Half-Marathoner Misses Turn, Wins Marathon

The Canadian woman was training for her first marathon until her performance on Sunday.

Meredith Fitzmaurice’s plan on Sunday was this: Complete the half-marathon at the Run for Heroes Marathon. After all, the Belle River, Ontario resident was training for her first 26.2-mile journey — next month’s Detroit Marathon — and was using Sunday’s race as a training run.

But somewhere along the route, her plan went awry after she missed the turnaround for the half-marathon. Eventually realizing she was on the marathon course, she decided to keep going until she finished in Amherstburg, Ontrio … 26.2 miles later.

Oh, and she won.

Fitzmaurice was the first female finisher in the race. In the first marathon of her life.

Before she got there, however, Fitzmaurice asked a race official on a bicycle about her dilemma. If she were to finish the marathon, despite being signed up for the half-marathon, would her result count? After checking with the race director, the official delivered the news.

Yes, it would count. And then she made the effort count with a victory.

For More: Montreal Gazette