Edmonton Marathon route was 674m too long

The Edmonton Marathon was found to be 674 metres longer than intended for the 2026 edition, according to organisers. The annual race, often used to qualify for the Boston Marathon, saw runners using GPS devices record distances exceeding the official 26.22 miles. Initially, race officials downplayed complaints, but later admitted the mistake after receiving backlash from participants.

Race director Tom Keogh apologized, stating the error impacted athletes' times and potential qualifying results. Construction work near the Wellington Bridge is blamed for causing the route deviation. The extra distance could have prevented some runners from qualifying for Boston and possibly affected their personal bests. Organisers are collaborating with Athletics Canada to decide how the 2026 results will be handled.