Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Joshua Milam #232 Race: 2026 Habanero 100K Distance: 62.0 miles

Early Speed Gives Way to Gritty Endurance Across 61 Miles Joshua Milam completed the 100K distance at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 19:36:50, covering 61.19 miles and finishing 25th overall out of 75 participants, 17th among men, and 9th in the M30-39 division. Racing on TROT's signature 10km loop at the 7IL Ranch, Milam navigated a course run in Texas' peak August heat an event begun, notably, with a deliberately brutal high-noon start so runners face the worst conditions while still fresh. Milam's pacing told a story of two halves. He opened remarkably consistent, holding a 14:2714:28 min/mile pace through the first six miles, a tempo that placed him inside the top 22 overall early on. As the loops accumulated and heat took its toll, his per-mile splits gradually extended into the 20-25 minute range by the race's middle third. A standout surge occurred near mile 29, where a strong split briefly vaulted him to 4th overall and 3rd among men, before the effort settled back into the mid-20s as fatigue and cumulative mileage set in. By the final 10 miles, Milam's pace had stabilized in the high-teens per mile, finishing with an overall elapsed pace of 19:13 min/mile a testament to sustained effort despite the marked slowdown from his opening miles. Given the steep early-to-late pace differential, Milam may benefit from a more conservative first-quarter strategy in future ultras, preserving energy reserves for the brutal middle miles where the Habanero course famous for its deep sand and oppressive humidity extracts the greatest toll.