Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Habanero Hotties #682 Race: 2026 Habanero 100 Mile Relay Distance: 100.0 miles

Relay Squad Battles Through Texas Heat for a Podium-Adjacent Finish The Habanero Hotties completed 97.79 miles of the 2026 Habanero Hundred's 100-mile relay distance in 18:42:58, good for 6th overall out of 25 teams and 2nd in both the gender and division standings. Racing on the event's signature 10km loop course where the 100-mile distance requires 16 laps and a runner is never more than three miles from aid the team held an overall average pace of 11:29 per mile across nearly 19 hours on course. The splits tell a story of strong rotational execution. Early laps settled into a consistent 11:1911:20 per mile rhythm, and the team's best stretch came between miles 37 and 41, where four straight sub-9:00 splits (including a blistering 7:43 at mile 39) pushed them as high as 2nd place overall and 1st in their division. That surge followed a difficult patch through the low-20-mile mark, where splits drifted into the 12:0014:14 range as the team dropped to 9th overall before rallying. This up-and-down cadence fast splits in the 8-9 minute range followed by slower 12-16 minute laps reflects the natural rhythm of relay exchanges, with fresher legs producing clear pace surges throughout the second half. Positionally, the team was resilient, climbing as high as 2nd overall (mile 40) and holding 1st in their division for a long stretch between miles 46 and 66 before conditions and fatigue allowed competitors to close the gap in the closing miles. Given the extreme heat and deep sand this course is known for, the team's ability to consistently produce sub-10:00 recovery splits after slower laps stands out. Tightening the transition-to-transition consistency particularly avoiding the 14-16 minute laps that appeared late in the race could help convert similar position surges into a stronger final placement next time.