calendar icon Jul 2, 2024

Cowtown Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Cowtown Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.0 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 3.7 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.4 
 
 
Number of comments: 184 [displaying comments 101 to 111]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 9 10 11 12 13 .. 19 > ]

 

p. s. from A-town, TX (2/26/2008)
"New course much bettter" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 Cowtown Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


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.
 

jerry hollingsworth from Abilene, Texas (2/26/2008)
"A very interesting course" (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


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!
 

k. l. from Fort Worth (2/26/2008)
"Don't Do Cowtown" (about: 2007)

1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 3


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.
 

C. B. from Midwest (2/26/2008)
"Ft. Worth is lucky" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


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.
 

B. R. from San Antonio (2/26/2008)
"Nice event, and Fort Worth is great!" (about: 2008)

3 previous marathons | 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


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.
 

R. J. from Indiana (2/25/2008)
"great race" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I really enjoyed the race. For a small town, the crowd, the organization, the support and the post-run food were great. I do not really think the hills were as horrible as others commented. I will definitely run this marathon next year again.
 

D. P. from Houston, Tx (2/25/2008)
"Quality over Quantity" (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


This was my first time at Fort Worth, and I must say it was a nice little race. We went to the EXPO on Friday night, and I must say it was a really small expo, but it had quality stuff. You could buy essentials you forgot such as Gus and Clif Bars (I've been to some big-time expos where you couldn't buy simple things like that). They also had free beer. Picking up the packet was a breeze and the shirt designs are some of my favorites. My only real complaint is the lack of a solid information sheet in the packet. There was no sheet detailing where the start was, what time, where or how often water stops were and what type of sports drink was being provided. That simple addition would up my organization rating from 3 to 5 stars right there.

We were staying in one of the race hotels, so I cannot comment on race morning parking. There was a decent-sized line for bag check - not a terrible delay or anything. The course itself was mainly through nice neighborhoods, though some extra police protection in the neighborhoods would've been nice as a lot of the intersections weren't blocked off and there were a lot of angry drivers. The water stops were well manned and very frequent.

As for the mixed comments on the hills, it is all relative. If you are from a hilly area, I'm sure it's not bad at all, but I am a flat-lander, and I do qualify it as the most difficult course I've done. I thought it was a lot harder than Austin or the Big D in Dallas. I talked to some people from Little Rock, and their opinion was that it had some decent hills but not too bad, so it's all relative. My advice is: flat-landers, beware.

I need to clarify the 5 stars for spectators. I think there were about 10 spectators the whole race (not being sarcastic). However, ever spectator I came across had noisemakers, fruit, candy, water, etc. They were the most supportive, just genuinely nice people I've seen on any course. So it gets props for quality over quantity.

Now the best part for last: the beer. There was beer at mile 7, full cans of beer at mile 19 (thanks TCU!) and more beer at mile 22. Then there was beer at the finish. Having the hills eat my lunch and the hope of a sub-4-hour marathon long gone, I made sure to have a blast on the course drinking the beer and talking to the spectators - and it was a good time!
 

Patrick Walker from Fort Worth, Texas (2/25/2008)
"Good race" (about: 2008)

2 previous marathons | 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


My first marathon was in Waco, and the hills at the end killed me. So I trained for hills this time, because I had heard this course was hilly. But aside from the gradual incline going up Seventh Street toward the end, I had no problems. Compared to Waco, it felt like I was flying, and I took more than 20 minutes off my time. I'd recommend this marathon.
 

F. A. from Texas (2/25/2008)
"Great for a good workout" (about: 2008)

First Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


This was my first, so I cannot really compare. Course was what I expected. Parking was easy in the morning and so was getting out. In some neighborhoods we were honked at by drivers wanting to go through! Not what I expected.
 

J. D. from Austin, USA (2/25/2008)
"Cowtown moooves you" (about: 2008)

6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


I was fairly nervous about this marathon - regarding the organization, weather, course, spectators, etc. from previous posts. All of that was laid to rest after I experienced one of the best marathons I've run in in a while. Packet pick up was very easy. The course was great, with its own Heartbreak Hill at the end (more like two hills). There were plenty of fluids, GU, and food on the course (and porta-johns). Nice finisher's medal and long-sleeve shirt (I like the shirt the best). Overall, a great place to run; I'll be back next year!
 

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