The Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon

The Oldest Marathon In North Carolina

February 28, 2026

Ellerbe, North Carolina

35th Annual Marathon

10th Annual Half Marathon

8:00 a.m.

HISTORY

The Ellerbe Marathon first ran in 1992. Its origin dates to the fall of 1991 as Mark Long and Doug Dawkins were returning from the Greensboro Marathon. At that time there were but a few marathons in North Carolina. By the time the pair had reached Richmond County on Highway 220 they had mostly agreed on the idea of working together to create a local marathon. That first race was held April 12, 1992 with 41 entrants and 39 finishers. There was no online entry. No website. All those interested had to request a paper entry form be mailed to them and return it with a check to enter. Aid stations had no food, just water and Gatorade. Runners had to finish the race to get a t-shirt. There were no medals. All “Old School.” There was a period in the 1990s when The Ellerbe Marathon and The Grandfather Mountain Marathon were the only two marathons in North Carolina.

The Ellerbe Marathon has survived many challenges and changes since that first year. We survived Covid. We have survived changes in hosts, locations, and race directors. But the Ellerbe Marathon has not missed a year since that first event in 1992 and we are now the oldest continuously held marathon in North Carolina. We followed the trend and now present t-shirts before the race. We have nice pottery wine cups for all who finish. And we have a nice custom medal. We have snacks at the aid stations and a post-race meal just like all the others. And we have no sponsors. The only ones we have to please are our runners. We still have that “Old School” feel, and hope to keep it. We don't have hundreds of entrants. But we have a good crowd every year and we all have fun.

COURSE AND TIMING

The Ellerbe Rescue Squad building at 106 Sunset Avenue is race day headquarters and the finish line will be on Sunset Avenue nearby. The start is just a short walk away on Page Street near BB&T. The course is a 13.1 mile loop. Marathoners do the loop twice. Both the marathon and half marathon courses are USATF certified. Timing will be RFID chip timing with live results and managed by Clockwork Race Timing. The course is all paved country roads and open to traffic. Some people call it rolling. Some call it hilly. All agree it's not flat. Links to marathon and half marathon race maps including the certification details are below. The course closes in 9 hours. Anyone unable to finish the marathon in 9 hours is encouraged to sign up for the half marathon.

PACKET PICK-UP

Early packet pick-up will be available Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Ellerbe Rescue Squad headquarters building. The Ellerbe Rescue Squad building is at 106 Sunset Avenue in Ellerbe. Race day packet pick-up will also be at the Ellerbe Rescue Squad building. Packet pick-up will begin at 6:30 a.m. Packets will contain your race number, pins and your event t-shirt.

POST-RACE LUNCH

Post-race lunch is usually a vegetarian soup and hot cheese quesadillas. Food will be available in or near the Ellerbe Rescue Squad building beginning at 10 a.m. Runners' meal is included with entry and your race number will be your ticket.

SHIRTS, MEDALLIONS, AWARDS, ETC

Shirts will be presented to all who register by February 18. Shirts will be presented at packet pick-up. Any extra shirts from no shows will be presented first come/first serve after the event to finishers who registered after the February 18 shirt deadline. Runners not receiving a shirt at packet pick-up should ask about shirts at the awards station after the event. Ellerbe Marathon and Ellerbe Half Marathon commemorative medallions will be presented to all finishers. Awards are all handmade pottery created by McNeill Pottery of Seagrove, NC. Overall awards will be presented to each of the top three overall male and top three overall female finishers in both events (3 sizes with largest going to first overall). The first male and first female from Richmond County, NC, will also receive a special pottery award. All finishers will receive a pottery wine cup with the event name, date, and "Finisher" on the bottom. There is no awards ceremony. All pottery awards and medals will be presented at the finish line. Make sure to get yours as you finish. Awards, medallions, and shirts will not be mailed. There are no age group awards.

SPECIAL BIBS

Those people who have finished 10 or more Ellerbe Marathons or Half Marathons will wear unique custom bibs that have their name printed on the number. Anyone who finishes their 10th Ellerbe in 2026 will be added to the list and have their name printed on their number in 2027. If you have already finished 10 Ellerbe races and are not listed on the “Permanent Number Honors” link below, contact Doug at dougdawkinsruns@gmail.com and list all the years you have finished. He will verify your finishes and add you to the list.

AID STATIONS

Aid stations will be approximately 2 to 2 1/2 miles apart. Half marathon runners will pass an aid station 5 times on the course, and marathon runners will pass an aid station 11 times. Our usual offerings are water, an electrolyte drink, bananas, and a few salty/sweet snacks. We do not dispense pain meds. If you think you need them, pack them with you.

PARKING

We have a large grass parking area at the intersection of Parsons Ave. and 2nd Street. It is behind Food King and very close to Race Headquarters. To access parking, stay on Main Street aka Business 220 and turn between Dixie Burger and Food King onto Parsons Ave and follow it to the stop sign. The grass parking area will be on your right. Street parking in Ellerbe is okay too. Just make sure to park legally and do not block any driveways. Do not park along Page Street.

LODGING

The Ellerbe Springs Inn is the only lodging available in Ellerbe and is 1½ miles from the start line. If you are interested in staying at the Ellerbe Springs Inn, contact them directly at Ellerbe-Springs.com. Other lodging is available in Rockingham, Biscoe, and Southern Pines.

REGISTRATION

Registration will open October 1, 2025. Use the link below to register on Ultrasignup. There are deadlines for shirt and awards orders. Please register early to be sure you are eligible for a shirt, a finisher pottery award, and a finisher medallion. There will be no wait list, no refunds, no deferrals, and no transfer of your entry to someone else if you decide to not come. $10 of each entry is donated to the Ellerbe Rescue Squad.

2026 FEES

Old School Deal - 10 Days only!! $60 October 1 through October 10, 2025
$75 September 20 through December 31, 2025
$85 January 1, 2026 until registration closes
Registration closes at the event director's discretion.