The not-quite-so half-marathon distance error relates to last year;s staging of the context, the BBC has reported. The race course begins in George Square and ends at Glasgow Green. A recent measurement, as part of the preparations for the 2017 staging showed that the course was, to deploy metric measurements, 149.7 meters short. A half-marathon, when converted back to the Imperial system of measurement, needs to be 13.1 miles.
The Great Scottish Run was first held in 1979, as a full-marathon. These days it is held over a weekend and consists of short events for children, a 10 kilometer roadrace, and the main competition – the half marathon.
The most recent competition was held in October 2016, where 9,500 competitors took part. The event was operated by the Newcastle-based Great Run Company, who take responsibility for the inaccurate measurement. Here the director of the race Andy Mitchelmore told The Guardian: “Great Run take responsibility for the miscalculation and we apologize unreservedly to the runners and to the City of Glasgow.”
He added: “This was an isolated incident. In the 30 years since the company was formed, more than four million people have participated in hundreds of our running events and the distances, which are measured by qualified independent parties, have been correct.”
Not only is this slightly embarrassing for the organizers it invalidates a record that was set during the 2016 staging. A record was set by winner of the men’s race Callum Hawkins. In addition various personal best times recorded by a number of other runners on the day. Each of these is now null and void.
On claiming victory in the 2016 Great Scottish Run in Glasgow Hawkins had seemingly set a new Scottish half-marathon record in the process. This was with a time of 60 minutes 22 seconds. Hawkins will have to have another try in 2017 in order to win back his briefly held Scottish record.
