Organisers of the Edmonton Marathon have confirmed that the course used for the 2026 edition exceeded the standard distance by 674.7 metres, or approximately 0.41 miles. The discovery came after multiple participants reported discrepancies between their GPS running watch data and the official course measurement, prompting organisers to investigate the claims after initially dismissing them.
The Edmonton Marathon serves as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most prestigious running competitions. The extra distance on the course means that some participants may have failed to achieve the qualifying times necessary for Boston Marathon entry, despite their actual running performances. Additionally, runners who were pursuing personal best times were disadvantaged by the longer-than-advertised distance.
Race director Tom Keogh acknowledged the seriousness of the error in a statement released on Wednesday, expressing that the organisation did not meet the standard expected by participants. Keogh noted that the finishing times recorded did not accurately represent the athletes’ performances. Construction activity near the Wellington Bridge necessitated a detour from the standard route, which organisers cited as the primary factor contributing to the measurement discrepancy.
Boston Marathon qualification is determined by official chip times recorded at sanctioned qualifying events, rather than times tracked on personal running devices. Organisers indicated they are collaborating with Athletics Canada and other stakeholders to explore options for how the 2026 results can be appropriately recognised and potentially remedied in light of the course measurement error.
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