Dundee Half Marathon Controversy: Course Shortened by 1.1 Miles

In a surprising turn of events, the Dundee Half Marathon, held on Sunday, was cut short by 1.1 miles due to a misdirection by race stewards. The race began at Camperdown Park and concluded at Barnhill Rock Gardens in Broughty Ferry, with approximately 700 participants taking part in the event. Organizers, Eventfull Management, have publicly apologized for the error, which occurred early in the race when two stewards mistakenly directed runners off the intended path.

According to Nicholas Kydd, the event organizer, the misdirection took place within the first 300 meters of the race, leading to a deviation that ultimately resulted in a final distance of approximately 12 miles instead of the standard 13.1 miles. Kydd stated, “As it only became apparent to myself what had actually happened a few miles into the course, it was then impossible to rectify the situation.”

Participants expressed their frustrations over the miscalculation, particularly those who had trained for months leading up to the event. Thomas Mills, a first-time runner, noted that his training had prepared him for a half marathon, and discovering the course was short was “frustrating.” He explained, “When we saw the signs saying we had run one mile and then two miles, everyone around me said it didn’t sound right.” Acknowledging the error, Mills indicated that runners began covering extra distances in Broughty Ferry to compensate for the lost mileage.

Ryan Cruikshanks, another participant, expressed disappointment as he was on pace for a personal best time. “I think most realized it was going to be short once we hit Broughty Ferry,” he noted, adding that despite the shortcoming, the event was enjoyable considering the weather conditions, which peaked at 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

In response to the incident, Eventfull Management has offered affected runners a 50% discount for entry into the upcoming Half BraemarAthon in September, as well as discounted entries for the next Dundee Half DRAM event in 2026.

This is not the first time a major running event in Scotland has faced issues with course measurement. The Great Scottish Run experienced similar controversies in 2016 and 2022, where the course was found to be short by 150 meters, raising concerns over the accuracy of race measurements in the region.

The Dundee Half Marathon incident sheds light on the importance of meticulous planning and execution in race organization, especially as running events continue to gain popularity. Kydd emphasized that the official route was accurately measured, shared, and signposted; however, the isolated human errors at a critical juncture led to the unfortunate misdirection.

As the running community reflects on this misadventure, it highlights the need for thorough training and preparation for both runners and organizers alike. Moving forward, the hope is that lessons learned will prevent similar occurrences, ensuring a fair and enjoyable experience for all participants in future events.