What is the course like for Cowtown Marathon?

Rolling Hills course on Road/Pavement. See the elevation chart on this page for details.

Is Cowtown Marathon USATF certified?

Yes this race is listed as certified.

What are typical race-day temperatures for Cowtown Marathon?

Average ~52F (high 64F / low 40F).

Can I generate a pace band for Cowtown Marathon?

Yes use the Pace Band button on this page to create a course-specific pace band.

Cowtown Marathon | Race Info, Course, Elevation & Pace Band

Hilly but historic

Full Review:

So much atmospheric energy to start, music bands along the way, fabulous cheering from thousands of spectators and the way the course winds around the city is great.

Race Tips:

Expect a few gotcha hills.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Hotel it at a shuttle pick up hotel which is listed on their website or arrive by 5am to find parking without chaos of trying to find a spot.

Reviewed by JRS About 2026

Convenient and well organized

Full Review:

If you are used to larger races in bigger cities, this will feel like a cheat code. Parking, drop-off, bathroom, bag drop, and shelter from the elements is a breeze compared to larger races. Entertainment and aid kept things fun.

Race Tips:

One criticism, but only if you are looking to BQ or PR... Elevation gain throughout is closer to 1000ft than the 732ft listed on this site. Also, be aware that if you are a fast finisher you'll spend the last half mile dodging half marathoners at the finish.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

1. Many runners get there late, so everything is super easy as long as you are there by 6am. 2. The finish is a bit of a maze, so have a meeting point designated for after or you'll find yourself walking 1mile plus searching for your people .

Reviewed by Lucas Wade About 2025

A Little Hilly, But Fun

Full Review:

I chose this particular marathon due to my granddaughter living near Ft. Worth, as I'm from NC, so it was a shot in the dark. I was pleasantly surprised with everything. It's a relatively small to mid size race that I believe was managed well. Before the '22 marathon, the area had freezing rain and horrible conditions, causing over a 1000 cancelled flights into DFW the Thursday before the expo and races. I was worried that they would cancel the race. I was so glad that they pushed forward and held everything almost as originally planned. Saying this to show how they try to make it happen and are not so quick to cancel.

As for the course, I enjoyed it. After running through the Stockyard area, my wife and I visited it the next day. It's a cool place. It's a little hilly, so prepare for some hills. But the overall course is really nice. City, park, and nice residential areas, with ample water stations, as well as residence handing out supplies from their lawns and road edge tables. That was nice!

Race Tips:

As mentioned, prepare for hills if you're not use to hills. It's not terrible, but they're there!

Travel/Logistics Tips:

We used The Cowtown hotel list, which put us pretty close to the race start and I believe that by mentioning the reason coming was for the marathon, was discounted some. I'd recommend using their hotel list.

Reviewed by Danny J About 2022

Awesome Race, Not the Fastest

Full Review:

Great all-around race. Water & nutrition every 1.5 miles, plus tons of local folks handing out bananas, gatorade, doughnuts, beer... Strong support from the community, very well organized. Not the fastest course ever, and the weather is anyone's guess, but 2019 was nearly perfect. 38* F at race start, maybe 45* by 10:00 AM. Clear skies but the wind did pick up a bit, maybe around 10-12 mph. Pretty easy to run in the shade, and you pass through the Historic Stockyards, Downtown Fort Worth, Magnolia, and some beautiful neighborhoods before the last 3 miles on the Trinity Trail (along the river).

Race Tips:

More hills than you would expect, but they are typically short rollers. Many will mention the sharp incline at Mile 9 up to the Courthouse, but it's short and you have plenty of room to recover right after the crest. I would say the toughest part is 14-18, where you have a subtle but steady incline. Either bank some time early or save up and power through, but plan for it.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Parking is easy, lots of great places to eat/stay/see before and after the race. No race day packet pickup, but the expo is open until 7:00 PM Friday and Saturday.

Reviewed by DEL About 2019

Great Course and Support (2x finisher)

Full Review:

The review of my performance would be terrible, but that is not due to the course or the race. The race support and the course itself are great. Varied terrain, a lot of parkland, beautiful homes, commercial districts, etc. Hills yes, and that has to be taken into consideration, but not the worst set of hills in the world.

They end by mile 16 so run conservative until then and you will be fine (I did not do that and that's the reason I didn't have a good race).

Race Tips:

Like I said above, there are hills at approx. mile 9,10,11,15,16 that will wipe you out if you aren't paying attention. Be ready, run conservative and then let her rip after that.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Get there early to park. Like at least an hour early if not more.

Reviewed by Marty About 2019

Pace for hills and it's a great race. (2x finisher)

Full Review:

The Cowtown is a really great race that the city of Fort Worth and its residents support to the max. I did 2018 and now 2019 and neither disappointed. The course shows you the best of FTW - Stockyards, downtown, Magnolia/Near Southside/Fairmount, TCU (gorgeous homes over here), Tanglewood/Colonial Golf Course, and more. As others have said, the infamous Mile 9 hill is steep, but over relatively quickly and honestly not anything to worry about. The part to worry about is Mile 25 because you think it's in the bag and then BOOM! one more half mile hill - save up for this! Starting at Will Rogers Coliseum is great because it will be cold in the morning and you can stretch/warm up indoors while waiting for the 15min to race announcement. Downside is you're ending, tired and beat up, limping through cow corrals...and it smells like it! But I mean the race is called Cowtown.

