In brief
The 2026 Edmonton Marathon, a key qualifier for the Boston Marathon, measured 674.7 metres longer than intended, throwing runners’ finish times into question. The miscalculation stemmed from construction near the Wellington Bridge, which forced a detour. Participants may have missed Boston entry slots and personal bests because official times rely on course mileage, not GPS readings. Athletics Canada and marathon officials are reviewing results to decide how to recognise the 2026 performances.
The 2026 Edmonton Marathon, a key qualifier for Boston, turned into a lesson in course measurement when organizers found the route 674.7 metres longer than planned.
Runners noted their GPS watches showing over 26.22 miles, sparking a wave of online complaints.
Race director Tom Keogh attributed the error to construction near the Wellington Bridge, forcing a detour that added the extra distance.
Competitors may miss Boston entry slots and personal bests because official chip times are based on the registered course, not GPS data.
Athletics Canada and marathon officials are reviewing results to decide how the 2026 performances will be recognized.
Stay tuned for updates on how organizers will compensate affected athletes.