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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 91 to 101]
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Joel Galloway from Fort Myers, FL
(6/9/2008)
"Plenty of Hills" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, so I decided to return to the town where I grew up. I trained in Southwest Florida, where the only hills are bridges. This added a degree of difficulty to this race that I completely underestimated. If you are able to train on hills, I highly recommend this race. I think there were only about 600 runners, so it was easy to get out into the open. The spectators were great, especially the frat guys handing out beers at mile 17. The perks were great (nice tech shirt, medal, and another cotton shirt). Perhaps the most rewarding thing for me was the fresh-from-the-local-brewery Miller Lite at the finish line (I could smell it from the 24-mile marker). Overall it was a memorable experience for me, despite my poor performance (HILLS). If you run it, spend some time in Sundance Square; lots of fun. | |
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Jim Skibo from Cedar Hill, Texas USA (Dallas)
(3/29/2008)
"Great Medium-Size Marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Cowtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 27th marathon. I am low-maintenance, so just give me an interesting course, water, and traffic control, and I'm in my zone. No one controls weather, and this race tends to have 40-ish temps and drizzle, but this year was gorgeous at 50 degrees, partly sunny, and a little windy. There are scattered spectators throughout the course. COURSE: I like the Cowtown course a LOT. I have run it 3 times and the course is the main reason. It gives you a great tour of the area: dense urban, to almost country, gritty industrial, to high-rent neighborhoods, plus a run along a river park and a run through an arboretum. If you like a long straight line, this is not your race. If you like variety, you'll love this one. It is not flat; "gently rolling" is a good description. Hills are evenly distributed, and none that you'd look at and say, "Oh crap! " LOGISTICS: This marathon starts in major city and the logistics are incredibly easy. You drive to any of several downtown office building parking garages, park FREE, and then walk fewer than 100 yards to the Start. SUPPORT: Year-in and year-out, the course support is good. Plenty of chow at the end and nice seating in a tent so you can spend time with your fellow runners. The finisher's medal for this has evolved into something very nice, and the tech shirt is also nicely done. I did have to find the shirt, and a sign or something next year would help. CON: The race results seem odd. Some folks crept into the top results levels without crossing the chip mat at the half. Those are either a mistake, or they cheated, but they need to be listed at the bottom. I live locally in Dallas and I drive over to Ft. Worth to run this race. | |
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J. V. from at my desk...where else?
(3/17/2008)
"Ignore the stars; this was a great race!" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 3 Cowtown Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is a small-to-medium-sized event. Despite running through great parks and lovely neighborhoods, you get few spectators. Do I care? No. But don't expect a super cheering section, or a ton of bands to pull you through. The race is special as you can still sign up race morning. The expo is now open before race morning, but it is still there race morning. Bring your money... you can get some good deals just like the good old days of marathon expos. Hey, you still get a finisher's shirt and hot food! You may need to know where to find the finisher's shirt and where to find the hot food as it is a "local" marathon where you are expected to know what you are doing. Out-of-towners can use a local runner to guide them through the process as they are not well marked, if at all. I was amazed at the people that did not know about free coffee or hot food, and every year somebody does not find the finisher's shirts. I guess they still like the local friends approach... either you know or you should ask. They are not really into bragging about what they have free for the taking. Great finisher's shirts this year! Three unofficial beer stops this year. Wind again, but not like last year! And the same uphill finish to punish the weak. The course is not that challenging... unless you are out of shape, and then it will hurt you with a vengeance. There was an ultra this year. Throughly enjoyed running the ultra. This not a must-do race... but if you are here, don't miss it. A great price, hot food, finisher's shirt, good course, and in a fun town. Free parking just a block from the race too! This is clearly an event that you should have a good time at.... | |
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M. L. from Houston, TX
(3/6/2008)
"Wouldn't do it again" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The race organization was poor. There was no direction at the beginning or the end. Slow runners/walkers were up at front, there wasn't even a band or music to kick it off, etc. There was supposed to be finisher shirts distributed, but apparently after running a marathon you should go on a hunt for them. I never found them. Most annoying was watching all the 5K and 10K runners/walkers (and their families who didn't participate) walk around with bags of food and cases of goodies and there was NOTHING left for anyone who took more than 2 hours to finish (i.e. a lot of the halfers and all of the marathoners). Didn't pay to work hard on this one! The spectators (the few there were) didn't cheer (or make any noise at all) till about the last mile. Worse yet, apparently the message didn't it get out to the community that there was a marathon, so mad drivers who got trapped by the route tended to show their frustration to runners. For most of the route, they had only shut off half of the road, so we were running right beside traffic. Not only was it not safe, but breathing the fumes was awful. The course for the most part really was ugly. It was hilly and cold, but you can prepare for that. This was no better than a training run. For the excitement and atmosphere of a real marathon, don't bother doing this one. | |
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J. G. from Chicago
(3/1/2008)
"Not just Hilly, but Uphill:)" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 This is my second Cowtown. I did the half in '07 and returned for the full marathon since I had a lot of fund last year. The main reason I return is because this is a boutique race with a lot of character. The volunteers are awesome. They may not always know everything, but that does not make for a volunteer. I have to take issue with anyone that criticizes the "knowledge" of a volunteer. They are slightly underpaid and work only for goodwill. My only expectation of them is courtesy and some smiles and these Cowtowners embody Southern Charm. The same holds true with the spectators: not many out there but they are AWESOME. Many thanks for sitting in front of your house with Vaseline and other goodies and a special thanks to the people I saw over 3 times (and yes there was more than one group that was there). The course for the half was nice rolling hills. Once the half splits you have some rolls until 12-13. That starts a good 7-mile gradual climb. Trade in your PR for some sweat and tears. It was worth it! The last comment is the reason I gave organization a 2. I agree with the cups and the size of the expo (although this is not a "major," so I don't expect a large event), but my complaint is #1 offense and I hope it changes: WHO IN THE WORLD CREATED THAT STARTING GATE. Normally a starting gate goes from a small space to an open space. This gate actually went from an open street to a gated area. I love the people, town, and course but the first 5 minutes running shoulder to shoulder due to poor planning really was pathetic. | |
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D. Z. from San Diego, CA
(3/1/2008)
"Fun, small-town marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 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. | |
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N. S. from Hopkins, Minnesota
(2/28/2008)
"Organization needs improvement" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 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. | |
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M. R. from Oklahoma
(2/28/2008)
"Great course and lots of great volunteers" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Cowtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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. | |
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K. R. from Murrieta, CA
(2/27/2008)
"Worthwhile" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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. | |
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c. g. from usa
(2/27/2008)
"Wouldn't recommend to a first-timer." (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Cowtown Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 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. |
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