In brief
The Edmonton Marathon team revealed that the 2026 course was 674.7 metres longer than the standard marathon distance. The error was attributed to detours caused by construction near the Wellington Bridge. Runners noted GPS distances exceeded the official 26.219 miles and raised concerns online. Organisers are now working with Athletics Canada to determine how to recognise the results for Boston qualification.
The organisers of the 2026 Edmonton Marathon announced that the course was 674.7 metres longer than the official 42.195 kilometres, a mistake that was not caught before the race finished.
The Edmonton Marathon is held every year in Alberta and is often used by Canadian runners as a qualifying event for the prestigious Boston Marathon.
Many participants noted that their GPS watches recorded a distance over 26.22 miles, leading to complaints that the race was shorter than it should be.
Initially, the organisers dismissed the concerns, but a statement released on Wednesday confirmed that the extra 674.7 metres had been added mistakenly due to a detour around the Wellington Bridge caused by ongoing construction.
The additional distance could mean that athletes were unable to achieve the qualifying times needed for the Boston Marathon and may not reflect the true speed of the course’s best runners.
Race director Tom Keogh said that the mistake “does not reflect the performances of our top athletes” and that organisers had not delivered the standard participants deserved.
The organisers are collaborating with Athletics Canada and other partners to determine how the 2026 results can be recognised and whether a corrected ranking will be possible.
Runners are awaiting official confirmation from the organisers and the national governing body about the implications for their Boston Marathon qualification.