Running buddies since 1979


Published: February 16, 2016

Running buddies since 1979. Proud founder of The Cowtown. UNTHSC

 

Early Cowtown marathon starting line

The race has grown, after more than 35 years, to include more than 30,000 runners.

Running a marathon takes perseverance, dedication and discipline.

But establishing your own marathon? That takes those attributes and more: vision, confidence and boldness.

Those are precisely the qualities that led UNT Health Science Center to establish the Cowtown Marathon, a 26-mile race that has been an annual highlight of Fort Worth winters since 1979. The race’s initial purpose was to promote fitness and nutrition for Fort Worth residents, an approach well-suited to UNTHSC physicians, who took a holistic approach to health long before it became a mainstay of medicine.

Marathon runner from early Cowtown Marathon, running past UNTHSC campus

Early runnings of the Cowtown began in the Stockyards and wound through the campus.

TCOM President Ralph Willard with Cowtown winner Bill Parmalee and sponsor Jody Grant.

TCOM President Ralph Willard with Cowtown winner Bill Parmalee and sponsor Jody Grant.

About 460 hearty runners signed up for that initial Cowtown – 210 for the marathon and another 250 for the 10K, then the event’s only other race. The Cowtown has since grown to become the largest multi-race running event in Texas, with more than 30,000 participants and 10 races, including an ultra marathon, a half marathon and 5Ks for adults and children.

The Health Science Center has been a part of this journey every step of the way, first as a founder and now as a proud sponsor. And UNTHSC involvement goes beyond just a financial commitment.

Darrin D’Agostino, DO, Associate Dean of Community Health, will once again serve as race’s medical director for this year’s races, overseeing a volunteer team of Health Science Center physicians and medical students at 24 first aid stations across the course. UNTHSC physicians also will staff a medical tent and ICU area to treat and triage sports injuries, hypothermia, acute events and anything else that comes up during the race.

We have a booth at the Cowtown Expo, where our students and faculty will provide osteopathic manipulative medicine and testing for balance, movement, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, bone density and body composition.

The Health Science Center is committed to doing our part for a healthy Fort Worth. We’re proud of our 38-year history with the Cowtown marathon and eager in 2016 to once again run stride for stride with our city’s signature race.