5,000 runners take wrong route in Marathon of the North in Sunderland...

After finishing the Marathon of the North in Sunderland last weekend, some 5,000 runners have been told they failed to complete the full marathon or half-marathon as they took the wrong route due to a marshaling error. The organisers of the Marathon of the North DS Media & Events apologised for the blunder after they realised the route was 264m short of the full distance. The race winner Jake Harrison, of Leicester Tri Club, was the only entrant to run along the correct course and therefore complete the run in Sunderland.

In a statement to the media, the race organisers said: "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."

Many of the participants were obviously angry at this situation and reacted on social media sites........."Bit gutted!"......."Been thinking about the Marathon of the North debacle. Think it's an insult to offer 25% off race entry as recompense."........."People train ... for months and have had a hard earned achievement taken away from them. Free entry to alternative race is the least they deserve."