Fort Worth is a great city in Texas, and the Cowtown Marathon captures the feeling of both the city and the state. Everything with this race is done right from the expo to the course to the volunteers. If you only have one race to run in Texas, this is the one I would recommend. Some of the highlights include running through the Stockyards, the epic swag, and I can't leave out the food at the finishers area. Who doesn't like Blue Bell Ice Cream???

The course is fair but challenging with some elevation gain and a hill at mile 9 that can really take it out of you if you are not trained and ready. The weather is generally chilly at the start, but warms up during the morning and is perfect running weather for February. This is the second time I have run the half and plan to do it again next year. Check out the race if you want to run a race in the Lone Star State.

Austin is a great city, but the thought of running there is a little different for me being from a flat portion of the state. However, this race is mostly downhill and is a fast course. There are a few hills along the way that you climb, but it is a net loss and really a nice, fast course.

This years start was colder than most so I did not spend a lot of time hanging around before the race. In fact, I stayed for as long as I could in the car to keep warm. However, the start line had a good energy and the once we were running, the weather was great. I really enjoy point-to-point courses so this was fun. It was entertaining watching downtown approach as I navigated the course. Finally, the end of the race was very exciting as you arrived downtown and went through a portion of the University of Texas campus and finished next to the state capital. I didn't stay long at the finish line party, but I grabbed a craft beverage and worked my way to find an Uber to head back to meet my wife for brunch. I stopped by the capital for a photo, and finding an Uber was no problem. This is a good January race if you want to try for a PR.

San Antonio is a fantastic city and December is a great time to visit, as the weather can be perfect. Also, many people think of San Antonio as "hilly" but the course is actually very easy and flat and besides navigating some of the crowds, you could PR here if you have a good race.

The expo is a typical Rock "n" Rock Expo, which I enjoy. It isn't held far from the River Walk and I enjoyed a nice lunch on the river after picking up my packet. We relaxed that afternoon before heading back to the River Walk for dinner and looking at the Christmas lights along the river. Like I said, this is a great time of year to visit.

This is my second time running this race. The course has changed since my first time running, and the course is good, but not great. I think I actually preferred the course from three years ago. My favorite parts were their version of the "Blue Mile" that honored fallen soldiers and running by the Pearl Brewery.

The aid stations were good, and the on course entertainment was nice that included mariachi bands that I really enjoyed. The finish line was in typical Rock "n" Roll style and I had a chance to have a water and chocolate milk before grabbing my beer. I did not stay around for the band that was starting, but instead opted to meet my wife and friends for brunch on the river.

If you want a race that will likely have decent weather for December and a fun Rock "n" Roll race experience, look into this one. It is a fun Rock "n" Roll event, but I still prefer Vegas and New Orleans to this tour stop because of the actual course scenery.

This was my first half, and I have run this race four times and plan to go back in 2019! Therefore, I may be a little biased, but I love this race.

Why do I love this race? I love Las Vegas, and I love running. This is a big race, but I believe they do a great job. It is absolutely great running down the strip to downtown and back again. Also, it feels like a celebration of running with thousands of people descending upon Vegas to take part in this event.

The drawbacks can be that people are jumping into corrals that they should not be in and the start can be extremely congested, but I have had great luck at this race, including breaking two-hours for the first time in 2015.

They have altered the course, and I like the changes, as you spend more time on the strip. Whereas the start used to be by Mandalay Bay, it is now in-between the MGM Grand and Cosmopolitan. Also, first timers should note that although you finish by the Mirage, it takes a while to get out of the finish area and you are actually released by the Bellagio or Cosmopolitan and it can be difficult navigating your way back North--or even South--since the Strip is shutdown for the runners. Therefore, pick your hotel accordingly. Finally, I love the Vegas themed medals. Again, I may be biased, but they are some of my favs. This race is expensive, but it is a big running party, which I like. I highly recommend.

The ET Full Moon Marathon may be the most interesting race of the 20 half marathons I have participated in. However, it was fun and something different that I can recommend.

So, what is the deal with this race? This race takes place in late August to coincide with the full moon for visibility. The marathon starts at midnight and is run about two hours outside of Las Vegas on Highway 375, also known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, as it is close to mythical Area 51. You finish in Rachel, Nevada at the Little A'Le'Inn Restaurant.

My experience. I flew into Las Vegas the Friday before the race and checked into the hotel and got comfortable and had a nice dinner. On Saturday, I stayed off my feet and had a very late lunch before heading to the packet pick-up, which was held at the Silver Sevens Casino off the Strip from 4:00-8:00 pm. Our bus transportation to the starting line would also leave from the Silver Sevens about 8:45. The bus ticket cost extra, but was worth it since I didn't want to rent a car and drive into the desert by myself. Although I am a Vegas regular, I had not been to the Silver Sevens and really did not know what to expect from Packet Pickup. It was a very small event, and I would recommend waiting until later to attend. I got there really early and then had a couple of hours to kill and there wasn't much to do besides either sit outside or gamble in a smokey casino, which isn't ideal before running a half marathon.

As time approached for the buses to leave, more runners arrived outside, which was nice. Many of people were Vegas residents or people who had participated in the race before. Finally, we loaded on the buses and headed towards the infamous "Black Mailboxes" were the marathoners would start at midnight. Those of us that would run the half would start down the road and have a straight 13.1 mile run into Rachel. I will admit that the bus ride was strange since we were riding into the abandoned desert in the middle of the night. The road wasn't in great shape and it was rough in a bus, but it added to the atmosphere. There were a lot of costumes, inflatable aliens, and talk of Area 51 lore on the ride.

The race. The half started at 12:30 and it was dark!! I mean you are in the middle of nowhere. You are required to wear reflective gear and a light. However, it is still very dark. Although the road was rough in the bus, it was fine for running. Again, you couldn't see much, but you could hear cows nearby. It equal parts fun and creepy. The aid stations were good and kept us well hydrated along the way.

This was my first half after a two year break and it showed. It was my slowest half marathon, but the course was also fairly difficult. The first six miles are a steady uphill climb. After that it evens out a bit. I rated the scenery a 4 because of the lack of scenery, which was the part of the charm. Again it is dark.

As you approach Rachel, you realize how small the town really is. I was excited to reach the Little A'Le'Inn and finish the race. They have breakfast and beverages and an alien themed souvenir shop. I didn't stick around long, as once a bus fills up with finishers it departs back to Las Vegas. I caught one of the first buses and headed back to Sin City. The ride back was long and bumpy, and I was ready for a shower and a nap. However, it was neat seeing the sun come up over the desert and you could see Vegas in the distance. This is definitely a different way to do Las Vegas! They took us back to the Silver Sevens where I caught a cab back to the hotel for breakfast and nap before hitting the Strip!

Final thoughts. This was a unique race to say the least. Also, I am asked a lot about the temperature. Remember that it was at night and that area of the desert was much cooler than the Vegas Valley. Also, be ready to spend most of your night out there as you are at the mercy of the buses after you finish. Keep in mind that the course is not flat. It is a fun but challenging course. However, they do offer various distances ranging from an Ultra to a 10K. Finally Calico Racing does a great job putting on the race. I would love to do their February race that takes place in Red Rock Canyon! The race director sent out plenty of communication and was there at the start giving us detailed instructions. If you want a fun, different race near Las Vegas, check it out. And I did not see any little green men or spaceships.