Organisers admit 2026 Edmonton Marathon course was 674.7m too long

Organisers of the 2026 Edmonton Marathon in Alberta, Canada said on Wednesday that the event’s course measured an extra 674.7 metres (0.41 miles), adding distance to this year’s race. The admission followed complaints from participants after the finish.

The Edmonton Marathon is an annual race often used by runners to qualify for the Boston Marathon. After the event a number of competitors said their GPS watches showed distances greater than 26.22 miles, and initial complaints were dismissed by organisers before the later acknowledgement.

Race director Tom Keogh issued a statement acknowledging the error and its impact on finish times. 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." He added that organisers "did not deliver the standard participants deserved".

Organisers attributed the discrepancy to construction work around the Wellington Bridge, which forced a slight detour to the course's usual route. That adjustment, they say, introduced the additional 674.7 metres to the advertised distance.

The extra distance means some participants may have missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon and lost opportunities for personal best times. Organisers emphasised that qualifying times for the Boston Marathon are based on a participants' official chip time at qualifying events - not the time recorded on their watch.

Organisers say they are working with Athletics Canada and other partners to determine how this year's results can be recognised. BBC Sport has contacted the Edmonton Marathon for comment.