Marathon Details - Fort Worth Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > TX > Fort Worth > Fort Worth Marathon

Fort Worth Marathon & Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K

Fort Worth, TX USA

November 10, 2024

http://www.fortworthmarathon.org

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Results:	2023 \| 2022 \| 2021 \| 2020 \| 2019 \| 2018 \| 2017 \| 2016 \| 2015 \| 2014 \| 2013 \| 2012 \| 2011 \| 2010 \| 2009 \| 2008 Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact Organizer

Name:	Steve Looney
Address:	5358 West Vickery Boulevard Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Phone Number:	817-731-6276
Fax Number:	817-731-5890
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 4.0

Organization 3.7

Spectators 2.8

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Number of comments: 45 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 > ]

D. B. from Bellevue, Nebraska (12/31/2020) "Great Race in a Tough Year" (about: 2020) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 It was so great to get an actual (not virtual) marathon in during 2020. Not only did the organizers pull it off, they did so in a safe and organized fashion. It was a bummer not to have the normal crowds and party atmosphere after the race, but it was worth it to actually get a race in this year. As others have said, the course itself is a bit tedious (out and back twice), but that being said, since there weren't much for crowds, it was actually kind of nice to see the same faces over and over again. The other runners kind of became the crowd support. I appreciated that the marathon, 20 miler, and half marathon races had staggered starts but it still became a bit congested as the morning went on. The course itself though is flat and quite pretty, running along a river through a long sprawling city park. And the weather was near perfect. Overall, I was overjoyed to get an actual race during this crazy year and it was nice to take care of Texas on my journey to all 50 states.
J. A. from NC (11/14/2020) "Well Done Event" (about: 2020) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 In a very tough year to pull off an event like this, the Director & team pulled off a quality event. They were able to comply with Covid protocols but still managed to hold a decent-sized event. The course is very flat and reasonably scenic, but doing the same out & back twice can be a little tedious. And having 3 simultaneous races on the course caused some congestion at the water stations. Judging the crowd is a little unfair since spectators were discouraged, other than friends & family of the runners. There were a few small pockets of enthusiastic spectators, so they did well given the constraint.
B. P. from Frisco, TX (11/11/2019) "A good small race" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a good small marathon that follows a nice flat, paved river trail. It was a double loop that allowed better spectator views without driving. The finish area was great with room inside the Panther Island building with lots of tables and plenty of food and drinks. The finisher medal is actually a belt buckle which is perfect for Texas! I would run this again.
M. S. from Southeast USA (11/20/2017) "Has potential- great location!" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I've run 85 marathons and this is the first that I wished I had a Garmin (even though I refuse to go to the dark side). Unfortunately the mile markers were missing or off at some places and that really does bother me especially when the course is on a bike path (not a trail) and should be easy to manage. Another smaller nit is that you had to pay to park. They warned everyone so I was aware, but once I saw the venue I did wonder why they couldn't bake it into the fee somehow. It was easy in and out at least. This being said, there were many more positives: packet pick up was easy, I liked the flow of start lines (i.e.,halves not starting with full, and 20 mile option was interesting), aid stations aplenty, fine amount of spectators, plenty of race morning port-a-potties, and a nice- looking shirt and medal if you're into them. Race benefitted a good cause as well. Fort Worth is a great city to visit and there were many good dining options and things to do. So the positives far outweighed the negatives but mile markers can be a big deal so I hope they fix for others in the future. Overall I'd recommend this marathon - it had a lot of good going for it.
C. A. from Dallas (11/14/2017) "Great small marathon" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Fort Worth Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I love this race more each year! Now it starts at Panther Island and the after party is fabulous - local beer, food trucks, a band, lots of raffle prizes, free massages at the finish and an indoor area if the weather isn't good. The race director has a lot of heart and the race raises money for a great charity (childhood obesity.) And who doesn't love the friendly people of Ft. Worth and the lovely Trinity River trails? Portapotties are plenty, parking is close, and this year they even had showers at the end. Don't expect big cheering crowds or perfectly executed signage at every mile. The course is out and back. While some might say boring, it can be nice to put your mind on autopilot and just run. The course is flat as a pancake. The t-shirts are just okay but the medals have improved every year. While I always do the full marathon, the addition of the 20 miler is a great option this time in the marathon season. Try this race out and you'll realize what a lot of the big mega marathons are missing.
