Edmonton Marathon admits 2026 course was over half a kilometre too long
The 2026 Edmonton Marathon course was found to be 674.7 metres longer than the official distance, prompting organizers to acknowledge the mistake.
After participants noticed their GPS watches recorded a distance beyond the usual 26.22 miles, the Edmonton Marathon organizers admitted the 2026 course was 674.7 metres (0.41 miles) longer than the official marathon distance. Tom Keogh, the race director, explained that construction work around the Wellington Bridge required a temporary reroute, which led to the miscalculation. The additional length may have prevented some runners from meeting Boston Marathon qualifying standards and achieving personal best times.
Officials emphasized that official chip times, not watch readings, determine qualification. The marathon committee is working with Athletics Canada and other partners to decide how to recognize the affected results. One outlet was contacted for comment.
Why it matters
The mismeasured course could invalidate runners' qualifying times for the Boston Marathon and affect their personal records.
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