YASIRSALEM

Yasir Salem

Competitive eater / Endurance athlete / Food obsessive / Marketing executive

I eat a lot. I move a lot. I grow a lot.

I spent years becoming really good at two things that shouldn't go together: eating ridiculous amounts of food and doing ridiculous amounts of endurance sports. Now I judge, test and obsess over food for a living.

See the 159 results Work with Yasir
Yasir Salem in a cycling jersey holding two donut-filled trophies while donuts fly through the air
Photographed by Emiliano Granado for Bicycling, with actual trophies and actual donuts.

I know what food does to a body under load.

I've fueled 108 marathons and ultras, 4 Ironmans and 410 miles in 24 hours, and I've eaten 61 donuts during a 36-mile bike race. Nobody has tested food at both extremes like I have. That's what I bring to a brand.

Where I fit

The record, 2010–2026

Full archive

Two things that shouldn't go together.

Yasir Salem wearing a crown, holding a tray of corn cobs and a tall trophy

The eating

6 July 4 finals

6 trips to the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest final at Coney Island, 9 contest wins, and a career best of 47 ears of sweet corn in 12 minutes. Ranked #11 in the world by Major League Eating in 2017.

Eat
Yasir Salem holding up his Ironman Mont-Tremblant finisher medal

The moving

50 marathons, 50 states, one year

50 marathons in 50 states, in one year, from Nov 4, 2018 to Nov 3, 2019. Plus 4 Ironman finishes and 410 miles on a bike in under 24 hours.

Run in memory of my late wife, Gwen. Why I ran 50

Endure

Then somebody invented races where the donuts you eat come off your time. 21 wins and counting.

Chest-cam, mid-race

Donuts are a performance nutrition strategy if you're brave enough.

Eat. Grow. Explore. Endure.

  1. EatCompetitive eating, food judging, taste tests and product reviews from someone who has eaten professionally.
  2. GrowDon't just eat interesting food. Grow some. Unusual fruit, microgreens, sprouts, herbs, and the question: can I grow this?
  3. ExploreEgypt, Japan, Berlin, London, New York. Food is the organizing principle, not the itinerary.
  4. EndureApparently eating wasn't enough. 108 marathons and ultras, 4 Ironmans, 24 hours on a bike.

In print, on air, on the record.

Media archive

You Know Too MuchRunner's WorldNPR Morning Edition / StoryCorpsStoryCorpsJersey County Enquirer-DemocratMashedCreaky Bottom BracketThe Saturday PaperGran Fondo Daily NewsMega Cat Studios / Graffiti GamesMaine Sports CommissionTifosi OpticsBarstool SportsMen's HealthPortland Press HeraldTrue Stories of Good PeopleFlathead BeaconThe RepublicBrownwood BulletinKTUUChicken Soup for the SoulINFORUM

Men's Health page: One of our own starts the race of his life Men's Health, January/February 2019One of Our Own Starts the Race of His Life Runner's World page: Runner's Digest, a competitive eater credits marathons for his impressive gut Runner's World, September 2017Runner's Digest Bicycling magazine March 2017 cover with the line How to Win a Donut Race Bicycling, March 2017Be a Donut Derby Champ! Time Out New York page: Hot diggity dog, The Week in New York Time Out New York, July 2016Hot Diggity Dog

Latest results

All 159
  1. 2026.09.07 Donut DerbyBreinigsville, PA Donut Racing — 1st overall
  2. 2025.11.02 TCS New York City MarathonNew York, NY Running 6:02:12 54011 overall
  3. 2025.10.12 Chicago MarathonChicago, IL Running 5:56:54 49660 overall
  4. 2025.09.01 Donut DerbyBreinigsville, PA Donut Racing 40 donuts · adj. 35m 19s 1st overall
  5. 2025.03.02 Tokyo MarathonTokyo, Japan Running 6:24:41 35600 overall
  6. 2024.11.03 TCS New York City MarathonNew York, NY Running 5:59:42 50727 overall
  7. 2024.09.29 BMW Berlin MarathonBerlin, Germany Running 5:35:08 50162 overall
  8. 2024.09.02 Donut DerbyBreinigsville, PA Donut Racing 36 donuts · adj. 43m 23s 1st overall
Yasir Salem in wraparound sunglasses biting a donut, trophy of donuts in hand
Photo: Emiliano Granado

Work with Yasir

I don't just eat your product. I know how to market it.

Competitive eater on camera. Senior marketing executive off it, with time at Hearst, The Economist, Business Insider and more. Brands get a taster with a real palate and a strategist who knows what the content is for.

  • Taste & Judge Product testing and a consumer's honest read.
  • Create On-camera content, branded storytelling, social campaigns.
  • Appear TV, editorial, events, product launches.
  • Speak Food, marketing, competition, endurance, performance.
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From the journal

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