MO’ Cowbell was my 47th marathon state and came a week after a hot marathon in New Hampshire. It was also a redo for Missouri, when my earlier race this year was canceled due to lightning. Luckily for me, the weather was pretty nice in St. Charles! I’d guess that it could be a real problem if the heat and humidity stuck around but it was a cool 55 degrees in the morning, though it did heat up some by 10:30-11 in the sun. But hey, low humidity and some good shady parts helped!

Here are the pros in my opinion:
- Friendly race - great communication, great volunteers and PD support
- Easy packet pickup (no day-of pickup)
- Good quarter-zip top in lieu of a T-shirt
- Fun Cowbell age group award
- Country Inn and Suites is easy walking distance to start/finish plus the historic St Charles Main Street. Very cute and good restaurants nearby.
- Well marked course and turns.
- Good food and runners’ village at the finish area.
- Lots of timing mats.

So-so’s:
- The course is okay; it runs through some neighborhoods, near highways, and on part of the Katy Trail. Many parts are shaded but there are some tough spots in the sun after the halfway point and out to about mile 20 it’s pretty desolate. Also, the half is running to the finish when the full keeps straight and parallels the finish. Kind of demoralizing, though when you are coming back in the last mile it’s nice to have people cheering. Also, only a couple of hills to worry about, otherwise flat!
- I think there were 11 or 12 aid stations. I wish I had carried my own water for the second half but it worked out okay.

Cons:
- Expo is a good 20 minutes away from the course and my hotel. Not a big deal but not convenient.
- I’d suggest more water stops in the second half.
- Medal is cute but not awesome.
- There’s a half marathon relay, never heard of that before, so once or twice you may get passed by some fresh legs!
- Skip the app and just check the site for results.

Overall, I enjoyed this marathon and I think it’s a good option for Missouri. You can luck out with the weather and it’s a nice area to stay in and run. It’s a friendly and well-organized race and they strive for it to be fun and festive, which I think they succeeded in doing. Be prepared for some empty areas in the back half and consider carrying your own water if the weather is looking warmer.

And if you have a fever, make sure to get MORE COWBELL!