban course; you never got bored. It starts in downtown Ft. Worth, meanders out of the skyscrapers into light industrial sprawl, goes through some lower income housing areas, then shifts gears and goes through the Arboretum and I think some sort of park next to that. Then it?s through the high-rent district and then back to downtown. Net ascent over the 26.2 miles is 791 feet. Don?t get excited about that. Yes, the course has some hills to it, but nothing to make you groan. They?re very gradual and spaced out over the whole course. In comparison, the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham has 922 feet of ascent between miles 17-19! Despite being downtown, this is a very easy marathon to get to. Plenty of free parking right at the starting line. A really nice touch was that several of the restaurants right at the start line opened up and let runners stand inside and/or use their restrooms. No long lines at porta-potties. There were few spectators, but those who were out were vocal and very supportive. I don?t need cheering masses. After-race amenities were on par. This was however the only marathon I?ve been to that, in addition to everything else you?d expect, had a BIG cup of hot turkey noodle soup in their food line! Nice. The finisher?s medal has evolved nicely from prior years. I?ll do this one again. Kamikaze PS: It?s not the race organization?s fault, but the hotel prices are no bargain for out-of-towners. | |
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J. M. from USA
(2/8/2004)
"Cowtown limits marathon walkers" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Cowtown time limit needs to extend to help marathon walkers, beginners and long-timers to continue to participate. A 6.5 hour cut off makes it hard for first-time walkers and older marathon walkers to complete. Many of us need 7 to 8 hours. We need water stops, snack stops and port-a-potty's out until ALL WALKERS/RUNNERS cross the finish line. EVERYONE who enters and completes, no matter how long it takes, deserves a medal and support. I am not doing the marathon this year at Cowtown, I am going to AUSTIN for this reason, and I live in Fort Worth area. I would much rather do Cowtown, but the time limitations and lack of support for walkers changed my plans. I hope next year you will extend the time so more walkers can participate in this wonderful event. Thank you, Joanne McDonald, wishing the time limit was 7-8 hours or longer - so more walkers can participate and enjoy! | |
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E. K. from Dallas
(1/4/2004)
"It is real Texas, country western-style marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran 4 times, and last 3 were after the Austin Marathon (one week back-to-back). I do not want to miss Cow Town Marathon. Stockyard is a real Texas history. I hope you continue make this marathon a Texas, country-style marathon even though you move starting line to Sundance. Thanks a lot! Eunsup Kim | |
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C. B. from Dallas, Texas
(9/14/2003)
 "Why do this when Motorola is in the same month?" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The caption says it all. The course is moderately difficult, has few spectators and is desolate for 6 of the last 6.2 miles (when you obviously want people around). There is little or no food at the end. Skip it in favor of Austin or run White Rock or Houston. |
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