Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Andrew Shepard #481 Race: 2026 Habanero Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Slow Start Turns Into Division-Topping Surge Andrew Shepard, 34, of Houston, completed the 2026 Habanero Hundred half marathon in 2:56:44 (13:23/mile pace over 13.2 miles), finishing 14th overall out of 110 participants, 10th among men, and 1st in the M30-39 division. The result is notable given the race's signature challenge: Habanero Hundred events launch at high noon with real-feel temperatures regularly topping 100 degrees, a deliberate choice by organizers to expose runners to peak heat while still fresh. Shepard's splits tell a story of steady, deliberate improvement rather than a fast start. His opening mile was his slowest by far at 26:32, leaving him in 77th overall and 9th in his division. From there, he trimmed his mile splits significantly dropping to the 10-12 minute range for most of the race, including an 8:58 sixth mile that vaulted him from 24th to a top-25 position. By mile 11, he had claimed the division lead outright and held it through the finish, climbing from 9th to 1st in M30-39 over the course of the race. The overall trajectory moving from 77th to 14th overall reflects strong pacing management and a well-executed negative split strategy across a demanding course. The one clear area to examine is the opening mile: at more than double the pace of nearly every subsequent split, it likely reflects early positioning or course-start congestion rather than fitness. Tightening that first-mile output could translate into an even stronger overall finish in future races on similarly competitive courses. Overall, this was a well-managed effort that turned a rough start into a decisive divisional win.