Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Paul Ellis #562 Race: 2026 Habanero 10K Distance: 6.2 miles

Runner-Up Finish Anchored by Rock-Solid Pacing Paul Ellis of Cypress, TX, placed 2nd overall (2nd in the men's field, 2nd in his division) out of 49 finishers in the 10K at the 2026 Habanero Hundred, crossing in 47:10 at a 7:43/mile pace. Notably, Ellis held the 2nd-place position wire-to-wire, occupying that spot at every mile marker from the first split through the finish a sign of consistent effort and even competitive positioning throughout the race. Mile-by-mile, Ellis ran a tight band of splits, opening with a 7:51 first mile and settling into a rhythm between 7:07 and 7:48 for miles 2 through 5. His fastest mile came at mile 5 (7:07), suggesting strong mid-race form, before a final mile split of 8:38 his slowest of the day closed out the race. That late fade is worth flagging: with a 91-second gap between his best and worst mile splits, there's an opportunity to work on finishing strength so the last mile matches the pace set in the middle miles. One detail that adds context to the effort: the Habanero Hundred is run in the peak of a Texas August, with organizers intentionally starting distances at high noon so runners face the heat while fresh. Notably, race organizers report that most medical incidents at this event come not from the ultra-distance runners but from short-distance and relay participants who go out too hot a reminder that even in a 10K, disciplined early pacing matters as much as it does in the longer distances. Ellis's controlled opening miles reflect exactly that kind of smart, sustainable effort in tough conditions.