Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Ali Bina #542 Race: 2026 Habanero Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Division Champion Holds Firm Through the Heat Ali Bina, 40, of Rosharon, Texas, completed the Half Marathon at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 2:52:53, good for 11th overall among 110 finishers and 8th in the men's field. Fittingly billed as "Texas' hottest trail race," the event is run on a 10km loop course at the 7IL Ranch, where average real-feel temperatures climb past 100 degrees with heavy humidity and deep sand underfoot conditions that shaped every mile of Bina's race. Bina opened fast, clocking a 10:05 min/mile first split good for 6th overall, and held a top-10 overall position for nearly the entire race. He claimed the M40-49 division lead from mile one and never relinquished it, sitting 1st in his age group for 11 of the 13 miles recorded. His pacing settled into the 12-15 minute range as the heat took hold, with splits fluctuating between 11:34 and 15:45 per mile over the middle miles a reasonable response to the demanding mid-day conditions this race is known for. Mile 8 proved the toughest stretch, with a 15:45 split marking Bina's slowest mile of the day, before he steadied back into the 12-15 minute range to close out the final five miles. That late fluctuation suggests an opportunity to work on maintaining a more even effort through the heat-affected middle section, which could help close the gap on overall placement in future starts. Still, Bina's consistency at the front of the M40-49 division throughout the race was the standout theme, and he crossed the line as the division champion a strong result on a course where the organizers intentionally schedule the toughest heat exposure for when runners are freshest, rather than at the end.