The Cowtown Marathon tour of Fort Worth

You grew up in Fort Worth or lived here so long it’s become your hometown.

Or maybe you’ve visited so often it feels like home. Fort Worth has that effect on people.

But you’re not truly going to know Cowtown until you’ve traversed its diverse neighborhoods and historic districts by foot. That’s the opportunity the Cowtown Marathon, which has its 38th annual running this weekend, affords every visitor.

There’s no better way to experience this city, or any city for that matter, than by running a marathon. Free from the insulating bubble of a car, you’ll discover — or rediscover — neighborhoods, come across restaurants you’ve only read about and take in the stunning parks, museums and architecture that you blow by every day on your commute.

Downtown has a different feel when it’s just you and your fellow runners on Houston Street, with the office buildings towering overhead, the wind rushing through the glass canyon and supporters cheering you on from the sidewalks.

You head north and, since it’s still early, you’ll probably be greeted by the sound of north-side neighborhood roosters or horses waking up as you push toward the Stockyards.

And you’ve probably never realized just how steep the Main Street bridge is until you’ve trudged up it after running 9 miles.

These are just a few of the things you’ll notice.

We’ve decided to highlight a few more of those things — 26.2, actually — along the 26.2-mile marathon route. Some you may have explored already, and some may be completely new to you. All are worth a return visit, when you’re not sweating your way to the finish line or watching someone else try to survive this ultimate test of endurance.

Because the Cowtown, with all its mojito stops and museum visits along the way, is a marathon that’s definitely worth running more than once.

1Will Rogers Memorial Center: This is the starting point. Focus less on the expanse of parking lots and turn your attention to the buildings that are the heart of the historic entertainment/sports/livestock complex where the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo takes place every year. The art deco Memorial Center, with its distinctive tower, was built in 1936. www.willrogersmemorialcenter.com.

2Cultural District museums: As the race moves onto Lancaster Avenue, it runs behind Fort Worth’s collection of world-class museums, each with its own vision: the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth for contemporary art, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Kimbell Art Museum, known for its European collection. At the start, you’ll take note of the beautiful Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and you’ll see those again at the finish line. www.fwculture.com.

5West 7th: When you come out of the park, you’re at the eastern end of all the restaurant/retail development that has sprung up along West Seventh Street, something that didn’t exist as little as a decade ago. Right near the corner of Seventh and Carroll streets, where the race turns to go north, is the Montgomery Plaza mixed-use shopping center, built around the still-impressive 1928 building that was once a Montgomery Ward department store. Across Carroll, there’s the tasty hipster taco joint, Velvet Taco, at the corner, if you decide to bail on the race early and opt for a shrimp-and-grits taco with creole mayo, blackened shrimp, pepper jack cheese grits, salsa and cilantro.

6Lola’s Saloon: The Fifth Street leg of the race runs behind Fort Worth’s prime indie-rock space, Lola’s Saloon, on Sixth Street. Check out the expansive new patio and make plans to return for some live music, Funkytown style. 2736 W. Sixth St., 817-877-0666; lolassaloon.com.

7Greenwood Quadriga: Head north along Carroll Street, west on Fifth Street, north on Bailey Avenue and east on White Settlement Road and you’re greeted by the Quadriga, giant bronze statues of four horses, at the entrance to Greenwood cemetery. These are reproductions of the horses on display in Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. Notables laid to rest at the cemetery include Van Cliburn, big band singer Tex Beneke and golfer Ben Hogan. 3100 White Settlement Road.

8Fort Worth Stockyards: The race then moves into the north side, a historic and predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, before reaching the Stockyards, Cowtown’s most iconic tourist destination. Along the Old West-themed streets are Billy Bob’s Texas, which bills itself as the world’s largest honky-tonk, celebrity chef Tim Love’s Lonesome Dove Western Bistro restaurant, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Leddy’s for upscale cowboy attire, the Fort Worth Herd and Longhorn Cattle Drive (happening at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily), and the Stockyards Championship Rodeo. While the area is touristy now, it harks back to the early 20th century, when it was home to the Armour and Swift packing houses. www.fortworthstockyards.org.

9North Main Street: As racers come out of the Stockyards, they’ll head back to downtown on the street that runs through the heart of the north side. One particular notable attraction is Rose Marine Theater, home of Artes de la Rosa, the Latino arts and cultural organization. The former movie theater was built in the ’20s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Also in this area is Joe T. Garcia’s restaurant, renowned for its sprawling patio, and El Asadero, a long-running family-run Mexican eatery with a loyal following. Closer to downtown, you’ll run by Fort Worth’s retro Coyote Drive-In, and LaGrave Field, former home of the Fort Worth Cats baseball team.

10Panther Island Pavilion and Panther Island Brewing: While crossing the river into downtown, you’ll see some of the development happening along the river bank. Panther Island Pavilion is a spring/summer outdoor concert venue, with the Rockin’ the River tubing and music events being especially popular. 395 Purcey St.; pantherislandpavilion.com. You’ll also notice Panther Island Brewing, one of Fort Worth’s newest breweries, where you can sample local faves like Cannonball and Allergeez at tastings every Friday; 501 N. Main St.; pantherislandbrewing.com.

11Tarrant County Courthouse: Once you brave the incline of the Main Street bridge, you come face to face with history. Texas is known for its beautiful courthouses, and North Texas certainly has its share, from Old Red in Dallas to Denton’s Courthouse-on-the-Square. Completing that trifecta of architectural distinction is this late-19th-century American beaux arts wonder in pink Texas granite. 100 W. Weatherford St.

