Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 21, 2026 Participant: Ron Werts III #1 Race: 2026 Habanero Habanero 135 Distance: 0.0 miles

Steady Grinder Battles 130+ Miles Through the Texas Heat Ron Werts III covered 132.6 miles of the inaugural Habanero 135 in 45:24:39, finishing 17th overall out of 39 starters and 2nd in the Men's 40-49 division. This new distance was added for 2026 specifically because 100 miles wasn't enough of a challenge for the race's veteran finishers, starting Friday at 6 PM on the 7IL Ranch's signature 10km loop. Werts opened efficiently, clicking off his first six miles in the 12:2214:32 min/mile range and holding 2nd in his division through the opening stretch. As the race extended past the marathon mark, pacing settled into the 15-18 min/mile range through roughly mile 45, with occasional spikes (mile 36's 57:57 split, likely an aid station or medical stop) hinting at the toll of sustained heat and distance. A remarkable mid-race surge saw him climb to 3rd place overall at mile 57 and again to 2nd overall/2nd in gender at mile 128 evidence of strong positional racing even as absolute pace slowed into the 20-30 min/mile range over the final 40 miles. The back third of the race told the real story of endurance: splits lengthened steadily from the 17-20 min/mile range into the 25-34 min/mile territory by mile 130, reflecting the cumulative fatigue expected on a course averaging over 100 degrees real-feel with deep sand underfoot. Werts' division placement fluctuated between 1st and 3rd across nearly every 6-mile stretch in the second half, indicating a tightly contested age-group battle throughout. For future multi-day efforts, working on maintaining a narrower pace band in the closing quarter particularly avoiding the extended 40+ minute lap splits seen near miles 91 and 115 could help protect overall placement in the late stages when the field tends to compress.