At the finish line of most races and marathons, most medals hang silently on a ribbon. But come 2026 in Fort Worth, the Cowtown Marathon is changing that. Imagine crossing the finish, earning a medal that doesn’t just shine — it rings. A cowboy hat-shaped bell, a piece of the city’s history you can hold in your hand and hear echo across the room. 

It’s a simple idea — but one packed with meaning. For decades, The Cowtown has been more than a race. It’s a story about a city, its people, and the pride of a place known as much for its spirit as its distance. 

The 2026 finisher medal is just the start of a three-year collectible series, designed to pull runners back to Fort Worth year after year. Following the cowboy hat bell in 2026, 2027 brings a matching cowboy boot, also a functioning bell. And the grand finale arrives in 2028, the race’s 50th anniversary, with a large medal inspired by the Stockyards’ Exchange Avenue arch — designed to showcase the hat and boot together in a lasting tribute. 

“We wanted a medal that really reflects who we are and the dedication our runners show,” says Heidi Swartz, executive director of The Cowtown. “This is more than hardware — it’s a symbol, a connection.” 

And The Cowtown is nothing if not connected. From kids taking their first running steps in the 5K to ultra marathoners chasing personal bests, the weekend race draws a community — local, national, international — all converging at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. 

For those who can’t make every year, The Cowtown offers the Blast From the Past virtual program — a way to collect past medals with a downloadable bib, a vintage race shirt, and a discount for next year’s event. 

Since 2009, The Cowtown’s C.A.L.F. Program has been quietly changing lives, inspiring over 65,000 kids across North Texas to love running by teaching healthy habits and providing shoes and race entries to those in need. 

The Cowtown is powered by Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center — a partnership that underscores the event’s deep ties to community health and wellbeing. 

Registration for the 2026 Cowtown Marathon weekend, February 28 to March 1, is open now at cowtownmarathon.org. Prices for all distances increase on July 30, 2025, at midnight. 

When you cross that line in 2026, listen closely — that ringing medal will be the sound of history, heart, and miles run together.