A Wrong Turn?

Thousands of runners disqualified from marathon after wrong turn

Thousands of runners were disqualified from a recent marathon after inadvertently taking a wrong turn.

Runners at the Marathon of the North in Sunderland last month were told they had missed out on completing the full marathon by 264 metres because of the error, MSN News reports.

Event organisers admitted that the runners took the wrong turn because of a marshalling error. This meant that all but the winner failed to complete the correct course at the April 28 event.

Organisers commented: "Regrettably, due to incorrect placing of marshals, which we take full responsibility for, only the lead athlete followed the correct route through the Sheepfold area near the Stadium of Light.

"Unfortunately, the second and third-placed runners were not within line of sight of the leader and lead bikes/vehicle.

"This resulted in all those who followed taking an incorrect route through this section.

"Our course measurer has now confirmed that 264 metres were therefore lost from the measured route.

"We are sincerely sorry for any confusion and frustration that this has caused."

Runners who were affected by the error have been offered 25% off entry to future events by organisers as an apology.