The Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon
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The Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon
The Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon is a road race in Ellerbe, North Carolina, held on February 27, 2027. The event marks the 36th annual marathon and the 11th annual half marathon and is the oldest continuously held marathon in North Carolina, first run in 1992.
Distances:
- Marathon: two laps of the 13.1 mile loop, USATF certified.
- Half Marathon: one lap of the 13.1 mile loop, USATF certified.
Race headquarters and finish are at the Ellerbe Rescue Squad building at 106 Sunset Avenue. The course is on paved country roads that remain open to traffic; it is generally described as rolling or hilly and is not flat. Timing uses RFID chip timing with live results managed by Clockwork Race Timing. The course closes in 9 hours; runners who cannot finish the marathon within that time are advised to choose the half marathon.
Packet pick-up is at the Rescue Squad building beginning Saturday at 6:30 a.m.; packets include race number, pins, and the event t-shirt. Shirts and finisher wine cups are ordered by February 15; registrations received after the shirt deadline may not receive those items. All finishers receive a commemorative medallion and a pottery wine cup; pottery awards are presented at the finish line and are not mailed. There are no age group awards.
Aid stations occur about every 2 to 2.5 miles. Typical offerings are water, an electrolyte drink, bananas, and salty or sweet snacks. Parking is available on a large grass lot at Parsons Avenue and 2nd Street behind Food King; street parking is also allowed with attention to legality. Lodging in Ellerbe is limited; the Ellerbe Springs Inn is about 1.5 miles from the start and other lodging is available in nearby towns. Registration opens October 1, 2026. Entry fees follow tiered pricing and $10 of each entry supports the Ellerbe Rescue Squad. No wait list, refunds, deferrals, or transfers are available. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