J. M. from Ohio (11/14/2015) "Flat, fast, and fun." (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you need huge crowds and fancy swag this isn't your race. If you like small races and a friendly atmosphere this is it. Around 1000 total participants between the three events. The course is on park trails that are mostly concrete with some crushed gravel areas. The staggered starts of the events reduced congestion. I wanted a flat fast course to try for a BQ and I got all three. The perfect weather was a bonus. Everything was well organized and the party at the finish was the most fun I've had after a race. I was kind of disappointed at having to pay $5 to park but I've never been able to park as close to the start/finish as I did here. That made it worth it for me.
J. H. from Fort Worth, Texas (11/9/2015) "Beautiful course, poor race organization" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This is a smallish race that runs on a public run/bike sidewalk area along the Trinity River in Forth Worth and nearby Benbrook. The views along the run are wonderful and were the best part of the race. Now, for the let-downs: If you're looking for spectator cheers and energy, this isn't the race for you. I spent quite a bit of time by myself. There are 3 separate races (marathon, 20 mile, 1/2 marathon) and everyone gets the same shirt and the same medal. The ribbons on the medal are the only thing that's different. I was VERY disappointed in the t-shirt. For $100 I expect a technical shirt and one that is specific for my race - not the same as everyone else's. The design on the shirt was extremely simple and looked cheap. I was not pleased. Packet pick-up was awkward. It was in a small strip-mall office with a high counter and 3 ladies sitting down way below the counter. There was no specific start location or normal flow of people. We were all packed in there looking at one another for clues on how to proceed. Weird. The signage along the race was also a letdown. We were promised mile markers and they 'kind of' delivered. With 3 different races comes mile markers at different places, that I expect, but the signage was hit and miss. Additionally, the sign colors didn't correlate with the color of the different race bibs so we were never sure if the sign was for our race or another race. The course was confusing - there were splits in the road where the sidewalk split into a gravel road or another sidewalk and runners didn't have a clue which route to take. If this is a Boston-qualifier I'm amazed that the official route was NOT indicated. There had to have been very large differences in the actual distances people ran. One other sore spot - we had to pay $5 to park. I've never had to pay for race parking before and especially for such a small race. Overall - way too expensive for what we got. The organization of the race seemed confused and poorly run. Sorry, but I won't be back.
S. L. from Lubbock, TX (5/1/2015) "An okay race, but not exceptional." (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Pros: 1. Easy parking. 2. Indoor bathrooms at start. 3. Water stations were good. Later ones included pretzels and candy. 4. Flat course. Cons: 1. My biggest con was that snacks were not readily available after the finish. You were given a food tag to get a small pasta or another option, but I had to go stand in line after completing a marathon and wait a while to get the food. The only drink available was beer. I had to go back to the finish line and ask for another bottle of water. Some oranges, bananas, and readily available water would have been nice at the finish. 2. The shirt was not a tech shirt. 3. The course is an out and back along the Trinity River. On the way back it was very crowded with bicyclists and other people out on the trail.
B. B. from Keller, Tx (11/24/2014) "Very Nice Race" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I was not sure what to expect with this race. I had just moved to the area 6 months before, so I did not know anyone that had run this event in prior years. This would also be the smallest marathon in terms of number of runners I have run before, but I am very impressed with event. The weather was perfect, the parking was easy and right at the start line and the finish in the stadium was a very nice surprise. Don't expect this to be lined with spectators, but the few that did come out did a great job of cheering and encouraging. If your are looking for a smaller more convenient race in a good time of year, you will be happy with this one.
D. B. from Houston, TX (11/16/2014) "Overall good smaller race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Overall this race is pretty good. Has about 1,000 participants overall with somewhere around 300 running the marathon. The race is fairly well organized with easy packet pick-up and easy parking at the start/finish. There were plenty of water stops and most of them functioned pretty well. The course is decent, good but not great. It's an out and back along mostly paved trails along the Trinity River. There is about a mile stretch on a road (which seemed to be open to traffic). It is pretty flat as advertised with pretty gentle grades. You can PR on this course. A few things could be improved. One is that the half marathon begins 1 hour after the marathon, which results in pretty crowded water stops during the last 6 miles. As a faster marathoner, this caused me to bump into some people and miss a few water stops. I don't see why they couldn't start the half 15 to 20 minutes after the full to ease this a bit. 2nd is no tech tee, not the biggest issue in the world but the shirt could be a bit nicer. Very few crowds and sparse spectators, but that's what you get with a small race. Those who were out were very supportive. Post race is pretty nice. You finish in a minor league baseball stadium and they open up the facilities for use (showers, real bathrooms). Belt buckle finisher medal is a nice Texas touch. I'd run it again, but there are definitely better ones in Texas if you are a 50 stater looking for a race.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 > ]

