Zouhair Talbi, an American runner with Moroccan roots, made history by winning the Chevron Houston Marathon for the first time since 2002. He accomplished this feat in a remarkable 2:05:45, shattering his own personal best and setting a new course record.
Talbi's victory was not only a testament to his incredible running skills but also a poignant moment for him, as he carried the American flag across the finish line, a symbol of pride and gratitude for the country he now calls home. The 54-year-old runner has been living in the US since 2025 and joined the Army reserves.
In a year where the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday, Talbi's achievement was nothing short of symbolic. He spoke candidly about his strategy, crediting pacers for helping him stay on track as he navigated the fast-paced course. Despite being hot on the heels of Ethiopian runner Adane Kebede Gebre, who finished with a time of 2:06:16, Talbi dug deep to find the perfect moment to push forward.
The win marked a significant milestone in Talbi's career, following a string of impressive performances at marathons such as Boston and Chicago. His wife Elizabeth also competed in the Chevron Houston Marathon, beating her previous time.
While American woman didn't secure the top spot in the women's division, Sara Hall broke the master's record by nearly two minutes. Fantaye Belayneh of Ethiopia emerged victorious, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:04:49.
The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon continue to be world-class events, drawing over 30,000 athletes from across the globe. This year's event followed in the footsteps of a longstanding tradition that began in 1972 at Memorial Park, where runners from all 50 states and 52 countries participated.
Talbi's victory serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance, dedication, and community. As he looked back on his achievement, he smiled wistfully when asked if he could go any faster next time, leaving us with the promise of more thrilling performances to come.
Talbi's victory was not only a testament to his incredible running skills but also a poignant moment for him, as he carried the American flag across the finish line, a symbol of pride and gratitude for the country he now calls home. The 54-year-old runner has been living in the US since 2025 and joined the Army reserves.
In a year where the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday, Talbi's achievement was nothing short of symbolic. He spoke candidly about his strategy, crediting pacers for helping him stay on track as he navigated the fast-paced course. Despite being hot on the heels of Ethiopian runner Adane Kebede Gebre, who finished with a time of 2:06:16, Talbi dug deep to find the perfect moment to push forward.
The win marked a significant milestone in Talbi's career, following a string of impressive performances at marathons such as Boston and Chicago. His wife Elizabeth also competed in the Chevron Houston Marathon, beating her previous time.
While American woman didn't secure the top spot in the women's division, Sara Hall broke the master's record by nearly two minutes. Fantaye Belayneh of Ethiopia emerged victorious, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:04:49.
The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon continue to be world-class events, drawing over 30,000 athletes from across the globe. This year's event followed in the footsteps of a longstanding tradition that began in 1972 at Memorial Park, where runners from all 50 states and 52 countries participated.
Talbi's victory serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance, dedication, and community. As he looked back on his achievement, he smiled wistfully when asked if he could go any faster next time, leaving us with the promise of more thrilling performances to come.
Talbi must be super stoked to have won after all these years! 54 is still pretty young for a marathon runner btw 
I love how he gave credit to his pacers and talked about the strategy, it shows he's not just in it for the win but also for the journey 
and omg his wife Elizabeth competed too? that's amazing! 
i've been following him since 2022 and i knew he was gonna crush it this year!!! 
what's up with american woman not winning tho? 
anyway, talbi's win is such a huge deal for his country and it's amazing that he carried the flag across the finish line 
i'm so proud of him!! 
54 years old still crushing it in marathons! Talbi's story is truly inspiring - going from being a runner to being an american citizen... that's what patriotism is all about 
And I'm so glad his wife Elizabeth was there to support him too! The way he carried the flag across the finish line was a beautiful moment - I got chills watching it 
Can't wait to see what he does next in his career. Maybe he'll even inspire more people to take up running 
. The Chevron Houston Marathon is definitely one of those iconic events where anyone can make a difference, and Zouhair proved that again 
win the Chevron Houston Marathon for the first time in like 23 years! 
. That's what I call determination 
. And to see him carry that American flag across the finish line was really moving 
. It's a great reminder that age is just a number, and with hard work and dedication, anything is possible 
. The atmosphere at the marathon must've been electric 
! 
I'm so hyped for him, I was literally on the edge of my seat when he crossed that finish line. And to see him carrying the American flag and getting emotional... *chokes up*... it just gives me goosebumps. 
He's an inspiration not just to runners but to anyone who's ever pushed themselves to be their best. I mean, 2:05:45 is insane! 
. What I love most about this win is it's not just about him, it's a testament to the power of community and perseverance 
You know what would be great? If they had a cooking competition segment at the marathon... 
like it's some big deal. He's 54 years old and still running marathons... what's the message there? That older people are slow, but hey, who needs speed when you've got a sweet time to be out there getting your blood pumping? 
. Not to mention, everyone's making a big deal about him carrying the American flag, but what about all the other talented runners out there? 
sarah hall broke the masters record though, so yeah she's the real MVP 
I'm literally shaking with pride rn! Zouhair Talbi's win is not just a huge deal for him but for all the ppl out there who believe in chasing their dreams no matter what age 
it's like proof that no matter where u go, u can still achieve greatness if u put ur mind to it 
🞑 - that's gotta mean a lot to him, especially on a year where the US is celebrating its 250th birthday. anyway, congrats to Talbi and all the other winners out there!