Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Mariana Carranza #310 Race: 2026 Habanero 50K Distance: 31.0 miles

Steady Early Pace Fuels Runner-Up Finish in Brutal Heat Mariana Carranza placed 10th overall and 2nd in both the women's and 3139 division fields among 71 finishers in the 50K at the 2026 Habanero Hundred, crossing the line in 7:19:59 for an overall pace of 14:20 per mile. Fitting for a race whose gun famously fires at high noon so runners face the day's peak heat while still fresh, Carranza's early miles were her sharpest: the first five miles ticked by in an identical 11:01 pace each, putting her 18th overall and 3rd in her gender group before the heat began to bite. From mile six onward, splits lengthened steadily as the course's deep sand and rising temperatures took their toll a pattern shared by much of the field. Despite this, Carranza's position improved, climbing into 2nd female by mile nine and holding that spot for the majority of the race. A standout mile 27 split of 13:06, achieved after nearly six and a half hours on course, briefly vaulted her into 1st place overall among women before settling back into a well-earned 2nd for the final stretch. The pacing data shows a classic ultra-distance fade, with per-mile splits climbing from the 11-minute range early on to the high-teens and low-20s by the race's second half including a 25:53 split at mile 13 and a 23:33 split at mile 26, likely reflecting aid station stops or terrain challenges. For future efforts on this course, working to narrow that gap between early and late splits perhaps through more conservative opening miles could yield an even stronger finish. Overall, a well-executed race on a course built to test even seasoned runners.