Texas native sets Guinness world record at 2024 Cowtown Marathon
A course record and a probable world record were set at the Cowtown Marathon over the weekend as 23,000 runners descended on the Will Rogers Memorial Center for the 46th annual event.
One of those runners was Dr. TaMar Hicks, a Grand Prairie native, who set a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon completed while wearing handcuffs with an unofficial time of 1:20:36 and had several family members on hand to watch him set the record.
The record must be verified by the Guinness World Record Book before it can become official.
The record previously belonged to Boudewijn Dominicus in 2018 at the Machester Half Marathon.
It was Hicks’ second attempt to set the record and his first time running in the Cowtown Marathon.
“The first time I did it, I just think I, you know, kind of it up more than I could chew,” said Hicks, “ I wasn’t in shape like I should be, so I really, I really started running a lot more.”
Hicks said he ran 200 miles per month in preparation and knew he had to over-condition for the race because of the handicap of having handcuffs which he said changed how he ran.
“I think the difference is, like, you, like, a little, like everything was in my legs. I really couldn’t use arms at all and that’s kind of weird,” said Hicks.
Hicks ran collegiality at Lamar University and rediscovered his love for running as a stress reliever while dealing with the pressures that came from receiving his doctorate from Texas Southern and the birth of his first child.
“If I could break this record, I could prove to myself and to everyone else that really, no matter how chained down you feel to your negative thoughts or your past circumstances,” said Hicks, “you’re gonna always be able to overcome them.”
Hicks wasn’t the only record setter at the weekend races. George Onyancha set a course record of 2:19:36 in the men’s marathon.
It was Onyancha’s first time in the Cowtown Marathon and he was proud to set the record.
Kyle Johnson, a Denton native, won the half marathon in his first-ever Cowtown race with his mother who was running in her sixth.
Beyond the record breakers, the marathon represents the best parts of Fort Worth according to Mayor Mattie Parker who ran in her first Cowtown Marathon this year. She competed in the half marathon, finishing in 2:04:43.
“To me, Cowtown is reflective of who we are as a city. We just show up for each other and there are people out here to cheer each other on, you got first-time racers, you’ve got elite racers out here,” said Parker, “It felt really cool to get to be out there today with everybody.”
Parker joked that her favorite part of the marathon was crossing the finish and said she would run again next year.
Elizabeth Northern, a Fort Worth native, ran in her 14th Cowtown Marathon and is a former participant in the Children’s Activities for Life and Fitness(CALF) program for which the event raises funds.
CALF focuses on healthy eating and exercise among children but Northern also says it helps expose kids to what running can do for them.
“To come full circle where I’ve won every cow town distance and now I’m pacing the marathon group. It’s neat to give back to an organization that I broke with,” said Northen.
Northern is a five-time winner, a pacer for the second time, and spoke about cherished Cowtown memories.
“In 2016, I won the 50K and my husband was at the finish line, my parents and our dog and then like two weeks later we found out we were pregnant,” said Northern, “So it was just like a very magical time in our life.”
The top male and female finishers from the rest of the races over the two-day marathon.
Adult 5K race: Christopher Shirk ,16:59; Tori Parkinson, 17:41
Adult 10k race:Michael Speets, 25:07; Ruth Munoz, 33.47
Half marathon: Kyle Johnson,1:07.27; Atsede Tesema, 1:12.24
Full marathon: George Onyancha,, 2:19.38*; Shantel Cloud,3:11.46
Ultra marathon: Scott Preston, 3:21.13; Neringa Kaulinaite,3:45.48
*Course record
