If you live near Raleigh, do your long runs at Umstead; the the hills at Ellerbe will be a breeze. The grassy, soft shoulder is great; I ran much of the marathon on it, as my Achilles was twinging. As a first-time marathoner, it was wonderful experience. Kudos to all of the event organizers and volunteers. The (very) few spectators that were there were very supportive - you saw the same ones again and again as they were either volunteers or friends/family of the runners. I enjoyed the tranquil farmland scenery and rolling hills; with so few spectators, it lent itself to meditation. I would do it again in a second.

My first marathon at Ellerbe Springs was a good experience. Excellent support and organization. Run this race if you like hilly country roads and good people to give support!

Great time with my running friends. Beautiful course and support. Had to do the Galloway method due to illness a few weeks back, and PRed - 49:06 faster than my first marathon. Go figure.

Here to see my twins run at an NCU track meet, I wanted to take advantage and run a marathon in NC. Little did I know what I was getting into. First, I got lost going there at 4 a.m. from Raleigh (thanks to Donna guiding me by phone, I made it after my GPS couldn't detect Future 73). Then they started the race with a hill, and it was followed by another, and another (including a 1 and a 1/2-mile hill to the halfway point), only letting up for about 3 miles. This was the most challenging marathon I have ever encountered. That said, I have to say I am very glad to have run it. To finish this marathon was very rewarding. I couldn't have done it without the support unit given by water station people, the people driving the course asking if we needed anything (thanks for the Pepto pill) and the friends I made during the marathon, especially Melody! Even though there were no spectators the whole marathon, I felt the support I needed to keep going by fellow runners and the volunteers. Thank you from Indiana for your Southern hospitality!

This is a very well run, no-frills marathon. Course is very challenging but fair and scenic. Aid stations are appropriately spaced and well stocked. Volunteers were great and cheerful. Almost no spectator support, but I didn't expect any based on previous comments. I was a little surprised that traffic wasn't blocked off, but traffic wasn't an issue given the rural nature of the course. Not recommended if you're looking for a BQ, but a great race if you want a small, challenging marathon. Would recommend staying at the inn if you're coming from out of town, since the race starts and ends right there and they were accommodating with checkout times, allowing runners to shower after the race before checking out.

The course is very rural. No traffic but also not that much cheering - some folks drive ahead to mile markers to cheer so you see the same few people, but bless them for their diligence. Awesome organization, with 11 aid stations, a breakfast buffet, homemade chicken/dumplings and peach cobbler. You have a true sense of accomplishment when finished. My first time at Ellerbee with the goal of my own permanent number - only 9 more to go.

For my first time in Ellerbe (20th marathon, 4th for 2008), I appreciated the no-nonsense atmosphere, the organizing team (one of the nicest - especially compared to bigger events), and the really great volunteers. Not looking for a PR, I enjoyed the course very much; sure, there are hills, but nothing like Grandfather Mountain, and you run a loop so you get rewarded for your efforts :-). Running on country roads (very well marked and watched) you enjoy the scenery and the air. Great, friendly organization; I will definitely be back next year!

Thank you to Mark, Doug and all of the volunteers for making the 2008 marathon a great time. And the chicken and dumplings weren't too bad either.

The Ellerbe Marathon is a well-run, small-town race. If you want crowds and chaos, go elsewhere. This was my second year, and the cool temperatures (as opposed to last year's 80 degrees) made this a whole different race for me. The aid stations, T-shirt, post-race meal, atmosphere at the Inn, and breakfast for runners all met my high expectations from last year. I ran with some great folks - a gentleman celebrating his 53rd birthday by running his first marathon and a young lady who placed first in her age group! If you are considering Ellerbe, plan on it - you will not be disappointed. I only wish every marathon had such dedicated volunteers and race directors and well-stocked aid stations. Also, for the second year in a row, my husband and young one had a great time as my support crew. I'll be back in 2009.

Race organizers have this race down pat! The big races could learn a trick or two here! Run the race 5 years and you get a special shirt; 10 years and you get a permanent race number! Well... this was only #1 for me, but I'll be back. Great but hard course, and terrific race organization. Given the rural course, the "crowd support" never gets a chance. But is is a really, really good marathon.