Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Alfredo Torres #234 Race: 2026 Habanero 100K Distance: 62.0 miles

Age-Group Champion Conquers the Heat at a Grueling Texas Ultra Alfredo Torres, 43, of Mission, TX, completed the 100K distance at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 19:19:14, covering 61.19 miles. He finished 23rd overall out of 75 participants and claimed 1st place in the M40-49 division a strong result on a course notorious for its brutal conditions. Torres opened fast, holding a 14:15/mile pace through the first six miles and sitting 2nd in his division early on. As the race progressed into the heat of the day, his pace naturally eased, settling into the 15-17 minute/mile range through the middle miles while he held steady in the top 15 overall. The final third of the race told the real story of endurance: laps 50 through 61 saw his pace stretch from the high-teens into the 20s and even a 42:37 split during a tough patch around mile 44 a common pattern in ultras run under extreme heat. Despite this fade, Torres never faltered in his division standing, ultimately crossing the line as the M40-49 champion. This result came on one of the most demanding courses in Texas ultrarunning. The Habanero Hundred is run in August with real-feel temperatures regularly exceeding 100 degrees, high humidity, and deep sand underfoot conditions organizers intentionally pair with a high-noon start so runners face the heat while still fresh. It's also a cupless race requiring mandatory personal hydration, underscoring just how demanding the environment is. Torres' ability to hold his division lead through such extreme late-race fatigue speaks to strong pacing discipline early on. Moving forward, incorporating heat-specific training and strategies to minimize pace drop-off in the final quarter could help him close out future ultras even more strongly.