The organisers of the 2026 Edmonton Marathon have admitted the course for this year's event was measured more than half a kilometre too long. The annual race in Alberta, Canada, which often serves as a qualifier for the prestigious Boston Marathon, saw an extra 674.7 metres (0.41 miles) mistakenly added to the route.
Initially dismissing complaints from runners whose GPS watches showed distances over 26.22 miles, organisers confirmed the error in a statement on Wednesday. Race director Tom Keogh expressed regret, stating, "We do not take this lightly. We hosted the nation's best athletes and their finishing times did not truly reflect their amazing performances." He added that organisers "did not deliver the standard participants deserved."
Construction work around the Wellington Bridge, which necessitated a slight detour from the usual route, was identified as the primary cause of the mismeasurement. This extended distance means participants may have missed out on achieving personal best times or qualifying for the Boston Marathon, as official chip times are used for qualification.
Organisers are now working with Athletics Canada and other partners to determine how this year's results can be recognised.