Cowtown Marathon - Race Reviews

Very well organized. Small but well represented expo. Hotel shuttle to start and back. Indoor area pre-race hangout area. Well organized corrals. Aid stations well staffed. Spectators fair. Course is a nice tour of Ft Worth. Weather generally favorable. Run this 5 times previously.

By far, this was the best organized and executed marathon amongst the 33 which I've run to date.. Every aspect of the race, from the starting line to the finish line was perfect: at the start, the corals were well marked and, best of all, extremely roomy. Usually you have to duck under a rope or squeeze through a baracade of some sort to get to your coral. And once you do so, you usually can't move, let alone stretch and warm up. Due to the ample space at the starting area, each coral had more than enough room. There were enough portia potties provided, so there were none of the usual horribly long pre-race lines. The staggered start was... truly staggered. Consequently, there wasn't the usual starting line smoosh of runners, so it was easier to find some room and hit your pace sooner than in races were everyone is forced to start at the same time. The course was challenging but by no means intimidating, and the fuel stations were well spaced and easy to get in and out of... The finish area was amazingly well organized, with an impressive array of post race food choices and staffed with volunteers to help usher runners along. And speaking of volunteers, this was the nicest and most helpful group I've ever come across- THANK YOU, each and every one of you.

This was my fourth time to run the Cowtown but my first time doing the full marathon. As a repeat runner, I know very well how good the organization runs their race. The expo is appropriate for the size of the race, there are plenty of interesting vendors and plenty of merchandise available for purchase. There were some issues this year with the Saturday races being delayed due to some strong storms that hit the area that morning. As a result, there was quite a crowd around the expo area that were still participating in the 5K and 10K Saturday races and parking was more limited than it typically would be. Not a fault of the organizers, they showed an amazing ability to roll with the challenges and still put on a successful expo. Race day started nice and cool with temperatures in the low 40s. Anyone who has run Cowtown knows that they are maybe the best at moving runners through their corrals and onto the course. I started in corral 5 with some friends and we were on the course and running within 20 minutes of the starting gun. The start was not congested and there were plenty of cheering spectators to get us into the mood to run. The course is a lot of fun, with lots of changes in scenery along the way. The course starts out moving through downtown into the Stockyards area where there are lots of potentially hungover tourists surprised to see a marathon breaking out in front of their hotels. Coming out of the Stockyards means hitting the hill at mile 9 that you can see coming from mile 7. It's not near as bad as it looks once you get there and the band playing 'Shake it Off' at the top took a little of the edge off the effort I expended. As with most events, the full split from the half meant things got a lot lonelier after mile 10 when I left the big crowd of half runners. This is where the people of Ft. Worth really showed that they love this event. In spite of there being a fraction of runners continuing into the full, their was a steady showing of neighbors with fruit and candy all along the course. At mile 20 there was a huge block party with tons of people out and about, giving out food and various fluids. The last 3 miles were on a park path and that was the quietest section of the course. By this time, the sun had been out for awhile and it was getting a lot warmer than the start. In spite of the heat, I managed to keep a good pace and stayed with the 4:40 pace from mile 23 to finish. I finished with the pacer and had an official time of 4:40:01 so she was right on it! My time represented an 8 minute PR so this was a great run for me. The finish area was well done and there was very little wait to getting a finisher shirt, fruit, and disposal finisher's jacket. This was the least amount of walking I've had to do in a finishers area and they had plenty of shuttle buses to get me back to my hotel. I can't recommend Cowtown enough, it's a great race with fun spectators and a management team that knows what they are doing.

I've probably done 10 Cowtown marathons and halfs over the years but had been away for awhile. Sunday's race was by far the best staged, most professional one I've experienced. Great signage, plenty of volunteers and volunteer leadership who knew what they were doing, good aid/drink stations with large clear signs. Good job!

