This past weekend, Houston saw thousands participate and even more spectate as runners coursed through city for the Chevron Houston Marathon (26.2 miles) and Aramco Half Marathon (13.1 miles). Despite particularly cold conditions, the City saw two new course records.
Chevron Houston Marathon Results
Zouhair Talbi, formerly a U.S. Army reserves member, broke the Chevron Houston Marathon record at 2:05:45. Talbi had previously set the course record in 2024 at 2:06:39 while representing Morocco. For this past race, Talbi ran as an American citizen – becoming the first American citizen to win the men’s title of the Chevron Houston Marathon since 2002.
Talbi’s wife, Elizabeth Talbi, also participated in the race, landing in 10th place at 2:35:36, securing a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying mark.
“This is a special moment for me. This is a country that gives me a lot of opportunity as a citizen and it was great to represent America in the big city. Today was my first time winning a race and carrying the flag and it felt like such a special moment”, Talbi said.
Calli Hauger-Thackery of Great Britain secured the women’s title of the Chevron Houston Marathon at a time of 2:24:17. This marked Hauger-Thackery’s second marathon title in a month-span, after winning in the Honolulu Marathon on December 14, 2025.
“I don’t recommend doing two marathons in a month-span! Today I underestimated how hard it was going to be,” Hauger-Thackery said.
“I just had to grind it out and just move forward. I was like ‘Forward momentum, don’t look back, you’re committed now, there’s nothing you can do.’ Just get to the finish and hopefully get the job done and get the win!”
Aramco Half Marathon Results
The Aramco Half Marathon also saw a new course record. In his debut at the distance, NCAA Cross Country Champion and student-athlete, Habtom Samuel of the University of New Mexico, set the Aramco Half Marathon course record at 59:17 – breaking the record previously set at 59:17 in 2025.
“I was working hard and believing in myself,” Samuel said. “I just decided to do something new and wasn’t expecting to win the race. But I am glad I won the race and it was really, really, really amazing. To get the course record, I am so happy.”
The Aramco Half Marathon women’s title was secured by Fentaye Belayneh of Ethiopia at 1:04:49. Belayneh managed to eek out her win in the last quarter-mile sprint over Tsigie Gebreselama.
“She is a very strong competitor and I was able to overcome in the end. But yes, at times I would lead and other times she would surge ahead. We kept racing like that until the end and praise God I was able to win,” Belayneh said.