Cowtown 5k, 10k and Marathon's

I had to wake up dark and early on a Saturday and Sunday to be in place and ready to shoot the start of the Cowtown 2012 races in Fort Worth.

Cowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon volunteer Jane Tauscher(cq) fill cups with water for runners before the start of the races on Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon Wade

Cowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon volunteers Jane Tauscher, left,(cq) and Nancy Shoup(cq) fill cups with water for runners before the start of the races on Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon WadeA Cowtown UNTHSC Half Marathon runner tries to carefully drink a cup of water handed out by volunteers on Houston Street during the Cowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon WadeA Cowtown UNTHSC Half Marathon runner grabs a cup of water handed out by volunteers on Houston Street during the Cowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon WadeCowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon runners race down Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon WadeSamantha Martin, left, and Brianna Calli keep an eye out for their sister and friend Christina Martin, respectively, during the Cowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon WadeCowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon runners race down Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon WadeCowtown Ultra Marathon, Marathon and UNTHSC Half Marathon runners grab cups of water handed out by volunteers in downtown Fort Worth, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Special/Brandon Wade

Aerial photos of the 26th annual Big Texas Toy Run

I was lucky enough to get to ride in the back of a R44 helicopter to cover the 26th annual Big Texas Toy Run for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram this year. We followed thousands of motorcyclist from Gateway Park in East Fort Worth to QucikTrip Park in Grand Prairie. At one point, at loop-820 and I-30, we were hovering about 300 feet above the highway get a realitivly 'low angle' shot, and flying side ways. We were about level with the top of the very tall highway lights scattered around the interchange! You can view a slideshow of the event that includes photos from Staffer Joyce Marshall here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/18/3603672/big-texas-toy-run-2011.html   I shot a little bit of video with my Mk IV and iPhone 4s and will try to get that up sometime tomorrow.

**UPDATE** Short video clip of the flight added.

Thousands of motorcyclists wait to depart from Gateway Park in Fort Worth and ride to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie, carrying donated toys, during the annual Big Texas Toy Run, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade Thousands of motorcyclists wait to depart from Gateway Park in Fort Worth and ride to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie, carrying donated toys, during the annual Big Texas Toy Run, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade Thousands of motorcyclists wait to depart from Gateway Park in Fort Worth and ride to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie, carrying donated toys, during the annual Big Texas Toy Run, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade The first of thousands of motorcyclists enter Eastbound I-30 from Beach Street in Fort Worth and ride to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie, carrying donated toys, during the annual Big Texas Toy Run, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade

Onlookers wave to Santa Clause from the side of Eastbound I-30 in Fort Worth as he leads thousands of motorcyclists to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie during the annual Big Texas Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. They were delivering donated toys. Special/Brandon Wade Thousands of motorcyclists can be seen in the Eastbound lanes of I-30 (coming towards the camera) at the loop-820 interchange in Fort Worth during the annual Big Texas Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The motorcyclist were riding to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie to deliver donated toys. Special/Brandon Wade The downtown skyline of Fort Worth can be seen as thousands of motorcycle headlights can be seen in the Eastbound lanes of I-30 in Arlington (coming towards the camera) during the annual Big Texas Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The motorcyclist were riding to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie to deliver donated toys. Special/Brandon WadeThousands of motorcycle headlights can be seen in the Eastbound lanes of I-30 in Arlington (coming towards the camera) during the annual Big Texas Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The motorcyclist were riding to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie to deliver donated toys. Special/Brandon Wade Onlookers wave from the Ballpark Way overpass in Arlington as thousands of motorcyclist ride to QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie during the annual Big Texas Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. They were delivering donated toys. Special/Brandon WadeThousands of motorcyclists from Fort Worth and Dallas arrive at QuickTrip Park in Grand Prairie to deliver donated toys during the annual Big Texas Toy Run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Special/Brandon Wade