Edmonton Marathon course found to be 674.7 metres too long

By Liam Tremblay — 20 August 2026 — 3 min read

Organizers of the Edmonton Marathon have confirmed that the 2026 race course was measured incorrectly, extending the distance by 674.7 metres. This error, which resulted in the course being more than half a kilometre longer than intended, has led to concerns among participants regarding their qualifying times for future events, including the Boston Marathon.

The annual event, held in Alberta, Canada, is a significant qualifier for many runners. Following the race, numerous participants expressed their frustrations online, noting discrepancies between their GPS running watches and the official course length. Initially, organizers dismissed these complaints but later issued a statement on Wednesday, admitting the error.

Course measurement error confirmed

Tom Keogh, the race director for the Edmonton Marathon, acknowledged the mistake, stating that organizers “did not deliver the standard participants deserved.” He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, particularly for the nation’s top athletes whose finishing times may not accurately reflect their performances due to the added distance.

The primary cause of the error was identified as construction work around the Wellington Bridge, which necessitated a slight detour from the usual route. This detour was not properly accounted for in the overall course measurement. The standard marathon distance is 42.2 kilometres, while the half marathon is 21.1 kilometres.

Elite athletes and other runners had raised concerns about the incorrect distance, prompting organizers to review the course on Monday and Tuesday. This re-measurement confirmed the additional 674.7 metres, or 0.41 miles, beyond the intended length.

Impact on runners and future steps

The extended course has potentially prevented some participants from achieving personal best times or meeting the stringent qualifying standards for the Boston Marathon. Boston Marathon qualifying times are determined by official chip times recorded at qualifying events, not by personal GPS watch data.

Kristen Spady of Red Deer, Alberta, a participant in the full marathon, shared her experience, noting that her GPS-attuned watch indicated she was near the finish line while it was still out of sight. She described the final kilometre as particularly challenging, having already exerted herself significantly. While the event was a personal race for her, she acknowledged the greater impact on others aiming for qualifiers.

Another runner, Lauren Barr, who finished second in the women’s marathon, also noticed the discrepancy, stating that when she passed the 42.2-kilometre mark, she began to wonder about the location of the finish line. She remarked that while speculation about race distances can occur, this instance was unusually obvious.

Organizers are now collaborating with Athletics Canada and other partners to determine how the results from this year’s event can be recognized fairly. Athletics Canada confirmed on Wednesday that discussions are underway “with relevant partners to determine how this year’s results can be recognized.”

Keogh stated that moving forward, the certification processes with partners will be reviewed to prevent similar errors in the future. Despite the measurement issue, the race saw more than 10,000 people register, and both the men’s and women’s fastest-time records, which had stood for over a decade, were broken during this year’s event.

Barr indicated that she plans to communicate with other Canadian races about the extended course, hoping they will consider this information when assessing her elite status, which can include perks such as complimentary race registration. Some races have a cutoff time of two hours and 55 minutes for elite status, a mark that was just 32 seconds below Barr’s Edmonton time.

Source: bbc.com