12Sundance Square: The run then heads through downtown Fort Worth, which Livability.com declared the best downtown in America in 2014. You’ll pass by Reata, one of downtown’s signature cowboy cuisine spots, and Sundance Square Plaza, the beautifully redesigned space with fountains, a stage and outdoor seating. Further south on Houston Street, you’ll glimpse the convention center and one of the city’s most underappreciated wonders, the Fort Worth Water Gardens, designed by famed architect Philip Johnson, who also designed the Amon Carter Museum.

13T&P Station: The full marathon hits Lancaster Avenue briefly, while the half-marathon sees more of it. One of the most striking features on the street is this building built in 1931, one of the finest examples of art deco architecture in the region. Hang out at the T&P Tavern if you’re not athletically inclined. 221 W. Lancaster Ave.

14Near south side: South of downtown is this burgeoning neighborhood of cool old houses and cool new restaurants/bars. But first you’ll encounter some Cowtown institutions, like the Justin Boots and Dickies outlets on Vickery Boulevard, followed by the acclaimed Stage West Theatre, and Trimble Tech High School, with a history that dates to 1917.

15Magnolia Avenue: This street is blossoming as the city’s most homegrown restaurant row. The race runs by the likes of Stir Crazy Baked Goods, while other hot spots on the street include the pioneering vegan eatery Spiral Diner, Avoca Coffee Roasters, Cane Rosso and The Live Oak music venue/restaurant (which offers brunch Sundays), just to name a few.

16Fairmount: The race winds through one of Fort Worth’s most distinctive neighborhoods for residential architecture. The Fairmount-Southside Historic District includes a variety of 19th- and 20th-century styles. The circuit goes through such other notable neighborhoods as Berkeley Place, Forest Park (with its distinctive gates) and Park Hill.

17Arts Fifth Avenue: This funky arts facility, hosting everything from tap dance and burlesque to jazz and classical music as well as classes and special events, is one of the most colorful arts organizations in the city. Come back March 5 for a tribute to Thelonious Monk. 1628 Fifth Ave., 817-923-9500; artsfifthavenue.org.

18Old Neighborhood Grill: Comfort food reigns at this long-running restaurant that’s at roughly the halfway point of the race. 1633 Park Place Ave., 817-923-2282.

19Fort Worth Zoo: If you hear lions roaring, you know the Fort Worth Zoo is near. The oldest zoo in the state, with more than 7,000 animals, it’s also one of the best in the country. The facility is in the midst of its Name the Gorilla election, so don’t forget to vote for the name of a baby western lowland gorilla. 1989 Colonial Parkway; fortworthzoo.org.

20TCU: The marathon runs through part of the campus. You’ll feel like a student again as you take in visions of the sparkling football stadium and new basketball arena, and the seemingly endless expansion and construction of new buildings. www.tcu.edu.

21Bluebonnet Circle: Though runners don’t go directly through this “urban village,” they do run nearby. Built in 1929, the roundabout offers a different feel from the usual North Texas grid landscape. If you’re rooting on a runner, you can wave wildly as they go by and then retire to a leisurely brunch at Fred’s Texas TCU. 35059 Blue Bonnet Circle. fredstexascafe.com.

22Westcliff and Tanglewood: These leafy upscale neighborhoods surrounding TCU offer a shady respite from the more urban panorama of much of the early parts of the race. Runners will go off road and escape into the forest of Foster Park on Trail Lake Drive.

23Colonial Country Club: Hogan’s Alley, as it is affectionately known thanks to legendary Fort Worth golfer Ben Hogan, is the city’s most famous course and one of the most respected on the PGA Tour. Its history dates to 1936, and Colonial tournament officials recently announced a new title sponsor, gourmet grocer Dean & DeLuca. The tournament celebrates its 70th anniversary May 23-29. And it is one of Fort Worth’s best outdoor parties every year. 3735 Country Club Circle; www.colonialfw.com.

24Log Cabin Village: Just past the country club, you’ll notice the little house on the prairie. That’s how you’ll know you’re in the home stretch, sorta — only about 3 miles to go. As runners head back toward University Drive and eventually the Trinity Trails, they’ll pass by this “living history museum,” a replica of what homes were like in the area in the 19th century. 2100 Log Cabin Village Lane, 817-392-5881; logcabinvillage.org.

25Woodshed Smokehouse: Tim Love’s barbecue venture sits along the Trinity River and is known for its rustic setting, idyllic patio and celebration of all things meat. 3201 Riverfront Drive, 817-877-4545; woodshedsmokehouse.com.

26Farrington Field: The final leg of the race takes runners by this school district stadium that has been hosting games since 1939. It’s another prime example of Fort Worth deco. Overachievers might return here after crossing the finish line to run the stadium stairs. 1501 University Drive.

.2Omni IMAX: As you wind your way to the finish line, past the cattle and swine barns near Will Rogers Coliseum, you know that not only have you made it, you’ve also taken in a tremendous chunk of Cowtown along your journey. The finish line is just a few steps from the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, so why not take a load off at the museum’s IMAX theater and watch The Force Awakens again (it runs through March 20). The old-school IMAX dome theater was the first such venue in the Southwest, opening in 1983, and was recently rated by Wired magazine as one of the seven best places in the country to see the film.

Well done, Jedi.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 3:51 PM with the headline "The Cowtown Marathon tour of Fort Worth."