Race Tips:

While not a fast course here, you can earn a BQ if you're tactical. I got mine this year by following the 10-10-10 strategy: Went out with a pacer (3:00 group) for 10 miles, then in downtown, split and ran 10 seconds faster. Then with 10k to go (it's nice and flat here, as the hills are just ending), I gave it all I had left. I didn't really feel tired until Mile 25, which takes you up one last hill - it can be a heartbreaker if you don't save for it.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

I live here, so my fiance and I drove in. Speaking of which, this is a great race to race chase, because it's a big loop that sill has a lot of open roads. I was able to meet her 3x during the race, which was super awesome. In 2018, I think we met 4-5x. If you're from out of town though, there's hotels everywhere so they're affordable and nearby - you could even stay in Dallas. Just know that the TRE train doesn't run on Sunday - so plan to drive.

Reviewed by CH About 2019

Very nice organization

Full Review:

They had great corral discipline, allowing the faster runners to actually separate! There was access to indoor waiting area (out of the weather / flush toilets!) and the volunteers were very well trained, water stops were uniform and well attended.

Race Tips:

Northern sections of the course can get desolate, with few spectators and not much scenery...the elevation can be deceiving crossing in and out of the riverbed a few times during the course makes for some decent "hills" for a north Texas race for sure.

Watch out for those antique brick streets through the stockyards !

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Easy parking.

Reviewed by Gus Mitchem About 2018

Got my BQ!

Full Review:

I have ran this race twice. Great course-- normally out and back but there was flooding in 2018 that required the course to be looped which I loved even more. Very small race so my family was able to drive and see me 8 times throughout the race. Highly recommend!

Race Tips:

Small race so know that the expo is small too.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Parking is $5.

Reviewed by HG About 2018

Full Review:

After food was great, scenic, they let you inside to wait so you didn't stand outside for hours, organized but pretty hilly. Not an easy course

Race Tips:

Not too crowded, organizes, inside wait area but course is tough

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Most hotels have a shuttle but there is easy parking in garages at event for $10

Reviewed by Ap About 2017

Full Review:

Great fun, scenic very well organized marathon.

I always enjoy the run though the stockyards.

The course is hilly with a long uphill stretch at mile 9.

Race Tips:

Do some hill training. I actually trained on the hill at 9 miles. I was able to take the hill in stride, which made the rest seem easy.

It can be cold at the start. It was 41*. I wore a "Through away" seatshirt, which worked out very well.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

They do not do race day packet pick up.If you are from out of town I guess, this could be a issue.

Reviewed by Jeff S About 2017

Full Review:

Nice course, reasonable size field, great crowds. The aid stations were staffed well enough, but there could have been more calories on the course, better mile markers, and better pre-race communication.

Race Tips:

The hill on Main Street Bridge isn't nearly as significant as they make it out to be.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Parking's super easy. My only suggestion is to not worry about it.

Reviewed by NPG About 2017

Full Review:

Loved the event itself--it's very well done. I like the half course but am not a fan of the course for the full. Very hilly.

Race Tips:

A fun race but hard to get a PR.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Easy to get to, lots of nearby parking.

Reviewed by AV About 2017

Race Day Temperatures	High: 67°F (19°C) Low: 47°F (8°C)
Race Start Conditions	47°F (8°C) Humidity: 77% Clear S 7 mph
PR Score	97.99
Course Score	98.61

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Cowtown Marathon

Race Information

Weather Averages for Last 16 Years

Race Day Temperatures

High: 67°F (19°C)
Low: 47°F (8°C)

Race Start Conditions

47°F (8°C)
Humidity: 77%

Clear
S 7 mph

PR Score

97.99

Course Score

98.61

Elevation Chart

Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Cowtown Marathon

Compare the Cowtown Marathon to other Marathons

Race Reviews

Marathon Pace Bands

Run the Right Pace in Your Next Marathon

Nearly 500 marathon courses.Ships same or Next Day

Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

It's here! Our annual list of the year'sbest marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

2026 IS HERE!

Cowtown Marathon

Race Information

Weather Averages for Last 16 Years

Race Day Temperatures

High: 67°F (19°C) Low: 47°F (8°C)

Race Start Conditions

47°F (8°C)Humidity: 77%ClearS 7 mph

PR Score

97.99

Course Score

98.61

Elevation Chart

Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Cowtown Marathon

Compare the Cowtown Marathon to other Marathons

Race Reviews

Nearly 500 marathon courses.
Ships same or Next Day

It's here! Our annual list of the year's
best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

High: 67°F (19°C)
Low: 47°F (8°C)

47°F (8°C)
Humidity: 77%

Clear
S 7 mph