The organizers of the Edmonton Marathon have admitted that the 2026 course was mistakenly extended by more than half a kilometer. The annual race in Alberta, Canada, is often used as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. However, after the race, many runners complained on social media that the distance on their GPS watches exceeded 26.22 miles. Initially, organizers dismissed these claims, but in a statement on Wednesday, they acknowledged that an extra 674.7 meters (0.41 miles) had been added to the course.
Race director Tom Keogh said: "We do not take this lightly. We hosted the nation's best athletes and their finishing times did not truly reflect their amazing performances." Keogh added that organizers "did not deliver the standard participants deserved." The main reason cited for the error was construction work around the Wellington Bridge, which forced a slight detour from the usual route.
The extra distance may have prevented participants from qualifying for the Boston Marathon and from achieving personal best times. Qualifying times for the Boston Marathon are based on official chip times at qualifying events, not watch times. Organizers say they are working with Athletics Canada and other partners to determine how this year's results can be recognized. BBC Sport has contacted the Edmonton Marathon for comment.