You’ve herd about Urban Cow! You’ve seen the bumper stickers and wondered, “What race is that?” While training on the roads and trails, you’ve spied the cool cow shirts and said, “I want one!” And you know you want that cowbell medal. Some call it a Sacramento tradition, we call …
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You’ve herd about Urban Cow! You’ve seen the bumper stickers and wondered, “What race is that?” While training on the roads and trails, you’ve spied the cool cow shirts and said, “I want one!” And you know you want that cowbell medal.
Some call it a Sacramento tradition, we call it legen-dairy. You say it’s fun, we say it’s amoosing. Some still call it Cowtown (heck, some old-timers even remember it as the Sacramento Marathon), but we call it Urban Cow, and this October, we want you to ramble out to Land Park and party in our pasture.
Essentially a loop course, our USDA Prime certified route starts in historic William Land Park – home to the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town and the city’s oldest golf course – and runs through green grassy meadows and tree canopies for the first 1.5 miles. The course then winds through one of Sacramento’s most picturesque neighborhoods to 3.25 miles before taking you to Front Street heading toward downtown Sacramento.
The route enters downtown at Mile 5 near the corner of 3rd and “R” Streets. After a left turn on 5th Street, you’ll continue north to Capitol Mall. A quick glance to your right will reveal the California State Capitol Building. At 5.8 miles, the “K” Street Mall Pedestrian Walkway takes you under the I-5 Freeway to the 6-mile mark in Old Sacramento – the unique 28-acre National Historic Landmark District and State Historic Park located along the beautiful Sacramento River. After skirting Old Sacramento, you’ll now head south on the Sacramento River Promenade passing the Tower Bridge on the right and the newly renovated Crocker Art Museum on the left. With the Sacramento River on your right, you’ll enjoy running along the Sacramento River Bicycle Trail passing the relay exchange point before hitting Miller Park where live music will greet you at mile 7.25.
You can check out your competition over the next out-and-and back section through the Sacramento Marina. Back on the bike trail, you’ll migrate south for a couple miles, including a watering hole, exiting the trail right through Sacramento’s newest luxury hotel, The Westin Sacramento Hotel near mile 10.75. A sharp left turn at The Westin lands you on Riverside Boulevard. Riverside Boulevard will “steer” you back to William Land Park for 1 mile before taking a right turn into the park for a final 1.3 miles to the place where all the cows come home and hang their shoes – the finish line.
The annual Urban Cow features a weekend of races, starting with the 5K and Half Calf Kids’ Races on Saturday, and the Half Marathon on Sunday.
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Moootivating Race Event
This is just an awesome event, through and through. Fun crowds, always a ton of runners dressed in great cow-themed outfits. The race organization is top-notch with everything: pricing, pre-race … MORE
This is just an awesome event, through and through. Fun crowds, always a ton of runners dressed in great cow-themed outfits. The race organization is top-notch with everything: pricing, pre-race communication, expo/bib pickup options (you can get your stuff the day before or morning-of), swag, post-race festivities and food. All excellent.
The course itself is decent, fast and flat. You run some neighborhoods, a little of downtown Sacramento and along the river for a while. It can get hot and 2024’s race was a scorcher, but aid stations are aplenty. This course is also VERY WALKER FRIENDLY with a 4 hour cut off and everyone being celebrated at the finish line.
This race now includes a 5K on Saturday so you can do an entire weekend of their events for extra bling. They give out cowbells as medals! For their anniversary years (15, 20) they have been giving out an extra medal, in addition to the cowbell. Very cool.
This is a hometown favorite for me and I will definitely do it again.
Had a great time
It is a fun race to do. Mostly city streets, great crowds, and fun expo beforehand! I really enjoyed this race and would definitely do it again. Parking can be … MORE
It is a fun race to do. Mostly city streets, great crowds, and fun expo beforehand! I really enjoyed this race and would definitely do it again.
Parking can be tough, but the city college is the best place to park. Residential area, parks, and paved road.
Fun Cow Themed run with great crowds
Had a weekend available and wanted to come to Sacramento to see family so was able to squeeze this one in. The packet pick up is at the start/finish line … MORE
Had a weekend available and wanted to come to Sacramento to see family so was able to squeeze this one in. The packet pick up is at the start/finish line so that allowed some prescouting. The shirts are super cute and nice material. You also get a sticker and aluminum cup. Start is in 3 waves (honor system) that was nice because at the very least, people expecting to be less than 2h could be in one “herd” which is good because they course stays pretty dense for the entire course. There was no time that it thinned out noticeably. The course is very wind-y (as in lots of turns, not the weather feature) which gives the allusion of running farther than you really have. Be smart and pay attention to tangents given the number of turns. You can add serious mileage if you’re not paying attention. The crowds were everywhere in the neighborhoods and the water stations were super well staffed with great volunteers that were super enthusiastic. The course takes you through neighborhoods and the park and then up towards the capitol and the Tower Bridge and Old Sacramento. They had lots of way points to update people on your status. Finish line even had a huge arch telling you had 1/2mile left (love that). Medal was a cowbell which made for hella noise at the finish line. Lots of food but get this—free beer (ok), but NO CHOCOLATE MILK. It’s a race about cows! How can there not be chocolate milk??? overall, great production, would recommend it for beginners, flat course with good support!!
