Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Derrell Bird #305 Race: 2026 Habanero 50K Distance: 31.0 miles

Strong Front Half Fuels Top-15 Masters Finish Through the Texas Heat Derrell Bird, 44, of Cypress, TX, completed the 50K at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 7:26:48, good for 12th overall out of 71 finishers, 10th among men, and 3rd in the M40-49 Masters division. The race, run at the 7IL Ranch under a deliberately brutal high-noon start with real-feel temperatures pushing past 100 degrees, is built on a repeating 10km loop designed to keep every runner within three miles of aid. Bird's opening six miles were remarkably even, clicking off splits between 12:23 and 12:24 min/mile and holding 2nd in his division through the first 6 miles. The middle miles brought the heat's toll into focus splits stretched into the 15:0018:00 min/mile range between miles 19 and 26, with elapsed pace drifting from 12:57 to 14:39 min/mile as the race wore on. A notable surge came at mile 27, where a 13:08 split briefly vaulted him to 7th overall and 1st in his Masters division, showing a strong response once the pace was reset. The final miles settled into the 14:0015:00 min/mile range, and Bird closed with an overall elapsed pace of 14:33 min/mile. The pacing pattern a fast, consistent start followed by a mid-race dip and a late rally suggests room to work on maintaining effort through the heat-affected middle miles, potentially by tempering the early sub-12:30 pace to preserve more consistency later. Given the mile-27 surge, there's clearly capacity for a stronger sustained close. Finishing 3rd in the Masters division on a course known for its extreme conditions is a solid result to build from.