Cowtown is hands down the best marathon in the DFW metroplex. They don't just talk about having a great 'runner's experience' they actually execute it, consistently, year after year. They don't short change the full and ultra runners by focusing on the half marathoners like so many races do these days. Great course goes through some beautiful neighborhoods where the neighbors cheer and set up their own aid stations. Plenty of good food (not just a bag of pretzels) at the finish line for even the slower full and ultra folks which is so rare. Two (always) great looking shirts plus a throw-away jacket makes this a good value for the entry fee. Aid stations are always perfectly executed. If you're a full marathoner and are tired of feeling like an afterthought to the half marathoners, this is your race. I've run this marathon or ultra probably 15 times in the past 20 years and can't think of a single complaint in all that time. Well done, Cowtown!

This was such a fun marathon weekend - the Cowtown organizers put on a great event! Loved the cow theme! The Expo was spectacular and easy to navigate with so much to do/see for both kids and adults! The Will Rogers Stadium is a great place on marathon morning to relax/stretch/stay out of the chilly morning temps until the start. Plenty of portopotties at the start...more than I've ever seen elsewhere! My one issue with the start is that I could not find the drop-bag area for the life of me...so more directions toward that would have been nice. The course was awesome - a great tour of Fort Worth! Loved running through the Stockyards despite the slightly uneven brick footing! The hill at mile 8/9 is worth mentioning...you can see it looming ahead for awhile so it is intimidating. But if you train for it you will be fine, it's over with pretty fast! In 2017 they had a timing mat at the bottom and top of this hill for a 'hill challenge' to see who could run up this hill the fastest - nice touch and boost of motivation! The course was a little hillier than I thought, but what affected me the most course-wise during the 2017 marathon was the brutal 17 mph S wind that we had to fight during most of the marathon (about half of the course is run directly south). The S wind did make for a nice push back toward the finish in the final miles, though. Along the course the aid stations were plentiful and well-stocked with great hydration/food/gels/volunteers! One downside to the course was that there were very few easily-visible mile markers...no flags or signs most of the time. I did see one or two mile markers spray-painted on the street, but otherwise, I ran much of the race not knowing which mile I was on. I must compliment the police officers who did a great job directing traffic at the many traffic crossings during this race....If you've been to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you know how challenging their job is! The finish area was great with cups of chicken noodle soup and a large assortment of post-race food, although the distance to the family meet-up area did require more walking than I felt like doing after a marathon. There were heat sheets and disposable finisher jackets at the finish line for warmth. Parking was easy to find with many free lots. The Cowtown is an awesome, awesome experience and I would recommend it as long as you are prepared for the hills and possible strong wind! The wind definitely dampened my spirits during the marathon (can't control the wind factor!), but wind aside, it was a fabulous event! I must also mention that the temps here in TX were absolutely perfect for running! 40s at the start and 50s at the finish!

Nice expo, relatively flat course, great weather in '16 especially considering that the race was 'iced out' in '15. Post race was best I've seen in 3 Cowtown's I've ran. Different and well done medal. One to do again!

I do not discourage runners from this race. I can't comment on the course or the event too much. However, all the information for this race should be given for those deciding to participate and travel. Previous posts didn't mention a few details for the 2015 race. Beware, if marathon is cancelled you lose your investment. Read carefully before booking. No deferments or refunds policy is firm. I believe in contributing to charities and not getting a refund is ok. A deferred entry/discount for next year would have been nice though since weather was the issue. As a marathoner, I don't like paying for really expensive half marathons. The virtual race option to get a medal was a nice touch. However, It doesn't help with maniac status. Weather happens and races get cancelled (marathon and ultra). A tough call. However, I was disappointed after I traveled from out of state to find out after packet pick up that the marathon was cancelled. Occurred at 8-9 PM the night before. Communication could be improved for anyone traveling from out of state. I was appreciative of the opportunity to run the half. However, a train caused a stoppage in the race. What if the distance races weren't cancelled? That definitely would have added adversity. Something to be aware of. This was a larger race and corrals were nice. Half course was awesome and really lets you get after it until mile 9. I hope this information is helpful to those considering. Just one of many opinions. Early in the year races are always a gamble. Just don't be surprised if you do not get a deferred entry/discount for next years race.

