Cowtown Marathon

Fort Worth, United States · February · Independent

Cowtown Marathon: fort worth stockyards gateway on exchange avenue, on the marathon routePhoto is not from race dayMichael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort Worth Stockyards gateway on Exchange Avenue, on the marathon route. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Runs the brick streets of the Stockyards and, since 2026, past the TCU campus.
  • Boston qualifier at about 200 m (650 ft) altitude.
  • Start and finish at the same venue, which makes it easy for spectators.
  • Water and medical stops about every 2.4 km (1.5 mi), per press reports.

Watch out for

  • A hill at 14.5 km (9 mi) is visible from 11 km (7 mi).
  • Weather swings from near-freezing mornings, and ice in 2015, to afternoons near 28 °C (82 °F).
  • Parking is tight, so arrive early.
  • The marathon sold out in 2026.
  • Few athletes have written about recent years.

Race

3.1Good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.

Toughness: Tough

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.9

    About 97 percent of 43 BibRave reviewers recommend it, but those reviews are older and few athletes have written about recent years. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run3.6

    Press coverage cites 350 police and frequent water stops, but athletes list parking as a recurring problem. Little first-hand detail on recent years. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyFriendly3.5

    Rolling hills with a major climb at 14.5 km (9 mi). The cutoff time was not published in the sources read. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialAverage3.3

    Reviewers call the course fair but challenging, with a hill at 14.5 km (9 mi) and more hills late. · Low confidence

Course

2.8Good

Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.

  • Course sceneryBeautiful3.6

    Stockyards brick streets, downtown, the TCU campus and Trinity Park. Runners call the Stockyards the highlight. · Low confidence

  • Room to runSome pinch points3.4

    The weekend drew a record 29,000 across all events in 2026, but marathon crowding has not been reported. · Low confidence

  • Road surfaceMixed3.2

    Brick streets in the Stockyards historic district; otherwise ordinary urban roads. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresMostly closed3.8

    Closures downtown, in the Stockyards and near TCU with over 350 police on course. Full closure is not confirmed. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Course flatnessRolling3.4

    Rolling, with a notable climb at 14.5 km (9 mi); elevation changes reach 46 m (150 ft). · Low confidence

  • Net downhillEven3.0

    A loop from and back to Will Rogers Memorial Center. Boston qualifier. · Low confidence

Support

3.2Good

Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.

  • Start logisticsSome waiting3.4

    Start at Will Rogers Memorial Center. Reviewers say arrive early and park at Dickies Arena. · Low confidence

  • Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4

    Pace groups were not confirmed in the sources read. · Low confidence

  • Crowd supportStrong3.5

    Stockyards and a TCU cheer zone at 24 km (15 mi). No broader reports on crowds. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsGood3.8

    Press reports water and medical stops every 2.4 km (1.5 mi). No athlete accounts of fuel or toilets. · Low confidence

Conditions

3.0Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.

  • WindSome wind3.2

    No source reports wind. · Low confidence

  • Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3

    Starts near freezing to cool, with afternoon highs of 25 to 28 °C (77 to 82 °F) in 2026. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.9

    Ice hit the 2015 race; some years start near freezing, others warm up in the afternoon. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.7

    Start and finish share a venue, and the loop passes the Stockyards and TCU. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeSea level4.5

    Fort Worth is about 200 m (650 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence

Stay and travel

3.4Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityGood4.0

    Fort Worth and Dallas/Fort Worth have plenty of hotels. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.6

    Texas hotels are generally cheaper than coastal cities. No race-specific price data. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilitySome driving3.3

    Start and finish are in the Cultural District; most runners drive and park. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeEasy4.0

    Dallas/Fort Worth airport is about 40 km (25 mi) from the Cultural District. · Medium confidence

  • LogisticsSimple3.7

    Expo at Amon Carter Exhibit Hall on Friday and Saturday. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodGood3.9

    The Fort Worth Stockyards and the Cultural District museums. · Low confidence

Entry

3.4Good

How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.

  • Getting inRegister early3.1

    The marathon sold out in 2026, so register early. · Low confidence

  • Value for moneyGood value3.5

    Fee not found, and no athlete comments on swag or value. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, United States
Typical month
February
Latest or next date
1 March 2026
Organiser
Independent
First held
1979
Distances
42.2 km (26.2 mi)
Course type
loop
Boston qualifier
Yes
Surface
Road, brick in Stockyards
How to get in
open
Sells out
Yes
Air temperature
2–12 °C (36–54 °F)
Humidity
low to moderate
Altitude
200 m (655 ft)
Nearest airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), 40 km (25 mi) away
Where to stay
Cultural District, Downtown Fort Worth, Stockyards
Booking
Plentiful hotels in the Cultural District and downtown Fort Worth.

Official race website (cowtownmarathon.org)

What racers and reviewers say

  • BibRave reviews (search summary)Raced 2016-2019 · aggregator · Positive

    About 97 percent of 43 reviewers recommend it. Course called fair but challenging with a hill at mile 9 (km 14.5) that you can see from mile 7. Stockyards bricks are the highlight; weather ranged from near freezing to perfect; parking at Dickies Arena advised. Pages read through search snippets only.

    “Stockyards are the highlight of the race.”

    BibRave reviewers (Jay Whitefield and others)
  • NBC DFWRaced 2026 · article · Positive

    Record 29,000 runners in 2026 with marathon, 10K and adult 5K sold out. First time through TCU, cheer line at mile 15, water and medical every 1.5 miles, over 350 police, expo at Amon Carter. Mornings cool and afternoons upper 70s to low 80s °F.

  • WikipediaRaced 2026 · article · neutral

    Founded by UNT Health Science Center, held the last weekend of February. Route through the Stockyards, downtown and TCU, elevation changes up to 46 m (150 ft). Marathon and ultra are Boston qualifiers.

  • Cowtown Marathon official siteRaced 2026 · article · neutral

    Organiser description of the route through the Stockyards, downtown and TCU and back to Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Raced Cowtown Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

Training for Cowtown Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.