Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Ben Bryan #250 Race: 2026 Habanero 50K Distance: 31.0 miles

Consistent Pace Battle Through Rising Texas Heat Ben Bryan completed the 50K distance at the 2026 Habanero Hundred billed as Texas' hottest trail race finishing in 7:21:24 across 30.69 miles. Held on the 7IL Ranch under the event's signature high-noon start (designed deliberately so runners absorb peak heat while still fresh rather than late in the race), Bryan placed 11th overall and 9th among men out of a 71-runner field, capturing 2nd in the M30-39 division. Bryan opened briskly, covering the first five miles at an 11:21 min/mile pace and sitting 20th overall early on. As the day's heat built, his per-mile splits steadily lengthened, moving into the 13-15 min/mile range through the middle miles and stretching to 16-18 min/mile pace by miles 22-26 a common trajectory in a race whose conditions push real-feel temperatures above 100 degrees. The most notable moment came at mile 27, where a 14:10 split vaulted him to 5th overall and 1st in his division, before he settled into the final three miles at a controlled 14:23-14:53 pace to close out 2nd in his age group. Across the full effort, Bryan's overall pace finished at 14:22 min/mile, reflecting the gradual but steady toll of sustained heat over nearly seven and a half hours on course. The pacing arc a fast start, a long attritional fade through the hottest stretch, and a strong late push points to an opportunity to manage effort more evenly across the middle miles in future hot-weather ultras. Given the extreme demands of this course, a top-10 divisional finish represents a strong result.