Andreas Almgren on His NYC Marathon Debut: “Don’t Be a Cry Baby”

Sweden’s Andreas Almgren is making his marathon debut at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, and he isn’t there to make up the numbers. At the pre-race athlete availability, Jessy Carveth asked him about his plan to sit with the leaders and kick, and what the Kenyan and Ethiopian runners might do to stop him. They also talked about whether he might try a 10,000m and marathon double at the LA 2028 Olympics.

Then it’s the lightning round: race shoes, how many carbs an hour, bicarb and caffeine, his race-day mantra, his favourite runner of all time, a Harry Styles hypothetical, toenail count, a mid-race banter story from the European 10K, his finishing time prediction, his Kalshi odds, and where he stands on lifetime bans for EPO.

Will Almgren’s track speed carry him to a win on debut in NYC? Tell us your prediction in the comments 👇

⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 Andreas Almgren’s NYC Marathon race plan: sit and kick
0:39 Why the marathon? The 10,000m at LA 2028 and an Olympic double
1:37 Lightning round: race shoes
1:51 Marathon fueling: 120g carbs an hour, bicarb and caffeine
2:09 His mantra when it hurts: “Don’t be a cry baby”
2:43 Favourite runner of all time
2:51 Harry Styles vs. winning NYC
3:13 How many healthy toenails?
3:19 Mid-race banter at the European 10K
4:01 Who he doesn’t want next to him at mile 25 (Benson Kipruto)
4:20 Finishing time prediction: 2:07:30
4:30 Kalshi gives him 30% to win: too high or too low?
5:23 How much would he bet on himself?
5:37 EPO and doping: should it be a lifetime ban?
6:19 Good luck on Sunday