Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Robert Mata #213 Race: 2026 Habanero 100K Distance: 62.0 miles

Fast Start Gives Way to a Gritty, Even-Paced Grind to the Finish Robert Mata completed the 100K distance at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 17:49:32, covering 61.19 miles across the race's signature 10km loop repeated ten times over the 7IL Ranch's deep sand and triple-digit heat. He finished 17th overall out of 75 participants, 9th among men, and 4th in the competitive M30-39 division a strong showing on a course explicitly designed to punish runners with a high-noon start and real-feel temperatures north of 100 degrees. The opening miles showed real speed and discipline: Robert held a locked-in 12:58 min/mile pace through the first six miles, sitting 11th in his gender group early on. As the loops accumulated and heat exposure compounded, his per-mile splits gradually lengthened into the mid-to-high teens, with several loops stretching past 20 minutes per mile a natural and expected response to the conditions this race is built around. Notably, around mile 29, he surged into 2nd place overall and 1st among men before settling back into the mid-pack, a sign of the fluid, ever-shifting placements typical of long looped ultras. His final loops held remarkably steady in the 1719 minute range, closing with a 61-mile elapsed pace of 17:28 min/mile. For future efforts on similarly brutal terrain, Robert could look at smoothing the transition from his fast opening pace into the middle loops the drop from sub-13 to the 1416 range came somewhat abruptly and may reflect an aggressive start relative to the day's heat. Building a slightly more conservative early pace could preserve energy for the back half, where his splits remained impressively consistent despite fatigue. Overall, finishing top 25% in a field of 75 on one of Texas's most demanding courses reflects strong endurance and heat management.