How road race courses are measured

September 4, 2026

The measuring fiasco at the Servus Edmonton Marathon quickly went viral, drawing commentary from runners across Canada and beyond. For some, the incident was proof that the marathon has a history of mismeasuring its course, which isn’t quite the case. A mathematical error disrupted the race for thousands of runners and became an international talking point. World Athletics sets the standard for measuring certified courses; it is stringent, well-established and used worldwide. In Edmonton, the problem wasn’t with the system itself, but with a math mistake made while adjusting the construction course.

A mistake during a construction adjustment or course measurement, especially on this scale, is highly unlikely to recur. For race times to be accepted by World Athletics, courses must be measured by an A- or B-certified measurer, and the measurer must be present at the race. CANADIAN Running Magazine