*The Unbound Gravel XL, a 350 mile gravel race through the Flint Hills of Kansas, is a self-supported event that challenges your body, bike, mind, and spirit. Finish times for this epic event range from 20 hours to 36 hours, which means participants ride through at least one night and have to contend with any weather challenges that Mother Nature throws at them.*
I finished Unbound XL on Saturday afternoon in second place. As I crossed the line, I was surrounded by people who love me, believe in me, and who pushed me forward across 359 miles of Kansas gravel. I felt like I had won—because for me, I did.
I stayed rooted in the process, focused on the present moment and found a solution to each new problem put in front of me. I executed my nutrition plan, even when I didn’t want to—even when my go-to gas station snacks turned unappealing. I got caught on the wrong side of a passing train. My headlamp stopped working. I crashed in a dried-out mud rut. But I trusted myself, stayed calm, and controlled what I could.
At some point, I disassociated entirely from time and distance. I was just pedaling forward, always forward, through the night and toward Emporia, where we began and where we’d end. I experienced a mental clarity I’ve never known. I rode for nine hours in the dark, and it felt like the blink of an eye. Time lost meaning out there, and because it had no meaning, it wasn't worth thinking about. The only reminders came from my Garmin, beeping at me to eat and drink—every 45 and 12 minutes, like clockwork.
Relentless forward progress. Always.
From mile 200 to the finish, I listened to a playlist my husband Ben made just for this race—one I’d never heard until that moment. Every song held a memory, some made me smile, others made me cry. In my mind, I heard Roxanne from the GU Energy Performance Lab reminding me to eat and drink, my coach Chris McGovern reminding me that this race is just creative problem solving, and Yuri Hauswald's voice echoing belief: you’re so freaking strong.
I beat my goal time by nearly two hours. I was exhausted. I was elated. We did it.
But then comes the part no one really prepares you for: the come down. The processing. The strange emotional aftermath of pouring everything you have into one singular goal. I’ve never been more focused on any event. Six months of intention, work, and belief. And then—it's done.
And suddenly, I’m fragile.
The fatigue is deep. The brain fog is real. I want to snap back to normal routines, check all the boxes I deferred until “after Unbound.” But I’m changed. My body is tired. My mind is tired. They both did what we trained them to do—and they did it well. But now, they need time to recover.
My friends are telling me to sleep, eat, and take it slow. They remind me that what I just did was hard. They ask what I’ll do with all this fitness, if I’m excited for the next race. But I find myself wanting to hit the “remind me later” button. Because right now, trying easy is harder than trying hard.
The truth is the person who started Unbound XL isn’t the same one who finished. And just like the body adapts to new training stress, the mind does too. I’m trying to bask in the accomplishment without rushing into what's next. It is easier said than done.
The work I did with the GU Energy Performance Lab was foundational to this experience. From the real-world testing that shaped my fueling strategy to the thoughtful guidance and support from Roxanne, Yuri, and the entire team, I arrived at the start line with clarity, confidence, and a plan that matched the demands of the race.
I didn’t just survive Unbound XL—I thrived out there. And that’s what science-backed curiosity makes possible: the ability to show up fully, trust the work, and stay present through even the longest night.
Curious about the details?
Here are some stats:
358.59 miles
22:19:56
19,606 ft elevation
1,450g of carbohydrates consumed, including 21 GU gels, 11 servings of Roctane drink mix, and 2 stroopwafels.
Approximately 66g CHO per hour.
Photo credit: Sydney Lewis