Wonderful Race
I liked how flat the race was. Most races I have done have been hilly, so it was nice to get on a flat course. It is held at a … MORE
I liked how flat the race was. Most races I have done have been hilly, so it was nice to get on a flat course. It is held at a good time of year where it is not too hot or cold. Along the route there were different musicians playing & a festive atmopshere afterwards. I love my cowbell medal.
Great race!
There were a lot of vendors to visit before the race (last year I barely made it on time so I missed the vendors.) The race was very well organized … MORE
There were a lot of vendors to visit before the race (last year I barely made it on time so I missed the vendors.)
The race was very well organized with lots of aid stations and people cheering you on. The post- race food (burrito, cookie and strawberries) were good and so was the beer.
Nice weather - warmer than expected
The race starts and finishes at William Land Park, which is a large park and we had a difficulty in finding a booth to get our bibs. Race is well … MORE
The race starts and finishes at William Land Park, which is a large park and we had a difficulty in finding a booth to get our bibs. Race is well organized with enough aid stations. Scenery was not great first half, but after Tower Bridge, the narrow path along the river was beautiful. You’ll enjoy a cowbell medal (to cheer other runners) and refreshment (and beer) after the race.
Easy, flat, paved roads
The course is very flat. The course starts at William Land Park and goes northwards until you get to Sacramento just east of the Tower Bridge, and then you head … MORE
The course is very flat. The course starts at William Land Park and goes northwards until you get to Sacramento just east of the Tower Bridge, and then you head back to William Land Park through Old Sacramento and along the Sacramento River. (I got to really enjoy the river view while doing a lot of walking because I was unable to do much training for the previous 6 weeks.)
The swag was fantastic — an Urban Cow pint glass, a cowbell medal, and the usual tech t-shirt.
Urban Cow Rocks those Bells
Another great event and will have this one scheduled again in 2018. It's a great race with awesome pacer's. What more can you get once you cross that finish line, … MORE
Another great event and will have this one scheduled again in 2018. It’s a great race with awesome pacer’s. What more can you get once you cross that finish line, a great cup of chocolate milk, snacks and the beer garden. The Urban Cow Bells as finisher medals are Awesome.
Urban Cow Rocks for Entertainment
An excellent flat course around Sacramento, CA. Lots of support and on course entertainment. I signed up solely because as a finisher medal you received a cowbell. Lots of vendors … MORE
An excellent flat course around Sacramento, CA. Lots of support and on course entertainment. I signed up solely because as a finisher medal you received a cowbell. Lots of vendors and support at the finish line overall, a great event and would definitely would do again.
Awesome Race
From the start to finish this race was excellent and will be attending next year. Scenic route that took us through East Sacramento neighborhood (beautiful), through downtown Sacramento coming up … MORE
From the start to finish this race was excellent and will be attending next year. Scenic route that took us through East Sacramento neighborhood (beautiful), through downtown Sacramento coming up along the Sacramento River and back into Land Park. The Cowbell medals were awesome as you certainly can hear them after the Race…… I was running with the 1:50 pace group and our pacer did a awesome job keeping away of our times, safety hazards and tight turns (only a couple).
Best 5k EVER!
The organizers of the Urban Cow go all out!! Even though I did the 5k event this year instead of the 1/2 marathon I still got a finisher's cow bell, … MORE
The organizers of the Urban Cow go all out!! Even though I did the 5k event this year instead of the 1/2 marathon I still got a finisher’s cow bell, and the best race food (sandwiches, fruit, chips, and beer!) The event is very well organized, the course is flat and through beautiful Williams Land Park. Before and after the run is a party and I will be coming back to do this again!
My first 1/2 Marathon Race
A GREAT race to run for my first time. Lots of support along the entire route. Great food at the end (the best of any race I've run to date). … MORE
A GREAT race to run for my first time. Lots of support along the entire route. Great food at the end (the best of any race I’ve run to date). My favorite is getting my finisher’s cowbell, and of course pictures with Howdy!!
Good but crowded
Race is fun. Course is pretty mild, not to many hills. Alot of people and sometimes it gets squishy. Not everyone is serious which is ok but can cause obstacles … MORE
Race is fun. Course is pretty mild, not to many hills. Alot of people and sometimes it gets squishy. Not everyone is serious which is ok but can cause obstacles for those of us that are and can be a little frustrating.
More cowbell
My 6th half marathon for 2013 after the summer off from training. The weather was pretty hot for October. Nice V-neck white tech shirt. Finisher medal is a cowbell. Pretty … MORE
My 6th half marathon for 2013 after the summer off from training. The weather was pretty hot for October. Nice V-neck white tech shirt. Finisher medal is a cowbell. Pretty good race, typical course for Sacramento. Started at Land Park.