Registration closes February 20. There will be no race day registration.
History of the Ellerbe Marathon
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 choices in North Carolina.
The Ellerbe Marathon has survived all the changes that have come to running. We survived Covid and are now the oldest continuously held marathon in North Carolina. We followed the trend and 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. But 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.
Certified Course
The Ellerbe Marathon and Ellerbe Half Marathon courses are USATF certified. Course details and certification details are on our race web site. Our host is the Ellerbe Rescue Squad and the start and finish will be near their headquarters in downtown Ellerbe. Runners will leave Ellerbe on Page St. and do a loop in the countryside before returning to Ellerbe at 13.1 miles and a half marathon finish. Marathoners will do the same loop a second time to get the 26.2 mile marathon distance. All roads are paved state secondary roads and open to traffic. A map is on the race web site.
Use the link above and go to the race website for complete information.
Registration
2024 FEES
Old School Deal - 10 Days only!! $50 September 10 through September 19
$70 September 20 through December 31
$85 January 1 until closing
Register by February 20 to be guaranteed a shirt at packet pick up
Registration closes at the event director's discretion.
Event's current local time: 8:04 PM ET