Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 21, 2026 Participant: Satoshi Nomoto #46 Race: 2026 Habanero Habanero 135 Distance: 0.0 miles

Early Speed, Late-Race Grit, and a Top-15 Ultra Finish Satoshi Nomoto covered 132.6 miles of the inaugural Habanero 135 in 42:47:03, finishing 13th overall (12th male, 3rd in the M30-39 division) among 39 starters a strong showing on a course run in 100-plus degree "real-feel" heat with deep sand underfoot. He opened fast, sitting 2nd overall through the first mile at an 8:56 pace, and spent much of the first 20 miles inside the top 10 overall while holding the M30-39 division lead outright through roughly the 13-mile mark. The middle stages showed the toll of the Habanero's signature conditions: overall pace slid from the sub-10-minute miles of the opening hour to the mid-12s by mile 30 and mid-13s by mile 50, with occasional long splits (22:28 at mile 23, 32:20 at mile 42) suggesting extended aid-station stops. Remarkably, Nomoto surged back into podium position multiple times deep into the race reaching 3rd overall around miles 59-71 and again near mile 92 before an extraordinary spike to 1st place overall at mile 121, following a 46:53 split that likely coincided with a major aid break or course reshuffle among competitors. The closing 15 miles reflected the cumulative fatigue typical of 135-mile efforts, with per-mile splits stretching past 25-30 minutes as the race wore into its second night. For future starts at this distance, building in more consistent, shorter recovery stops rather than a few extended ones could help preserve position during the mid-to-late miles, where Nomoto's placement fluctuated most. Still, sustaining a top-15 overall finish and briefly leading the entire field past the 120-mile mark speaks to notable endurance and mental resilience on one of Texas's most demanding courses.