Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Aidan Cunanan #383 Race: 2026 Habanero Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Blistering Opening Miles Give Way to a Gritty Sand-Slowed Finish Aidan Cunanan, 28, of Bryan, TX, completed the Marathon distance at the 2026 Habanero Hundred on TROT's 10km loop course at 7IL Ranch a race whose brutal reputation is backed by hard numbers, with only 198 total 100-mile finishes recorded across its first ten years. Cunanan crossed the line in 8:50:21 over 25.9 miles, good for 16th overall out of 39 participants, 15th among men, and 3rd in the M20-29 division. His early race was among the fastest in the field: a 7:38 split on mile two rocketed him to 9th place overall, and he held a sub-10:00/mile pace through the first two miles. The middle miles told a different story, as splits stretched into the high-teens and low-20s per mile from mile 8 through mile 21, including a taxing 49:30 split at mile 15 and a 38:14 split at mile 21 a clear reflection of the course's deep sand and triple-digit real-feel heat wearing down pace over time. A brief surge followed, with a 16:25 split at mile 22 pushing him back up to 10th overall and 9th among men before settling into the closing loops. Cunanan's overall pace of 20:28/mile across the full distance shows a runner capable of real speed early but who could benefit from a more even pacing strategy to protect against the mid-race fade that cost him significant placement between miles 8 and 21. Building heat-adapted, sustained-effort training could help translate that early speed into a steadier finish on a course as demanding as this one.