Cowboy 200 - Norfolk, NE
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Event Overview
The Cowboy 200 is a point-to-point 200-mile footrace along Nebraska's Cowboy Trail. A separate 100-mile event is also held. The course is a rails-to-trails conversion and is run on 90% crushed gravel.
Course Details
The route travels west from Norfolk to Valentine on the Cowboy Trail. This is an old rail trail consisting of non-technical, crushed limestone paths closed to motor vehicles. The course is described as extraordinarily flat and 100% runnable. Runners will pass through several small towns and see historical railroad artifacts, including numerous bridges, with one notable bridge being 1/4 mile long and 148 feet high.
Distances & Logistics
- 200-mile: The race starts at Ta Ha Zouka Park in Norfolk, Nebraska. It has a total cutoff time of 84 hours.
- 100-mile: The race starts at the Community Center in Atkinson, Nebraska. It has a cutoff time of 32 hours.
Aid & Facilities
For the 200-mile course, there are 11 fully stocked aid stations and at least eight unmanned aid stations. Three designated sleep stations are provided along the course. Runners may also sleep in crew vehicles at all manned aid stations.
Rules & Requirements
Participants must be 18 or older. Pacers are allowed but cannot carry items for the runner (no muling). Runners and pacers must carry all required gear as listed in the official runner's manual. Runners must check in and out of all full aid stations and cannot receive crew assistance outside of these designated areas.
Awards & Swag
All 200-mile finishers receive a year-specific finisher's buckle, a sun hoodie, a shirt, a bag, and a free beer at the finish line. The first-place male and female winners each receive a cash prize of $1,500, with a potential $500 bonus for setting a new course record.
All 100-mile finishers receive a finisher's buckle, a shirt, a bag, and a free beer. Additional prizes are awarded to the top three male and female finishers in both distances. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
