The Measuring Error That Shortened the San Francisco Half Marathon
On July 29, 2024, 3,700 runners lined up for the San Francisco Half Marathon. At the finish, they were met with an unwelcome surprise: the course had been shortened by nearly a kilometer, invalidating their times and frustrating the running community.
The results of the 2024 San Francisco Half Marathon now carry a note: “20.2 km.” To understand what happened, we need to go back to July 29, 2024. Alongside the San Francisco Marathon, two separate half marathons take place. The “Bridge-Half” and the “City-Half.” The latter starts in Golden Gate Park before winding through the streets of San Francisco. On race day, a mistake disrupted this well-oiled setup.
The San Francisco Half Marathon had nevertheless been certified by USA Track & Field (USATF), the organization responsible for ensuring that official race distances comply with the rules. According to the organizers, the problem started with confusion while designing the map used to prepare the course. Although the initial measurement was correct, the mix-up led to the distance markers being placed incorrectly. The result was a shortcut of roughly 800 meters in the final layout, reducing the half marathon to 20.2 kilometers instead of the regulation 21.1 kilometers. The error was not acknowledged publicly until after the event, when participants noticed a discrepancy between the distances recorded on their GPS watches and the official distance. Two days after the race, the organizers emailed participants and accepted full responsibility:
Despite the measurement and certification by a USATF-certified course measurer, this course was not measured correctly, resulting in a distance of 20.2 kilometers instead of the full 21.1 kilometers. ”
Frustrated runners
Entry for this iconic race costs $230, or around €220. On top of that come the costs of travel, accommodation and food. The frustration among participants was therefore palpable. Beyond the financial impact, one of the main complaints from runners was the inability to use the race as a qualifier or as a benchmark for their performances. While some runners called for compensation or discounts on future editions, others pointed out that the race experience remains, above all, an opportunity to push beyond their limits.