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D. B. from Bellevue, Nebraska (12/31/2020) "Great Race in a Tough Year" (about: 2020) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 It was so great to get an actual (not virtual) marathon in during 2020. Not only did the organizers pull it off, they did so in a safe and organized fashion. It was a bummer not to have the normal crowds and party atmosphere after the race, but it was worth it to actually get a race in this year. As others have said, the course itself is a bit tedious (out and back twice), but that being said, since there weren't much for crowds, it was actually kind of nice to see the same faces over and over again. The other runners kind of became the crowd support. I appreciated that the marathon, 20 miler, and half marathon races had staggered starts but it still became a bit congested as the morning went on. The course itself though is flat and quite pretty, running along a river through a long sprawling city park. And the weather was near perfect. Overall, I was overjoyed to get an actual race during this crazy year and it was nice to take care of Texas on my journey to all 50 states.
J. A. from NC (11/14/2020) "Well Done Event" (about: 2020) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 In a very tough year to pull off an event like this, the Director & team pulled off a quality event. They were able to comply with Covid protocols but still managed to hold a decent-sized event. The course is very flat and reasonably scenic, but doing the same out & back twice can be a little tedious. And having 3 simultaneous races on the course caused some congestion at the water stations. Judging the crowd is a little unfair since spectators were discouraged, other than friends & family of the runners. There were a few small pockets of enthusiastic spectators, so they did well given the constraint.
B. P. from Frisco, TX (11/11/2019) "A good small race" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a good small marathon that follows a nice flat, paved river trail. It was a double loop that allowed better spectator views without driving. The finish area was great with room inside the Panther Island building with lots of tables and plenty of food and drinks. The finisher medal is actually a belt buckle which is perfect for Texas! I would run this again.
M. S. from Southeast USA (11/20/2017) "Has potential- great location!" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I've run 85 marathons and this is the first that I wished I had a Garmin (even though I refuse to go to the dark side). Unfortunately the mile markers were missing or off at some places and that really does bother me especially when the course is on a bike path (not a trail) and should be easy to manage. Another smaller nit is that you had to pay to park. They warned everyone so I was aware, but once I saw the venue I did wonder why they couldn't bake it into the fee somehow. It was easy in and out at least. This being said, there were many more positives: packet pick up was easy, I liked the flow of start lines (i.e.,halves not starting with full, and 20 mile option was interesting), aid stations aplenty, fine amount of spectators, plenty of race morning port-a-potties, and a nice- looking shirt and medal if you're into them. Race benefitted a good cause as well. Fort Worth is a great city to visit and there were many good dining options and things to do. So the positives far outweighed the negatives but mile markers can be a big deal so I hope they fix for others in the future. Overall I'd recommend this marathon - it had a lot of good going for it.
C. A. from Dallas (11/14/2017) "Great small marathon" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Fort Worth Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I love this race more each year! Now it starts at Panther Island and the after party is fabulous - local beer, food trucks, a band, lots of raffle prizes, free massages at the finish and an indoor area if the weather isn't good. The race director has a lot of heart and the race raises money for a great charity (childhood obesity.) And who doesn't love the friendly people of Ft. Worth and the lovely Trinity River trails? Portapotties are plenty, parking is close, and this year they even had showers at the end. Don't expect big cheering crowds or perfectly executed signage at every mile. The course is out and back. While some might say boring, it can be nice to put your mind on autopilot and just run. The course is flat as a pancake. The t-shirts are just okay but the medals have improved every year. While I always do the full marathon, the addition of the 20 miler is a great option this time in the marathon season. Try this race out and you'll realize what a lot of the big mega marathons are missing.
J. M. from Ohio (11/14/2015) "Flat, fast, and fun." (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you need huge crowds and fancy swag this isn't your race. If you like small races and a friendly atmosphere this is it. Around 1000 total participants between the three events. The course is on park trails that are mostly concrete with some crushed gravel areas. The staggered starts of the events reduced congestion. I wanted a flat fast course to try for a BQ and I got all three. The perfect weather was a bonus. Everything was well organized and the party at the finish was the most fun I've had after a race. I was kind of disappointed at having to pay $5 to park but I've never been able to park as close to the start/finish as I did here. That made it worth it for me.
