The Magnum Track Club does a superb job organizing the race. This is a quaint race with charming simplicity. No chips, not crowded and you can sign up the night before the race (i did). The course is accurately described as hilly with 1,750 feet of elevation gain (per my gps). The course is exceptionally well marked and despite being on open roads is very safe. About 15 cars passed during the race. Despite the cold and rain the committed volunteers were in full force at each aid station. If you are looking for a major city marathon to run with 10,000 of your closest friends this race is not for you. If you are looking for a perfectly organized race, with reasonable cost accommodations 10 miles away and the best chicken and dumplings as your post race meal THIS IS YOUR MARATHON.

I had a great time with this one. The course is difficult but beautiful and well-marked. The spectators were great...both of them. The finishers medal was HUGE and the post-race meal was delicious. Yummy chicken & dumplings!

The Magnum track club and town of Ellerbe do a wonderful job hosting the race. The course was well marked and accurately described. Per my GPS the course had 1,750 feet of elevation which made it a challenge. Despite foul weather the volunteers were great and very attentive. Post race chicken and dumplings were the icing on the cake.

If you want to do a low key race with a down home feel Ellerbe is a great choice.

Sweet little town with hospitable innkeepers helping to set the tone, Ellerbe is an ideal location for a destination marathon. The course is a beautiful trek through the roads in a green pine forest. Though very hilly the air is clean and the roads are clear. The volunteers were helpful and well-organized. Very charming race by an excellent race director. I won't forget this one!

An informal, small race (around 100 runners) with grizzled veterans, Maniacs and a few newbies. Space at the Inn is limited, but staying at the Comfort Suites in Rockingham (15 minutes away) was convenient enough. Overall organization is pretty basic and straightforward. Would have liked a porta-potty or two at the start in addition to just the small restroom in the Inn to suffice for all the anxious runners. Course is not closed for the race but pretty much little to no traffic anyway. Road was marked and water/aid station were at most turning points. Really only area of 'concern' was the zig-zag through Ellerbe near the end when runners were far between. Volunteers also drove along the course checking on runners. As oft mentioned, course is a tougher road race than usual with all the hills. There is a also a bit of running on banked surfaces and slanted road shoulders. The course is a quiet rural jaunt through farml and woodland. Pottery awards for the top-3's (although I didn't win anything) was a nice personal touch as well as the chicken dumpling soup at the end.

It was my second Ellerbe Springs Marathon and again it was an unforgettable experience. "Hannibal" became one of my favorite hills. Definitely, I'm going to run this marathon again whenever I can. If you like small, rural runs, then this one is for you!

I came all the way from Cleveland, OH for this very small race, and I was not disappointed!

The Good:
-Gorgeous course, scenic, and if you enjoy peace and solitude on your marathon to soak in the scenery, this was tremendous
-Extremely friendly organization; the race organizer and volunteers before/after the race and during the race were tremendous and helpful
-Weather: I know you can't predict or know what it will be, but coming to North Carolina from Cleveland, where we had a blizzard 2 days before this marathon, was awesome. In Ellerbe, NC, at the finish line it was 65 without a cloud in the sky.
-For such a small race, nice T-shirts and medals
-Doing age group awards: this allowed me, not an elite marathoner by any means, to win something (2nd in my age group) and take home a handmade pottery mug as an age group award, which was a 1st for me and a little thrill
-Having race day bib/race pack pickup!!!! I get very frustrated with other races not allowing this as an out-of-town traveler; some of us can't get out of work and try to travel to a marathon city the evening before a marathon!!! So, BRAVO to this race for allowing this! It was a major factor in my signing up for this race!
-With this small of a race, there was a real fraternity feel amongst the runners, and real camaraderie and a chance to meet some very nice people
-Out of 15 marathons, this one BAR NONE had the best post-race food - actual homemade food: a nice little bowl of chicken and dumplings, with biscuits, and some peach cobbler. Delicious, and way better than most of the crap I've seen at other races!

I thought I'd dislike the lack of spectators, and the aid stations only every 3 miles, but in the end, I didn't mind these things at all!

The Bad:
-Very difficult course; out of 15 marathons across 10 states, the most difficult I've completed (especially with that nice hill right before the finish line!), although the sense of accomplishment at the end was great in this one!
-Very slow posting of race results

Overall, I truly enjoyed the experience!!! I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a nice, challenging small town event! Excellent!!!

This was a great race and totally worth the trip from Kansas City, MO. The people were great, the course was challenging, and the organization was awesome. The moment I got to the marathon I was greeting by one of the 10-year vets who took me on a drive around the course. I'm glad I did so that I knew what to expect. Challenging, but great! I would recommend it to anyone.

Had a great time. The people who ran the race were exceptional and the food afterward was awesome. Thanks for a great experience.

The course certainly wasn't the easiest race I have ever run, but there was a lot of great scenery. Unless this is your first marathon, you're probably not going to get a PR. Mile 5-6 and 11-13 were tough, but other than that, just rolling hills. The stations were well-stocked and I think at good distances. People are SUPER FRIENDLY! I do recommend running it.