Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Enrique Elizaldi #285 Race: 2026 Habanero 50K Distance: 31.0 miles

Late Surge Rescues a Middle-Race Fade for Third in Age Group Enrique Elizaldi completed the 50K distance at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 8:15:06, good for 21st overall out of 71 finishers, 17th among men, and 3rd in the competitive M20-29 division. Run on the 7IL Ranch's signature 10km loop a course designed so no runner is ever more than three miles from aid the 50K required five laps under conditions the race is famous for: high-noon starts, deep sand, and real-feel temperatures regularly exceeding 100 degrees. Elizaldi opened briskly, holding a 12:1612:17 min/mile pace through the first six miles and sitting inside the top 25 overall. The middle miles told a different story: pace stretched steadily from the mid-13s into the 16-to-19 min/mile range by mile 22, and split times ballooned as high as 25:38 min/mile around mile 20 a stretch that coincided with the heart of the afternoon heat. Overall position dipped into the high 20s and low 30s during this window, bottoming at 31st overall around miles 23-24. The standout feature of the race was the closing kick. From mile 27 onward, Elizaldi rallied hard, briefly climbing to 1st in his division and 10th overall by mile 28 on a 16:30 split, then closing with back-to-back sub-14-minute miles (13:46 and 12:33) to finish strong. That late negative-split surge, especially after the heat-driven slowdown mid-race, points to solid resilience future efforts could focus on pacing more evenly through the hottest midday loops to preserve that closing speed for an even stronger overall placement.