Ellerbe Marathon

We run three half marathons a year and have had the blessing of running races in multiple states, from Texas to Alaska, and the Ellerbe has become our family's fan favorite. This sweet race exemplifies everything we love about small-town America, from the director, who personally prays for the race before it kicks off, to the volunteers, who are largely families who just seem to love Ellerbe and love this cause. The course is challenging (train for those hills!), but the setting is so beautiful and peaceful and serene through rolling back hills that it feels like a literal breath of fresh air. Every finisher gets a t-shirt, a custom piece of pottery (we love our growing mug collecting!) and even lunch provided by the Ellerbe Fire and Rescue afterward. Our teenager, who is not a distance runner, used Ellerbe as his very first half marathon, and the runners and the crowd were so incredibly encouraging and supportive that he left the race naming Ellerbe one of his new favorite cities. You can't beat the sweetness and specialness of this annual event we've come to know and love.

Fun, challenging course! Definitely recommend. Great time of year to run, we had fantastic weather for it too!

I've run this marathon two years in a row (2025 & 2026). I love the small-town vibe. Being able to drive up, park less than one block from the finish/start area is great, and having a no-frills start is the best. I do love the major city races, but Ellerbe just feels special. Lots of history and a great team of volunteers. Just enough course hydration stations along the course to get by. I only spotted one port-a-john on the course though, so plan accordingly. All finishers receive a local made pottery cup, and the top 3 finishers receive a pottery bowl/plate. They even provide cheese quesadillas and veggie soup! Both are served hot. Nice touch and a perfect post-race meal. Thank you, Doug Dawkins and all the volunteers that make this race special.