Toronto runner sets sights on redemption at Houston Marathon

After making his marathon debut in his hometown of Toronto three months ago, where he finished 10th, Andrew Alexander is eager to step back up to the plate. On Sunday, Alexander will be one of four Canadian runners in the elite field aiming for a breakthrough performance at the 2025 Houston Marathon.

Although Alexander’s 2:14:13 marathon debut was impressive, he expected much more. “When I finished, I felt I had more to give,” he says.

He told Canadian Running he had to stop near the 35 km mark due to overloading on carbs and gels. “I was consuming double the recommended carbs per hour,” says Alexander. “It was too much.”

He aimed to take in 150mL of Maurten 320 drink mix every 5K, and a Gel 100 every 10K. He was consuming around 370 grams of carbohydrates every hour, which proved excessive given his inexperience with the distance.

The 25-year-old, wise beyond his years, has a positive outlook and sees each marathon as a lesson for the next. “I’ve cut back on what I’m using for Houston,” he says. “I thought I always needed to be fuelling, and overdid it.”

Alexander trains mostly solo, under the guidance of former Canadian Olympic steeplechaser Matt Hughes and distance runner Dave Reid through Rhythm Athletics in Toronto. Although he excelled as a 5,000m/10,000m runner in the NCAA, he always had his sights set on moving up to the 42.2 km distance when the timing felt right.

Uncertain of his marathon potential, Alexander is targeting a 2:10 finish time if he’s feeling good. “I know I’m still relatively new to the distance, but I think it’s realistic,” he says. “I love competing and I’d love to give it a shot on race day.”

During his build for Houston, which included 200-kilometre training weeks, Alexander found motivation in an unexpected source—competing for the Strava Local Legend title on the “High Park-Upper Loop.” “I’d get the Local Legend crown during my peak weeks, but there’s this one runner who always takes it from me when I start my taper,” he laughs. “I don’t know who they are, but maybe one day we’ll do a lap of the park together.”

Natasha Wodak and Andrew Alexander storm to course records at BlackToe Holiday 10K

With nearly 1,000 miles logged in the last 12 weeks, Alexander feels prepared for Sunday’s marathon. “I’ve put in the work every day, and I feel ready,” he says.

Alexander will face a familiar face in Vancouver’s Thomas Broatch, who finished just behind him (in 11th) at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October, with a time of 2:14:51. Broatch, who ran Houston last year, three months after he finished as the top Canadian in Toronto (in 2023), cracked the top 10 in a personal best 2:11:51.

In the women’s elite race, Windsor, Ont.’s Dayna Pidhoresky, who holds a personal best of 2:29:03, will make her return to the marathon after more than a year since she has run the distance. Joining her is Port Elgin, Ont.’s Rachel Hannah, the 2024 Around the Bay Road Race champion and bronze medallist at the 2024 Canadian Cross Country Championships in November.

How to watch

The 2025 Chevron Houston Marathon will be broadcast live on ABC 13 and YouTube on Sunday morning, with coverage beginning at 7:00 a.m. ET.