Cloud Completes Habanero Hundred Trail Race

CHEC engineer achieves impressive feat in Belville, TX

While the weather has started to cool off in recent weeks, it was only a few months ago when temperatures reached triple digits. This is the time of year when most of us look for the nearest AC and avoid anything that requires being outside. However, Blu Cloud, a staking engineer for Cookson Hills Electric, isn’t like most people. Blu traveled to Belville, Texas, to compete in the Habanero Hundred trail race, where temperatures reached 114 degrees. This grueling event tests runners physically and mentally as they run the trail that horses have used for the past 150 years. In fact, between 2015 and 2022, only 115 people finished the 100-mile race under the 30-hour time limit. Blu Cloud can now be added to the short list of names of those who have completed this 100-mile scorcher. 786001

Cloud, of Vian, said he prepares for the race by running after work and on the weekends for six to eight weeks leading up to the race. He tries to wait until the hottest part of the day before he begins his 20-to-30-mile daily preparation running to help acclimate to the heat runners face at the race. “The discipline to train leading up to the race is one of the most difficult aspects of the race. There are times after a long day at work when I don’t want to go for a run, but I know I have to if I want to be able to complete this type of race,” says Cloud. “Sleep deprivation might be the most challenging obstacle during the actual race. At one point, I started hallucinating, and everything turned pink in color. It was like I was wearing a pair of pink lenses, but it was just my body reacting to the situation.” I developed pretty bad blisters around mile 40, but I told myself I could run another 60 miles with some blisters.”

Blu, 43, has been running since he was 17 and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. Despite losing toenails and enduring the extreme heat and painful blisters, Blu loves the physical challenge, “I want to use my body up and not have anything left at the end of the day.”

Congratulations, Blu! We will see you in the winner’s circle again next year.