The Cowtown Marathon

Irma Allen: Bringing Joy, One Pair of Shoes at a Time
Irma Allen ran The Cowtown many times before joining the team as a volunteer in 2023, shortly after her retirement. She initially signed up to deliver shoes to a couple of schools. She enjoyed it so much she soon began volunteering every day.
For the past three years, Irma has helped fit new running shoes at every school we serve. She brings energy and enthusiasm to every visit, making each child feel special. She always answers the call when help is needed, volunteering with C.A.L.F. Run Camp, packet pickup, race setup and so much more. And through it all, she never misses a training run!

What drives you to go to every school?
“Oh my gosh, the most memorable moments come from the kids,” Irma says.
She loves hearing comments like, “It feels so good to finally have shoes that fit!” and “My mom will be so happy she doesn't have to buy these shoes.”
The best moment, however, is seeing the look on a child's face when they ask, “Can I keep these?” and Irma gets to answer, “YES!”
“I love to see the kids’ faces light up as they tell me how many times they have run The Cowtown and how fast they are going to finish.”

What keeps you coming back to volunteer?
“Knowing I helped bring joy to these kids.”

For Irma, every school visit is about much more than fitting a pair of shoes. It’s about giving children confidence, creating happy memories and helping them feel seen and special. Her enthusiasm and dedication make her an invaluable part of The Cowtown family.

"Six months until Cowtown 2027. Are you registered? If not — what are you waiting for?"

Now in its 49th year, Cowtown offers a great cultural route, a friendly destination city, and energetic spectators — and your registration gives back. Since 2009, that mission has reached beyond race day into the schoolyards of North Texas, providing more than 5,000 pairs of new running shoes and basic fitness training to youth in underserved communities every year. The goal: instill a lifelong love for being active and the confidence to finish strong, no matter what you do.

Running gets all the glory, but strength training is what keeps you running. 💪
Two sessions a week can: ✅ Reduce injury risk ✅ Improve running economy (aka you get faster for less effort) ✅ Build the stability that keeps your form solid late in a long run
You don't need a gym membership — bodyweight squats, lunges, planks, and glute bridges go a long way.
Join a class at the Cowtown offices!
Hashtags:

Meet us at the Capsule Health & Fitness Expo. 🏃 Proud to have Capsule as our Health & Expo sponsor this year — bringing wellness resources, health screenings, and race-week essentials right to the expo floor.

Packet pickup just got a lot more useful.
📍 ‍Will Rogers Memorial Center
Amon G. Cart Exhibit Hall
‍3401 W. Lancaster Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76110

👉 WHEN
Friday, February 26th
10:00 am to 6:00pm

Saturday, February 27th
6:00am to 5:00pm

We've got a new Instagram home! If you followed us before, please switch to this new account and share with your running friends!

Cowtown Marathon is now on Instagram at — go ahead and give us a follow so you don't miss a beat!

You'll still get everything you love: training tips, sponsor spotlights, race updates, and a first look at what's coming for our 2027 Ambassador Program.

👉 Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/cowtownmarathon
See you over there! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Not sure which distance is your distance? 🤔 🏃 5K — perfect for first-timers or a family morning out 🏃‍♀️ 10K — the sweet spot for a real challenge without marathon training 🏃‍♂️ Half Marathon — Texas' best, according to RaceRaves 🏅 Marathon — the full Cowtown experience
Pick yours Today!

Throwback to a Cowtown finish line moment. 📸
Drop YOUR favorite Cowtown race-day photo in the comments — first marathon, PR moment, costume run, doesn't matter. We want to see it.
(Bonus points if you're mid-sprint with questionable form. We've all been there.) 😂

Share your Cowtown memory and tag us!

Marathon training in August. Here's how to adjust your long runs for the heat:
1️⃣ Shift your long run earlier (yes, even earlier than you think)
2️⃣ Break it into segments if needed — a run/walk approach isn't cheating, it's smart
3️⃣ Slow your pace expectations — heat adds 30-60 sec/mile easily, and that's normal
4️⃣ Plan your route around water fountains or a car with backup fluids

Your training log doesn't need to look like it did in the cool months. Progress isn't always linear — and that's okay.
For more custom coaching - check out Coo:pah virtual training at https://cowtownmarathon.org/runners/training-copy/

The Cowtown Marathon

Fort Worth has been lacing up with us for 49 years. 🏃‍♀️ From the first starting gun to today, Cowtown Marathon has grown alongside this city — and we're just getting started on the road to our 50th anniversary in 2028. Thank you for running with us, year after year.
📍 Fort Worth, TX 👉 Register now to be part of what's next.