Organizers of the Edmonton Marathon have acknowledged that the course for the 2026 edition was measured approximately 674.7 meters (0.41 miles) longer than the official marathon distance.
The annual event in Alberta, Canada, is frequently used by runners as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Following the recent race, several participants expressed concerns on social media, noting that their GPS devices registered a distance exceeding the standard 26.22 miles.
Initially, race organizers dismissed these complaints. However, in a statement released on Wednesday, they confirmed the error. Race director Tom Keogh stated, "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 organizers "did not deliver the standard participants deserved."
Construction work near the Wellington Bridge was identified as the primary reason for the deviation from the usual route, which necessitated a slight detour. The added distance could affect runners who were aiming to achieve personal best times or secure qualifying times for the Boston Marathon, which are based on official chip times from recognized qualifying events.
Organizers are currently collaborating with Athletics Canada and other partners to determine the appropriate recognition for this year's race results.