The 36th Cowtown Marathon, to be held from February 21 to 23 at Will Rogers Memorial Center, in Fort Worth, includes two 5Ks, a 10K, the half marathon, marathon and ultra marathon. With almost 27,000 participants in 2013, the Cowtown is the largest multi-event in Texas.

Founded by the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 1978, proceeds of the marathon benefit local charities and nonprofit organizations. The Cowtown Children's Activities for Life & Fitness Program provides training, grants and running shoes to children in need. Current nonprofits include the American Cancer Society, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Team RWB, a support organization for wounded veterans and their families. Each year, the Cowtown supplies thousand of needy children with running shoes.

The marathon and ultra marathon are Boston Marathon qualifying events. The Cowtown Cook Children's 5K race was named the top kids running event in the nation by USA Running, with more than 5,000 children registered to run in 2013.

For more information, visit CowtownMarathon.org.