Zouhair Talbi Says He Is America’s Best Marathoner

Who is America’s best marathoner right now? Zouhair Talbi doesn’t hesitate: “That would be me.” At the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon athlete availability, Jessy Carveth asked Talbi about his rivalry with Conner Mantz, and what he says to people who discount his Boston run because of the course and the tailwind. His answer: fifth place is what matters.

Then it’s the lightning round: race shoes, fueling at 120g of carbs an hour with bicarb and Nomio, his mantra “Don’t forget who you are,” why Hicham El Guerrouj is his favourite runner, toenail count, his trash talk past, who he doesn’t want next to him at mile 25 (Andreas Almgren), a 2:05:45 prediction, his Kalshi odds, and why he backs lifetime bans for EPO.

Is Talbi America’s best marathoner? Settle it in the comments 👇

⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 The Conner Mantz rivalry
0:44 Who is America’s best marathoner right now?
0:53 Boston doubters: course, tailwind and fifth place
1:17 Lightning round: race shoes
1:30 Marathon fueling: 120g carbs an hour
1:38 Bicarb and Nomio
1:44 His mantra: “Don’t forget who you are”
2:11 Favourite runner: Hicham El Guerrouj
2:36 Harry Styles vs. winning NYC
2:55 How many healthy toenails?
3:10 Trash talk mid-race
3:44 Who he doesn’t want next to him at mile 25 (Andreas Almgren)
3:57 Finishing time prediction: 2:05:45
4:07 Kalshi gives him 13% to win: too low?
4:17 How much would he bet on himself?
4:33 EPO and doping: lifetime ban
4:57 Good luck on Sunday