If I could give Organization 6 stars I would! Ice and snow hit the Fort Worth area on Friday. Had to cancel the Saturday races and the Sunday marathon and ultra. Everyone ran the half. But what an effort by those in charge! Communication with the runners was excellent. Volunteers did all that was expected and more. Sure there were complainers, but it's the 'new rope syndrome.' Safety was the primary concern. Those who could not make it were given the option of 'virtual races' (all you had to do was run the distances on your own) and they mailed your finishing shirt and medal. Obviously they did not have to do that. This was my third time running the half, and every year the entire event  communication, expo, race, finishing area, food, etc has been first rate. Can't wait for next year!

My experience is in regard to the 1/2 over the past 4 years: I love this race. The course is challenging but doable for the novice distant runner. By challenging I mean there is one intense hill: mile 8-9 and you do run on bricks - that being said overall it's pretty mild and flat. Plenty of aid stations and crowd support (even in the rain). The Cowtown is pretty nostalgic since I grew up in FW (my elementary school used to train for the Saturday races) and you transverse across many hot spots of the town. The organizers do a great job and respond to emails very quickly ! Been running the half for 4 years and my brother in law runs the full. The only bad thing I could possibly say about this race is that weather in North Texas can be unpredictable this time of year - guess it just makes it a truly authentic TX experience ;) Just be prepared for anything from snow to heat!

The middle school students from Summer Creek Middle School at mile 23, The Woodshed, were totally amazing! They had Gu, Powerade, water, and best of all cool towels (the only ones on the course)! I was about to give up and they were loud, inspirational, and kept me going. Great bunch of kids. The rest of the spectators were proud of their city and it is a great race.

Ran this race with a friend who was running his first marathon after losing 200 lbs. When he crossed the finish line after a grueling 6 hrs and 40 mins on the course, he was awarded a PICTURE of a medal!!! What?!!! Marathon 101 - make sure the # of medals >= the number of runners!!! I was furious! He was totally robbed of that once in a lifetime thrill of having that 1st marathon medal placed around his neck. The pride of wearing his medal out on the town to celebrate this huge accomplishment in his life with his family and friends was stolen. I've run over 35 marathons and never experienced such disappointment. I traveled 1,400 miles to be with him and share in this incredible moment and Cowtown dropped the ball BIG TIME!! Please don't ever let that happen again. Make sure you have enough medals for ALL runners.

This was a challenging race - a fair amount of up and down, and a little heat for the last few miles. This was not the most scenic marathon - I am not sure if that is a fair representation of Fort Worth. Am I the only person whose GPS watch said '26.5'? Despite the possible extra distance, I still PR'd. Very nice scene at the post race event. Nice people along the route. Well done.

This was my second consecutive year to run Cowtown. I did the 50K last year and this year. Just like last year, it was fun from beginning to end. Lots of bands and spectators. The course goes through all of the Ft Worth landmarks. Residents in the neighborhoods cheered and served goodies in addition to the regular aid stations. It definitely gives you a good flavor of Texas and I hope to run every year until my legs fall off. :-)

Can't say enough good things about this race, if you're looking to run a winter marathon in the south-central region of the U.S. or are looking to check Texas off your list, I highly recommend the Cowtown. The course is great the entire way. The historic Stockyards district is a lot of fun to run through, some people complain about the bricks but I didn't mind them; it's only about a hundred foot stretch of road and you just have to watch your footing a little more. The only notable hill is between miles 8 and 9 going over the river up to downtown Fort Worth, it's about 100 ft. tall but very gradual so not a killer. The toughest part about it is that you can see it ahead of you for about a mile before the incline begins. Running TCU's campus and the neighborhoods around it are nice, and the final 10K highlights the Trinity River trails and parks. It also takes you by the famous Colonial professional golf course. With 5K to go the year I ran it, a spirited bunch of TCU students had a table of cups set up trailside, as I prepared an energy gel and approached the table I was offered beer instead! I had to resist since my PR was hanging in the balance, so I ran away to chants of 'BEER'S BETTER THAN GU!' The wait ended up being well worth it, though, as there were endless cups of Miller Lite at the finish line party. My one and only criticism was that the reunion area could use some rethinking to go more smoothly. After you finish you're directed thru the exhibit hall to get your finisher's tech shirt, and the reunion area for family and friends is in an adjoining hall next to it. However, this can be frustrating to navigate after running a marathon, and if you and your family/friends aren't aware of the designated reunion area it can lead to confusion. I would advise having a specific location in mind of where to meet your party, as they will not be allowed past the gated finish line festival area, which is a little off-putting but not a dealbreaker. For all i know they may have changed this since I ran it in 2012, so don't let that deter you, everything else about this race is superb. The finisher's medal is a really cool, unique medallion on a nice, custom ribbon, and the two shirts you get with the event are both technical material with great designs. The Race Expo also has tons of vendors and really cool event merchandise if you want other race apparel or last-minute gels, bars or other nourishment; the expo has you covered. Make sure and grab a copy of the Monday newspaper, the Fort Worth Star Telegram has really good coverage and pictures of the race. The entire city really gets excited about having this race, it's no wonder it's so popular, there is an extremely enthusiastic and positive energy surrounding this event. The Cowtown is worth traveling to from any corner of the country, and if your from the Midwest like myself, it is a regional must-run-marathon. Make the trip to Fort Worth in February and you will not be disappointed!

