MO' Cowbell Half Marathon Recap

On October 1st I ran half marathon #45, the MO' Cowbell Half Marathon in beautiful St. Charles, MO.  I am a MO' Bassador for this race, so it is always great to see all the planning and hard work behind the scenes turn into an amazing expo and race experience for our runners.


Why you should run this race:

• Many distances available including a 5k, half marathon relay, half marathon, and the marathon
• Virtual race option
• Medals and 1/4 zip pullover for all distances

• Option to have packet mailed (for a fee)
• Large expo with ample parking, variety of vendors indoors and outdoors, and free health and fitness classes

• Great pre-race communication via email and social media
• Start/finish is just off of Interstate 70
• Several hotels close to the start/finish line
• Don't Fear the Reaper plays at 7:20 a.m. for you to ring your cowbell to
• Plenty of parking in downtown St. Charles near the start/finish line
• Amazing volunteers throughout the course
• Scenery varied between urban and country and the roads were well-maintained
• Runner tracking available via three methods - text message updates, GPS tracking via the Athlinks race day app (android users only), on-site and online results via the website
• Post race food included cookies, granola bars, pretzels, bananas, chocolate milk, and water 
• Runners' Village filled with vendors and games, just past the post-race food
• Large PR bell to ring loud and proud

My experience at the race:

I walked this half marathon, which gave me plenty of time to take the course and the scenery in and snap photos along the way.  The last time I completed the MO' Cowbell half marathon was in 2013 and last year I ran the 5k, so it has been a while since I have been on the half course.  There were parts of the course that seemed different from 2013, but I can't say for sure.

I enjoyed the variety of scenery between historic downtown St. Charles, Frenchtown, local parks, country fields, the streets of New Town, the never-ending MO-tivational Mile, the steep downhill back to Frenchtown, and the finish in Frontier Park.  The volunteers along the way were great!  Quite a few even danced as we passed and remember we were walking the half, so they had to have been dancing and cheering for the thousand-some runners before us.

The weather was perfect and the support along the course was great.  This race is just always a great way to start your fall running season.  I will be back next year and I hope to see you on the course!

Strolling through New Town

Bubble Bus