Edmonton Marathon Course Was 674 Meters Too Long

Organizers of the Edmonton Marathon have admitted that the 2026 race course was, by mistake, 674.7 meters longer than intended. This error may have prevented numerous athletes from achieving qualifying times for the prestigious Boston Marathon, as well as from setting new personal bests.

The annual event, held in Alberta, Canada, is frequently used by runners as a qualifying race for the popular American marathon. However, after the race, several participants voiced their dissatisfaction on social media, noting that their GPS watches recorded a distance greater than the standard 42.195 kilometers.

Initially, the organization downplayed the complaints, but has now issued a statement confirming the error. Race director Tom Keogh expressed regret over the incident, stating: "We don't take this lightly. We host the best athletes in the country, and their finishing times did not truly reflect their incredible performances."

Keogh further added that the organization "did not provide the standard of quality that participants deserved." The cause attributed to the error was construction work in the Wellington Bridge area, which necessitated a slight deviation from the marathon's usual route.

Qualifying times for the Boston Marathon are based on the official chip time from qualifying events, not on times recorded by athletes' personal watches. The organization has stated it is working with Athletics Canada and other partners to find a way to validate this year's results. BBC Sport attempted to contact the Edmonton Marathon for further comment.