FORT WORTH, Texas — The Cowtown Marathon will draw thousands of runners and walkers to Fort Worth on Saturday and Sunday.
This year marks the Cowtown Marathon’s 47th race weekend, according to event organizers. The race benefits the marathon’s nonprofit, The C.A.L.F. Program, which gives school-age children information about running and provided new running shoes and socks to 114 schools and over 5,000 children this year.
The event will cause road closures on Saturday and Sunday. Marathoners will make a loop from the cultural district, to the Stockyards, through downtown and back over to TCU, according to the race route. There are several good vantage points for spectators to watch the action on the course. Here’s everything you need to know before the Cowtown Marathon weekend begins. .
Saturday – 5K and 10K events
The 10K and 5K races will begin around 7 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., according to the race handbook. The kids 5k will start at 9 a.m.
Several roads will be blocked or closed during the event, including Montgomery Street, Monticello Drive, N. Bailey Street, Carroll Street, Foch Street and W. Lancaster Avenue. Road closures will mainly be restrained to the Cultural District and West 7th on Saturday. Portions of N. University Drive and W. 7th Street may also be briefly blocked.
The early races are expected to be done around 9 a.m., the release states.
Sunday – Half, full and ultra marathons
All races will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, according to the race handbook.
Several roads and intersections will be closed throughout the marathon races. The marathon race will start in the cultural district and then progress to the Stockyards, down Main Street to downtown Fort Worth, into the Near Southside, the Fort Worth Zoo and through TCU, according to the course map.
These major roads will be partially closed during the event, they are ordered from earlier in the race to later. The event is expected to end around 4 p.m.
– W. Lancaster Avenue
– N. University Drive
– E. Exchange Avenue
– N. Main Street
– Houston Street
– S. Main Street
– W. Magnolia Avenue
– Forest Park Boulevard
– Bluebonnet Circle
– Foster Park Trail
– Colonial Parkway
– University Drive
Spectators
There are bleachers at Will Rogers Memorial Center for spectators to cheer on runners as they take off and arrive. Other good spectator spots along the route include:
– Rabbit Hole Pub, 3237 White Settlement Road. This location will host a watch party starting at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
– The Stockyards, Exchange Avenue is part of the route and you can cheer on runners from any of the many bars and restaurants there.
– Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth
– Fairmount Park, 1500 5th Ave. will host waffles in the park to cheer on Marathoners, sponsored by Waffle House.
– The Woodshed, the restaurant is on the Trinity Trails and it’s the perfect location to cheer on runners through their final push.
Credit to: WFAA