Great time. Did not care for the bricks in stock yard but not too bad. Did the half with my daughter and cousin with family and grand kids as spectators. Great time going to do the full marathon in 2014.

The course is hilly, but living locally I was aware of that and had trained on it. This was a great first marathon for me. The only reason why the organisers get 4* rather than 5 is the pacers, who weren't very much in evidence at all.

This was my first full marathon, and it exceeded my expectations. I loved the course: enough hills to make it interesting, a mix of city, neighborhoods, and parks, and great spectators. The volunteers were great throughout the course and especially at the finish. I stayed at one of the recommended hotels with a lot of other runners. The shuttle to the start was very convenient. I will be running this again next year!

I was very impressed w/ the organization of this race. I was skeptical about the course after reading reviews about the hills and 'shredded legs' since I train on flat roads. The hills were more challenging on the 2nd half of the course. I didn't like running on the cobblestones but the crowd support running through the Stockyards was great. All fluid and gel stations were well staffed and plenty of spectators lending their support. The end of the race gradually goes uphill, which was tough. Course showcases many different areas of Fort Worth and some really nice, majestic homes. Tons of food afterwards, and you get 2 shirts instead of the usual one. Nice medal too. We drove our vehicle to the race and parked for free. Area set up well. Super organized for my first 'big' race. Have run 5 half marathons but this was my first full distance.

Course is not easy nor is it a killer. Variety of running through neighborhoods, stockyards, and park trails. Corral start is good and after 1.5 miles the runner crowds thin out. Any trouble spots on the streets were spray painted orange as a warning. Aid stations and unofficial aid stations are plentiful enough. Need to be more consistent on water or Powerade first at the water stations. Nice medals and shirts. Finish line food is great (Blue Bell ice cream!!) Parking is not an issue. Like running the 2 day, 2 race Cowtown challenge. If you are in the DFW area there is no reason to miss the Cowtown.

Not a flat course but not a hilly race either. Great weather this year, a bit windy but nice compared to the winter weather that sometimes happens in late February in Cowtown. Great post race food and drink, loved the chocolate milk and ice cream! Put this one on your 'to-do' list!

Can't say enough good things about this marathon. Moving the Expo and the Start/Finish from downtown to the fairgrounds in 2011 was a savvy decision; enabling a larger field, a better course, easier access and a more enjoyable experience. The new course is challenging, but very scenic and showcases the best of Fort Worth. Great bands along the course this year. (Other runs promise bands, but Cowtown delivered!) Love the 2-day Challenge event. And the 5-year medal program was very cool. Really excited about the upcoming 3-year 'Spur' series. Very nicely done, Cowtown and Fort Worth!

