The Oslo Marathon that ran through the streets of the Norwegian capital last weekend was long, even gruelling, for many of its participants, but now organizers have admitted that one of its associated races really was too long. The 10K route was 150 meters longer than the 10 kilometers it should have been and they’ve apologized to participants.
“We’re sorry that it was measured and shown to be too long,” Odd Arne Støstad Marsteinstredet of the club organizing the marathon and its various other races, Vidar, told newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) on Thursday.
More than 25,000 people took part in the marathon, a half-marathon, the 10K and races with shorter distances on Saturday. Organizers also apologized for a delay in the start of the marathon itself that also affected some of the other races. Local merchants were also unhappy that all the races and closed streets in Oslo hurt their business and urged that the marathon be moved to Sunday. Organizers claimed the runners prefer Saturday races.
Taye Babeker Tirfea of Ethiopia won the marathon and set a new record, running it in two hours, 21 minutes and 36 seconds. Laila Mehus of Norway was the first woman to cross the finish line, running the marathon in two hours, 54 minutes and 27 seconds.
newsinenglish.no staff
