Joshua Gordon
The Cowtown Marathon holds a special place in my heart. It was the second marathon I ever ran and the first time I broke 3 hours in 2022. This year, I decided to take on the Cowtown Ultra—a challenge that always seemed a little crazy but one I felt well-suited for, thanks to my Ironman training. Being part of the local Cowtown running group since 2022, the idea of running the ultra had always lingered in the back of my mind. Plus, with the 2025 Boston Marathon ahead, I saw this as an opportunity to prepare for Boston’s punishing early downhills by building even more durability.
Training & Pre-Race Preparation
Coming off a 20-day training stint in Chile and a strong race at 70.3 Pucón (where I qualified for the 2025 70.3 World Champs), I had about five weeks to prepare for the ultra. My training block was short but intense, featuring four key long runs: a 24-mile steady effort at 6:40/mi, a 1:17 half marathon within a long session, and two sub-3-hour marathons in training within a single week. Those back-to-back marathons were some of the hardest sessions I’ve ever done, but they gave me confidence that I could execute a controlled, steady effort over 50K.
I barely tapered, keeping my usual high bike volume and training every day as I do for Ironman. Eight days out, I still ran a 17-miler at race pace. I knew my fitness was there, and my goal was simple: sub-3:30.
Race Execution: Steady & Controlled
At the start, I planned to run with a few familiar faces aiming for a 1:27 first half. The 2:55 pacer had been bumped to 3:05, so I had to gauge my own effort carefully. My mantra was "steady and controlled"—something my training had reinforced.
My fueling plan was 90g of carbs per hour from Precision Fuel gels, with caffeine at hours 1, 2, and 3. The only hiccup? I had to stop to pee twice (mile 11 and 20), losing about 25 seconds each time. Fortunately, with my LT2 around 5:50/mi, I could surge back into my rhythm quickly. My heart rate averaged around my full Ironman effort, confirming I had room to handle the hills and minor surges.
The Final Stretch & Securing 3rd Place
I was locked into 3rd place for most of the race but only realized it at the out-and-back section from miles 25-30. When I hit mile 27.5, I saw the leader about a mile ahead and 2nd place about 1km up. By this point, the temperature had risen, and we were exposed to sun and wind. A crucial mile 27 aid station had no water—a frustrating but manageable setback. My legs hurt, but it was a familiar pain, like the cooldown after my 1:17 half marathon. I knew I could hold on.
Crossing the Line
I finished in 3:27 (6:41/mi), hitting my goal, securing a podium spot, and never running a mile over 7:00 pace. My slowest splits were from my bathroom stops, and my fastest was a 6:29 mile. Perfect execution. More importantly, I felt strong at the end—exactly how I want to finish every race.
Cowtown Ultra was an incredible experience, and now, with this effort in the books, I’m even more confident heading into Boston. I also made it into the local news 🥳:
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/cowtown-marathon-results-rac[…]fort-worth-texas-news/287-2e01ad53-c104-48b9-abf9-72543b0cb734
