This was my 4th experience with the MO' Cowbell weekend in St. Charles, MO (2x13.1 / 2x26.2). I live here and I love the fact that I can wake up in my own house for once before going to the race. For those that have to travel, Saint Charles continues to add hotels and many are very close to the Start line.

The Course:
Flat - The course takes off from Frontier park, there is a slight incline as you reach the 1/2 mile mark, but from that point until mile 9.50 it is flat as a pancake. You head out through the old town, continuing into farmland. As you reach the 3.75 mark you will make a hard right turn and there will be tons of people screaming for you....yes for you. The run continues into the New Town Community with lots of people and race support. (you will find Port-a-Johns here). As you leave New Town, you will travel over small rolling hills (minimal) and then you make the left and encounter the last uphill you will face during the first half. It is long and a bit boring, but there will people cheering for you and when you reach top, you make the turn onto a gentle 2 miles of downhill...ahhhhh!!! Be careful at the bottom, as the course makes a left on Olive and it is dramatic down hill road that will catch you off guard if you are not ready. From that point on, except for sneaky hill at mile 17, you will be running on the Katy Trail and it it flat. The last 13.1 is out and back, runners are cheering for each other the whole way. The last half can get a little lonely, but the views of the Missouri River are nice, the turn around at mile 19.5 has great support and loud people telling you how great your are doing. The Finish Line is very cool, with a good chute to run down with the announcer yelling your name.

The Swag:
This year was an excellent medal. The shirt is nice and they always have cool sayings on them. (This year "This is my Favorite Race Shirt" was on the front).

The Expo:
Small, but organized and they have good vendors. The running stores in town are represented.

The Post Race:
Local college PT's are there to stretch you out, and medical is ready if it is more serious than a cramp.
Plenty of chocolate milk and other post race snacks
Again, people everywhere cheering and congratulating the runners

The Biggest Problem:
The Port-a-John situation is not good. The lines are out of control, runners missing the National Anthem and the start of the race. They need more.....more

This is a well run, small town race. They are getting better every year and the number of runners is increasing. It is a good race for an Epic Finish