On Saturday, July 19, 2025 (late evening into early morning), the Cox Running Club presents the 9th Annual Hell’s Half Acre Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & Relay, staged at Trinity Park Pavilion #3 in Fort Worth.
History & Format
Named after Fort Worth’s notorious 1870s red-light district, “Hell’s Half Acre,” this is a nostalgic, grass-roots endurance festival blending race distances from 5K to the full marathon. This veteran event is produced by Cox Racing Services and employs chip timing by Athlete360.
Course & Atmosphere
The half marathon uses a 3.275-mile loop, repeated four times, while the 5K/10K is run as one or two loops on Trinity Trails with out-and-back sections. Races start at 10:00 PM CDT (5K/10K start earlier at ~7:30 PM), offering a unique overnight racing atmosphere. Packet pickup opens at 6:00 PM the same evening.
What Makes It Unique
This is marathon racing with a twist—an after-dark event capped at 500 participants per distance, encouraging runners to conquer multiple loops under night skies. Awards include custom 5-inch medals for half and full marathon finishers and acrylic designs for shorter races, plus a relay option for teams.
With intimate field sizes and a laid-back vibe, Hell’s Half Acre is ideal for night race lovers, local running community members, relay teams, and those chasing novelty in a storied Texas setting.
