American racer sets Houston Marathon course record

• There's also thousands in prizes to the top finishers and bragging rights for recreational runners.

Driving the news: Zouhair Talbi, 30, won the men's race and set a course record with a time of 2:05:45. Talbi set the previous record of 2:06:39 in 2024.

• Originally from Morocco, he entered the 2026 race as an American and became the first U.S. runner to win the Houston Marathon in over two decades.
• British runner Calli Hauger-Thackery finished first among women with a time of 2:24:17.

Plus, Eritrean runner Habtom Samuel set a course record in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon with a time of 59:01.

• Ethiopian athlete Fantaye Belayneh finished fastest among women with a time of 1:04:49.

The intrigue: The race generates tens of millions of dollars in economic impact on race weekend, according to race organizers, and helps fund the marathon's Run for a Reason charity.

• The charity has raised more than $41 million since 1995.

Fun fact: Former President George W. Bush finished the 1993 Houston Marathon with a time of 3:44:52.