I'm pursuing a marathon in all 50 states and chose this marathon because it was a reunion for the 50 States Club. It did not disappoint and I'm glad that this was my Texas marathon. Pros: -awesome amount and selection of food at the finish (though I did miss out on the chicken noodle soup) -good expo with a nice variety of vendors -excellent use of social media -spectators were relatively plentiful and VERY friendly and encouraging -ample aid stations with really encouraging volunteers -overall an interesting course with the Stockyards, park, river, etc. -just enough hills to make it manageable -I liked how those running the Ultra had a sign on the back of their shirts -SUPER easy and convenient parking if you get there early enough -you get two tech shirts: one for registering and one for finishing. Nice touch! -excellent traffic control. I never felt unsafe. Areas for improvement: -the Will Rogers Center is where packet pick-up is and it's a HUGE complex with many entrances and buildings. There were absolutely no signs directing us where to go. This was very frustrating. -It was great that all miles were marked with a red flag, but the flag wasn't that tall so it wasn't always easy to spot (this is a minor quibble) -There's nothing that can be done about this, but there are no hotels within walking distance of the start. You either have to use a car or take a shuttle. Most hotels had shuttles, though, which was a nice benefit. -the order of the fluids (water and Powerade) could be made more consistent at each aid station but it wasn't a huge deal because the volunteers were good about identifying their cups. I flew in from Massachusetts for the weekend and enjoyed my first-ever visit to Texas. I should have built in a little more time to sight see. I recommend the Botanical Garden and the Stockyards; I wish I had time for the zoo. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express less than 2 miles from the start and it was a good hotel with a good location. This marathon seems to grow every year so I'd get in before it gets too big. I highly recommend that you consider this marathon. It was a good experience overall.

Lots of rolling hills, spectators are nice, but tend to thin out along the full marathon course. The expo is fairly small. I love Fort Worth and this is a great reason to go down there.

The Cowtown Marathon is a well put together event. The organization is good. The communication is thorough. The volunteers are plentiful and helpful. The support on course is spot on. The food afterward is perfect. The course starts at Will Rogers Memorial Center and takes you through The Stockyards, Downtown, TCU, Zoo Area, The Colonial, and The Trinity Trails. Terrain ranges from Asphalt, to Cobblestone, to Concrete, to Gravel. Weather was perfect as was noticed last year, so it seems to be a trend. Course has some hills and should not be concidered fast. But it is a great course. I will run this Marathon again.

This was my first time running the Half Marathon at Cowtown. I really enjoyed the course, the organization and overall atmosphere. It was easy to get to, park and race. I really loved running through the old town Ft Worth Stockyards, this was the highlight of the course. Old rustic feel, cobblestone streets, lots of spectators, great! The size was large enough to have everything you hope, but not so large that you cannot run freely and feeling so crowded. I really enjoyed this and would rate it high. I will be back and would urge others to consider this winter timeframe race. Weather was great and cool, which definitely helped the times.

I ran the Cowtown Marathon this morning and was very pleased. Yes, there are hills, but not as bad as Dallas and many other marathons. They have put a lot of effort into the course route. I've seen posts about the cobblestones, and they were minor and no problem for me. Although there are frequent turns like in many marathons, the route is truly a sincere pleasure to run. You need to be very proud of yourself if you can keep up the pace for the very last mile, which slopes upward. Very well organized and plenty of support. I made my BQ, which is saying a lot!

Second year consecutively to run Cowtown Ultra (2012). It's a must-do race for anybody who lives in DFW, but not sure I'd fly in for it. The course is average, spectators were friendly where they existed and the organization was fair. Parking was much better for me this year compared to 2011 but maybe because I arrived earlier than last year. I volunteered at the expo's packet pick-up on Saturday and noted good organization and information being provided to the participants. It also seemed that post-race food was more available in 2012 than in 2011, so that may have improved (my yogurt came with a spoon this time around). My favorite aspect of Cowtown is the Ultra's turnaround pointlike last year those volunteers were gracious and generous. I couldn't utter a graceful thanks in return due to fatigue. If I'll be living in DFW next year I'd like to return to the Cowtown. I like the black-colored Cowtown technical shirt awarded to finishers.

Love the course, love the organization, love the crowd, love Fort Worth. Special love goes out the the lady around mile 20 that handed me an ice-cold Miller Lite. I'll see you in heaven, ma'am. Will finish my star next year!

The marathon course was great, just enough hills to mix it up. The runs through the park and the stockyards area were nice. The group who sang at the very beginning were inspirational to get the run going. The only draw back was maybe have more entertainment along the course. Springhill Suites was a mile from the start and the expo. They were very clean and provided breakfast and shuttle for the race. No long wait for me. If you did have to walk it wouldn't be that far. Nice shirts and medal. Food was fine at the finish. Would run again.