J. H. from Fort Worth, Texas (11/9/2015) "Beautiful course, poor race organization" (about: 2015) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This is a smallish race that runs on a public run/bike sidewalk area along the Trinity River in Forth Worth and nearby Benbrook. The views along the run are wonderful and were the best part of the race. Now, for the let-downs: If you're looking for spectator cheers and energy, this isn't the race for you. I spent quite a bit of time by myself. There are 3 separate races (marathon, 20 mile, 1/2 marathon) and everyone gets the same shirt and the same medal. The ribbons on the medal are the only thing that's different. I was VERY disappointed in the t-shirt. For $100 I expect a technical shirt and one that is specific for my race - not the same as everyone else's. The design on the shirt was extremely simple and looked cheap. I was not pleased. Packet pick-up was awkward. It was in a small strip-mall office with a high counter and 3 ladies sitting down way below the counter. There was no specific start location or normal flow of people. We were all packed in there looking at one another for clues on how to proceed. Weird. The signage along the race was also a letdown. We were promised mile markers and they 'kind of' delivered. With 3 different races comes mile markers at different places, that I expect, but the signage was hit and miss. Additionally, the sign colors didn't correlate with the color of the different race bibs so we were never sure if the sign was for our race or another race. The course was confusing - there were splits in the road where the sidewalk split into a gravel road or another sidewalk and runners didn't have a clue which route to take. If this is a Boston-qualifier I'm amazed that the official route was NOT indicated. There had to have been very large differences in the actual distances people ran. One other sore spot - we had to pay $5 to park. I've never had to pay for race parking before and especially for such a small race. Overall - way too expensive for what we got. The organization of the race seemed confused and poorly run. Sorry, but I won't be back.
S. L. from Lubbock, TX (5/1/2015) "An okay race, but not exceptional." (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Pros: 1. Easy parking. 2. Indoor bathrooms at start. 3. Water stations were good. Later ones included pretzels and candy. 4. Flat course. Cons: 1. My biggest con was that snacks were not readily available after the finish. You were given a food tag to get a small pasta or another option, but I had to go stand in line after completing a marathon and wait a while to get the food. The only drink available was beer. I had to go back to the finish line and ask for another bottle of water. Some oranges, bananas, and readily available water would have been nice at the finish. 2. The shirt was not a tech shirt. 3. The course is an out and back along the Trinity River. On the way back it was very crowded with bicyclists and other people out on the trail.
B. B. from Keller, Tx (11/24/2014) "Very Nice Race" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I was not sure what to expect with this race. I had just moved to the area 6 months before, so I did not know anyone that had run this event in prior years. This would also be the smallest marathon in terms of number of runners I have run before, but I am very impressed with event. The weather was perfect, the parking was easy and right at the start line and the finish in the stadium was a very nice surprise. Don't expect this to be lined with spectators, but the few that did come out did a great job of cheering and encouraging. If your are looking for a smaller more convenient race in a good time of year, you will be happy with this one.
D. B. from Houston, TX (11/16/2014) "Overall good smaller race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fort Worth Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Overall this race is pretty good. Has about 1,000 participants overall with somewhere around 300 running the marathon. The race is fairly well organized with easy packet pick-up and easy parking at the start/finish. There were plenty of water stops and most of them functioned pretty well. The course is decent, good but not great. It's an out and back along mostly paved trails along the Trinity River. There is about a mile stretch on a road (which seemed to be open to traffic). It is pretty flat as advertised with pretty gentle grades. You can PR on this course. A few things could be improved. One is that the half marathon begins 1 hour after the marathon, which results in pretty crowded water stops during the last 6 miles. As a faster marathoner, this caused me to bump into some people and miss a few water stops. I don't see why they couldn't start the half 15 to 20 minutes after the full to ease this a bit. 2nd is no tech tee, not the biggest issue in the world but the shirt could be a bit nicer. Very few crowds and sparse spectators, but that's what you get with a small race. Those who were out were very supportive. Post race is pretty nice. You finish in a minor league baseball stadium and they open up the facilities for use (showers, real bathrooms). Belt buckle finisher medal is a nice Texas touch. I'd run it again, but there are definitely better ones in Texas if you are a 50 stater looking for a race.

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Marathon Details - Fort Worth Marathon