The organisers of the Edmonton Marathon have admitted the course was more than half a kilometre too long, after outrage from scores of runners who complained about the distance. The error resulted in the upending of runners’ personal bests and potentially prevented some from breaking records. Participants who were hoping to use Edmonton as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon may have also faced disappointment, as mere seconds can make the difference between being accepted or denied a spot in the prestigious race. Many runners are drawn to the Edmonton race for a chance to gain entry to Boston.
Course Error Acknowledged After Initial Denial
After a cascade of frustrated runners voicing their concerns online and in Canadian media, race organisers had initially said the course was officially certified and undoubtedly the correct distance. But in statements on Tuesday, they admitted a mistake was made. “We do not take this lightly,” said race director, Tom Keogh. “We hosted the nation’s best athletes and their finishing times did not truly reflect their amazing performances,” he said.
After a thorough examination, the event team for the race concluded it was an additional 674.4 metres (0.41 miles) longer than the standard of 42.195 kilometres (26.22 miles), said Keogh in a statement on Tuesday. The review found the added length to the course was caused by a detour implemented to avoid construction around the Wellington Bridge. The race, which took place on Sunday, will undergo a review of its certification process to ensure the error never occurs again, said Keogh.
Athletes Report Unexpected Energy Loss
Runners reported their energy waning unexpectedly in the last kilometre of the race. On Monday, Olympian Natasha Wodak told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation she noticed her pace was slower than usual as she ran the final few hundred metres. When she saw her final time, she said she thought: “What in the world?” An accurate course length is crucial to all participants who spend money in order to achieve a personal best, she said.
“It really is the most important thing of a race, besides safety,” she said. The Edmonton Marathon organisers have pledged to review the certification process to prevent a recurrence of the error, which affected the nation's best athletes and their finishing times.
