Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth: 5 things to know about the 2023 festivities
The 45th annual Cowtown Marathon is Feb. 24-26, 2023, in Fort Worth. Tens of thousands of people will be in town for the events.
Here are five things to know before the festivities commence on Friday:
What is the Cowtown Marathon?
The Cowtown Marathon made its debut in 1979 and was founded by the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The marathon is a multi-race event that celebrates physical fitness as well as a nonprofit supporting the CALF (Children’s Activities for Life and Fitness) program.
The CALF program focuses on teaching kids how to exercise and eat healthily while encouraging children to run. The program also gives away socks and shoes to children to help them be more active, so far the Cowtown Marathon has raised $23,998.19 for the 2023 marathon.
The Cowtown Marathon lasts from Friday to Sunday with a myriad of events going on throughout the weekend culminating in the Marathon and Ultra Marathon on Sunday.
When is the deadline to register for Cowtown Marathon?
Although the marathon is around the corner, registration is still open and doesn’t close for in-person events until Feb. 25 and virtual events on Feb. 26.
When does the Cowtown Marathon start?
There are a plethora of races and options to participate in at the Cowtown Marathon.
The first option is a virtual run for those who cannot attend the marathon in person. After you complete the run you go to results.raceroster.com to submit your results. You can submit as early as Jan. 9 or as late as April 1.
On the Feb. 25, the first race hosted is the 10K race which commences at 7 a.m. CT. Next, is the adult 5k race which starts at 7:45 a.m., followed by the kid’s 5k race which starts at 9 a.m.
The longest races take place on Feb. 26, starting with the Healthy Hig Relay, a 26.2-mile relay race that kicks off at 7 a.m.
Actually, all the races on Sunday start at 7 a.m.
The half marathon has the special distinction of being the 2023 USA Track & Field (USATF) Half Marathon Championship. The winner and top ten finishers will receive cash prizes, USATF medals and USATF circuit points depending on their finish.
The marathon is a 26.2-mile run and the second-longest run of the day. The longest belongs to the ultra-marathon which is a 31.1-mile run.
There is also the Cowtown challenge was made for competitors that wanted to run in races on Saturday and Sunday for an extra challenge.
All in-person races start and end at the Will Rogers Memorial Center on Lancaster Ave.
Is there anything besides running?
Yes, the first event is the Cowtown Marathon Health and Fitness Expo which starts on Feb. 24, at 11:30 a.m. and ends on Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. The expo takes place at the Will Rogers Memorial Center Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall.
The Expo will have vendors showcasing food, Cowtown Marathon apparel, wine, beer, water, popsicles and spas among others.
Do I get anything for finishing the race?
The rewards for finishing are standard regardless of distance or age primarily.
A dry fit shirt, custom finisher medal, custom bib, printable finisher certificate, free food, free beer (for those over 21) and an after-party invite that includes a live band and activities.
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 4:24 PM.
