Gulf Coast Marathon Only 25.9 Miles

Remember the gulf coast marathon we talked about yesterday and Sunday?
Turns out… It wasn’t quite a full marathon.

An email was sent out to runners who thought they qualified for the Boston Marathon with their times in the 26.2 mile race…
Because of a measurement mishap along Interstate-110, runners only completed 25.905 miles.
Jonathan Dziuba, race director for the gulf coast marathon took full responsibility for the mistake.
News 25 spoke with one runner who originally thought he qualified and says the news was disappointing, especially since his family and friends had hopes of renting a place in Boston to make a trip out of it.

“A little part of me was kind of expecting it because I knew the race course was short and I just kept thinking, I wonder what they’re going to do about this. I felt like there’s got to be something. A little bit of me was kind of preparing myself for that. Yes I was little heartbroken. I think my friends and family were maybe more so than me I think. it’s upsetting, but at the same time, I know it’s just an honest mistake.”
– Scott Hawkins Runner, Thought He Qualified For Boston Marathon

The worst part about all of this, Hawkins believes if he were to continue the over fourth of a mile that was needed to qualify, at the same pace he was going, he would in fact have been on his way to Boston.
But Hawkins says he’s not giving up and plans on finding another race to enter in and qualify for Boston, if his body allows it.