The Derby 50K - Ellerbe, NC

The Derby 50K - Ellerbe, NC

The Derby 50K is a 31.5 mile ultramarathon held in Ellerbe, North Carolina, with start and finish in front of the Derby Community Building at 1647 Jones Springs Church Rd. The course is run counter-clockwise facing traffic and consists of three loops over rolling hills on asphalt and dirt. Turns and some straights are marked with yellow arrows painted on the highway and with posted signs; participants are responsible for following the markings. The course is not closed to traffic, so extra caution is advised.

The event is presented with minimal support and no formal time cutoff. Race numbers serve as the packet and as the ticket for the post-race lunch and may be collected at the community building on race morning. There will be spaghetti plates served with salad, drink, cake, banana pudding, and pies; a non-meat sauce is available. The meal is free to runners and is offered to the public for a fee. Proceeds support Derby community needs, the church, and the fire department.

Organizers request donations of dog or cat food for Richmond County Operation Fix; a van will be onsite for donations. Camping is permitted on the community building grounds. Registration opens July 6, 2026, and closes November 25 or when capacity is reached. Entries are first come first serve; there is no race day registration and no wait list. Overall male and female finishers and the first Richmond County male and female receive awards; all finishers receive custom 4x4 inch medals. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.