I thought there were a lot of good changes from last year - the organizers listened. The finish line in particular was much better with the new location and it was much easier to find family afterward. Areas for improvement, early on the aid station drink order seemed to vary, after-race refreshments are still lacking - unless you want a full box of something - and it was a little difficult to navigate back to the gear check afterward. I went the wrong way and had to backtrack on shreded legs. All in all, a well-organized race with some room to grow. Just don't get too big!

Course- I've run the marathon 3 years and this year I ran the half. Really liked last years course change and the chance to see the stockyards-we plan on coming back to visit it when the traffic is easier to manage. After-the-race-traffic is congested and slow-unfortunately they had some public works roadblocks that narrowed down some of the streets that weren't being run on ... so for an out-of-towner it was a long day..after the race. Organization- I've come from out of state for 4 years to do this race with a friend and we both thought the organization was great. I thought food was excellent-nothing fancy;but, a small balanced amount of options-yogurt, chicken noodle soup, oranges, bananas, ice cream, and a fruit cup-thought it was great. 2 tech shirts and a medal for a half marathon is exceptional-and they were unique in design. Best sunrise service I've attended. Spectators- The spectators seem to grow in quantity over the years- it was a nice day to be out. We'll be back next year to finish out the 5 year series.

Fort Worth does a really nice job with this event. It is now a complete weekend when the town welcomes runners from all over the world. The 5k and 10k events are on Saturday, and Sunday is just for the long distances. I ran the Ultra and loved the course support. There was no shortage of marshalls, traffic control, medical/sag support, friendly spectators or food, fuel and facilities. It is definitely a hilly course by most runner's standards but still very manageable. There is nothing better than the turn-off you take for the Ultra. You are on your own section of the course, just you and the other Ultra runners, everyone was high-fiving and encouraging each other. This is a runner's marathon with just the right combination of attention to detail without the loss of the home town feel.

This was my 5th marathon, completing my 'tour of Texas (Austin,Dallas, Houston, Ft Worth, San Antonio)' big marathons. It was by far the hardest course in terms of hills (worse than Austin, I thought). That being said, the hills broke it up and kept it interesting. Great aide stations and course support. Great post-race food. I probably wouldn't do the full again (mainly because of the hills), but I'd do the half for sure. Race organization with the wave start was nice. No weaving around walkers. The race staff is very nice and helpful. All around a good a good race....

If not for a headwind when running south, weather would have been ideal. Aid stations were lacking in food but well stocked in water & power-ade & adequately spaced. Nice medal & finisher shirt. Nice course through the highlights of Cowtown, Expo was ho-hum.

This was my first Cowtown AND my first Ultra Marathon, and I can't stop telling people how great this experience was for me. The course organizers do an excellent job of getting everyone into the corrals, and the race actually started on time. Aide stations were perfectly placed at every 1.5 miles, and each station was well stocked with plenty of supplies. I will definitely run this race again!

At first blush it's a VG race . . . excellent spectator and aid station support, a fine course. But, in the spirit of continuous improvement, a couple things weren't great: - Packet pick-up is a long way from the host hotel and the shuttle bus schedule was only every 2 hours so for those without a car, it meant WAY too much forced time spent at the expo. Some runners like these . . . I don't get much out of them and so hanging around for almost 2 hours just to get my packet was a total waste of time. - The host hotel 'late checkout' was 1:00 (for only $75 extra Sheraton offered a 2:00 check-out). If you figure actual start time (based on gate placement), time to get something to eat/drink after the race, time to get to the bus pick-up, time to wait for the next bus, ride-time to the hotel, it means lots of runners will not get back to the hotel in time to take a shower and check-out. (And Sheraton confirmed that if you miss 1:00 check-out you're automatically charged $75. This isn't very user-friendly for a host hotel. One dimension that isn't captured in the general organization/course/spectator ratings . . . and that is what I'd call 'spirit' . . . this course has a lot of that - it permeates the whole experience. The real unexpected 'deligter' was a great finisher shirt to go with the regular entry shirt.