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@sam910
Houston, TX Raving since 2020 50 States hopeful/finisher Active 4 years agoAbout Me
My Races
Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.
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Future Races
Personal Bests (1)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cowtown | Half Marathon | Fort Worth, TX | Mar 1, 2020 | 2:08:00 |
Future Races (0)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Paid |
|---|
Past Races (1)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result | My Raves | My Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cowtown | Half Marathon | Fort Worth, TX | Mar 1, 2020 | 2:08:00 |
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The Cowtown
Great Weekend In Cowtown!
The Cowtown
I ran the Cowtown for the first time in 2020, and I'll be back! Here's a short review on the strengths and (few) weaknesses. Expo The expo was at the … MORE
I ran the Cowtown for the first time in 2020, and I’ll be back! Here’s a short review on the strengths and (few) weaknesses.
Expo
The expo was at the Amon Carter center, which is a large multi-purpose campus near downtown with ample parking. This was a really well done expo! Lots of vendors but not pushy. Efficient bib pickup. You could get in and out quickly if you wanted, or linger and shop like I did, and either way it was an easy experience.
Course
I ran the Cowtown Challenge, so I ran the 10K and the Half Marathon. The 10K course was pleasant…we went through neighborhoods then ran most of the race along a greenbelt. It was crowded but I didn’t feel jostled. The Half started out similarly…we ran through neighborhoods and wound our way through the city. There were a few bands and Elvis (hi, King!) along the route. I always like that. Around mile 6, we ran through the historic Stockyards. That was a fun and cool experience and gave us a nice mid-point distraction. After that point, we ran toward downtown in a seemingly never-ending uphill…wow was that rough! Eventually we worked our way through downtown Fort Worth, said goodbye to the full marathoners and took a right on Lancaster, then worked our way back to the finish. Good course, lots of variety.
The start and finish lines were the same for the 10K and the half. I liked it because I knew what to expect for the half.
Race Production
The Cowtown really outshined similar races in the organization and production of the event. Everything started on-time, as advertised, and in a logical and runner-friendly manner. The corrals were well spaced and not cramped, which I appreciated. The post-finish food, water, and other amenities also impressed me…they were spaced out well and ample. Perfect for spectators and well wishers. Thanks, Cowtown!
Swag
Cowtown’s swag is THE BEST! I did the challenge so I ended up with three shirts, a 1/4 pullover, and three medals! The shirts are well made and perfect for practice running…I even wear mine to OrangeTheory and get compliments on the material. They provided a really impressive value there.
Pre/Post Race Communications
The Cowtown also excelled in pre and post-race communications. We got timely emails on training, parking, charitable opportunities, and updates on the weather (it was warm on Sunday for the marathon and half-marathon). The info was correct and well presented. This reduces stress and allows us all to be efficient in our decision making.
Final Thoughts
The Cowtown was spectacular and I will be back. Other races could learn a lot from how organized and thoughtful this was. I will be back next year!