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The Derby 50k race photo

The Derby 50k

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USNov 28, 202650km
Indy beetle · CC0
Race date in 50 days
Nov 28, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Ellerbe · 50km
Entry fee
$45Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Wed, November 25, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 9, 2026
The Derby 50k race photo
Indy beetle · CC0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About The Derby 50k — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

First-come, first-served registration; closes when capacity is reached.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

The Derby 50k runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
Insane RunningRan in 2023 · Finish time 5:11:11
“I was very pleased with how well I was feeling.”

At the 2023 Derby 50km, the runner completed a relaxed first lap with friends before increasing their pace, monitoring fueling and blood sugar through all three laps. They narrowly missed a personal best with 5 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds but were happy with their performance and the friendships in the running community.

Read the original on Insane Running
gene
“Around mile 23, I felt strong and picked up the pace.”

At the Derby 50km, the runner and a friend completed three laps of a course mixing paved and unpaved roads, then increased their pace on the final lap as they felt stronger. They alternated running and walking uphill, finished near their 6-hour goal, and were delighted to see their friend complete a first ultra too.

Read the original on Run for It!!

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter The Derby 50k — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The Derby 50k course map and elevation

Your 50km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
EventStart
Ultra50km08:00
START

1647 Jones Spring Church Rd, Ellerbe, NC

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Derby Community Building, 1647 Jones Spring Church Rd, Ellerbe, NC

The only event is ultra.

Start is at 1647 Jones Spring Church Rd, Ellerbe, NC at 8:00 AM local time.

Typical race-season temperature: around 11°C (51°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Aid stations

Where and when to collect your The Derby 50k race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Packet pickup information has not yet been announced.
For small trail races, race-morning on-site pickup is common; check the registration page announcement for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit — car required
  • Transit cardEllerbe, North Carolina is a small rural town with no public transit system.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit — car required

Starts/finishes at the Derby Community Building, 1647 Jones Spring Church Rd, Ellerbe, NC 28338 — a rural venue in Richmond County with no fixed-route transit agency serving the area.

Map

Getting to the finish

No public transit — car required

Same as start (Derby Community Building).

Map

Transit card

Ellerbe, North Carolina is a small rural town with no public transit system. The Derby 50k is a car-access event held on trails, so participants need a personal or rental vehicle to reach the venue.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The Davy 50K is a low-key race focused on finishing rather than scale or amenities.

Registration closes on November 23 or earlier once the field is full.

Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and no waitlist is maintained.

Because course takes place without general road closures,

participants must run facing oncoming traffic, and course is marked by yellow arrows painted on the road.

The organizers emphasize how basic the operation is, warning participants not to expect amenities such as portable toilets or an expo.

Instead, a post-race meal is served at the Derby Community Building, where finish is located.

The meal includes spaghetti and salad, cake, banana pudding, and pie, and is reportedly prepared and served by volunteers from nearby Jones Springs Church.

Times are local to Ellerbe. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · ₩36,651

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

₩110,281

View on Klook

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · ₩54,976

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte: Uptown Charlotte Historian-Guided Tour

Uptown Charlotte Historic Guided Tour · ₩28,193

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

₩57,672

View on Klook

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · ₩36,651

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

₩110,281

View on Klook

Charlotte: Uptown Charlotte Historian-Guided Tour

Uptown Charlotte Historic Guided Tour · ₩28,193

View on GetYourGuide

What to see in Ellerbe after the race

Seeing Ellerbe with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · ₩54,976

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

₩57,672

View on Klook
Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Ellerbe.

Total cost and budget for The Derby 50k

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about The Derby 50k

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Ellerbe runners' room

Frequently asked questions about The Derby 50k

FAQ
When does The Derby 50k 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, November 28, 2026 in Ellerbe, NC, United States.

How much is the The Derby 50k 2026 entry fee?

From $45, depending on the event and registration period.

What distances does The Derby 50k 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does The Derby 50k 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does The Derby 50k 2026 start?

1647 Jones Spring Church Rd, Ellerbe, NC.

Where does The Derby 50k 2026 finish?

Derby Community Building, 1647 Jones Spring Church Rd, Ellerbe, NC.

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