Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Scott Callaway #536 Race: 2026 Habanero Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Strong Front Half Fends Off the Heat for a Masters Podium Scott Callaway, 54, of Austin, finished the Half Marathon at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 2:49:43, placing 9th overall and 7th among men out of 110 participants, while claiming 3rd in the Masters division. Notably, Callaway topped the M50-59 age group in four separate miles (1, 3, 5, and 12), showcasing repeated bursts of strength throughout the race. The race itself lived up to its reputation TROT's signature high-noon start is designed to expose runners to peak heat while they're still fresh, and Callaway's splits reflect that brutal trade-off. He opened with a swift 10:47 first mile and held sub-11:30 pace through mile 3, sitting inside the top 10 overall from the gun. As the Texas heat intensified, his pace gradually stretched mile 8 slowed to 16:14, the race's toughest split before he found another gear late, closing mile 12 in 11:36, his fastest split since the third mile. Callaway's race is a clear study in early-race discipline versus mid-race fade, a common challenge on this notoriously hot, sandy course. The gap between his fastest (10:19) and slowest (16:14) mile splits nearly six minutes suggests room to build more heat-conditioning or pacing strategy for the middle miles, where fatigue and rising temperatures compounded. Given his ability to rally in mile 12 after the mid-race slowdown, a more even effort through miles 610 could translate into a faster overall time and potentially a higher divisional finish. Overall, a solid result on a course built to punish even well-prepared runners, with Callaway's Masters podium finish a strong takeaway from a demanding day at the 7IL Ranch.