Unbound Gravel 200 - 2025

5th Time - Riding for my chalice

I have raced Unbound for the last four years and this was my fifth. In five years, I have raced 1,015 miles, won five podium spots, and completed the Unbound 200 five times. I’ve beaten the sun once, made the midnight club three times, and received one breakfast club badge.

This race has been relatively easy (2024) to miserably hard (2023), super hot (2021) and mildly hot (2025), and cool and fast (2022). I have faced heat, wind, hail, rain, cold, and dark. I’ve fallen, given blood to the course, slide out on loose gravel, and soaked myself in a puddle. I’ve damaged my body and my bike, but I still keep coming back.

This year, I teamed up with some friends with the goal of beating the sun. We trained together through the spring and arrived in good condition in Emporia on Wednesday. We spent Thursday getting the bikes ready and at the Expo - probably more time on our feet that we should have been. Friday morning, we rode an easy 15 mile shakeout of the start and finish, then kicked up our feet in the AirBnB and relaxed, trying to ignore the rumors of mud on the course.

Saturday morning, I was up bright and early, so I could squeeze in my four breakfasts: Cheerios with blueberries, yogurt with whey powder and fruit, oatmeal with banana and walnuts, and finally a stack of blueberry pancakes… 1200 calories before 5:30 am.

We parked and were in the starting chute by 5:50 am. We worked our way up to the point where we could be in the second fast group hoping to catch some free speed early on. There were eight of us lined up together and we had our plan to settle into a decent pace as we rolled out. As is normal for Unbound, immediately that plan was shot to hell. As we rolled out, my chain fell off. No clue as to why, hadn’t happened before and didn’t happen the rest of the race. I pulled to the side and popped it back on and began the chase. Luckily, we has coordinated a group ride on our Garmins, so they could see me gaining on them. I was able to catch them by the second mile and off we went on the craziness that is the first hour of the race.

We were going faster than planned, but my normalized power averaged around 2.5W/kg, so it certainly wasn’t out of control. Around mile 10, we settled in behind one of the fat bike racers, Rob. He held a great pace, especially up the hills, keeping us from blowing up our legs too early. It was so pleasant that I was distraught when I realized I had to pee. I held it together for another few miles until I couldn’t stand it and dropped off around mile 30 (NP 2.3W/kg). I signaled to the others to keep going and peed for what felt like forever and hopped back on to chase again! Luckily, we hit Old K-4 Rd which was (relatively) smooth and fast, I could drop down in aero and make up some time. I could see the fat bike from a ways out and caught them pretty quickly (back up to 2.5W/kg). I was surprised to see only Carmen on his wheel though. I had no idea where the others dropped and didn’t see them on my chase back.

Carmen and I stayed on Rob’s wheel through the water stop and onto Divide Rd. Rob stopped just as we got to the rough parts and we kept on going. It was rutted and muddy and there were multiple people who had fallen or were on the side of the road. We had only one emergency stop ourselves, but it resulted in some bonus mud on my shoes and a mystery scrap on my knee. That section was about 6-7 miles and probably the trickiest to get through (NP 2.2W/kg).

Now it was just me and Carmen navigating the sketchy terrain until the tight turn on Nehring Branch Rd which is smooth and fast. Jaime caught up to us there and said that Becky had had a flat and he hadn’t seen Dana. Right before the turn onto the sketchy hill on Christy Rd, Rob passed us, but I couldn’t catch his wheel. Luckily, we were able to catch him after the top of that climb and I rode his wheel into the first SAG stop. I did not realize that Carmen had not gotten on too, but knew we would find each other at the stop. (NP from start to SAG1: 2.3W/kg)

First SAG was quick and easy. Swapped hydration packs, ate some potatoes, drank some cold expresso and we were back on the road. Coming out of Alma is a short climb. Carmen had been dropping back on the climbs and catching me on the flats, so I wasn’t worried when she wasn’t right behind me. I kept going at a fairly easy pace, but she did not catch up. When I passed Cherie, I figured they would meet and ride together and catch up, so I kept going.

Around mile 90, I caught onto a fast group and realized that I had to be far ahead of the others in our group. I hoped I would see them at the water stop at mile 113. I enjoyed hitting the century mark at 6 hours and 46 minutes (NP 2.2W/kg), but realized that we were behind if we were going to beat the sun. Little Egypt was rough, but not as bad as I remembered it. Of course, the one time I walked was when I saw one of my buddies from Gainesville, Gabe. As always, he had a big smile and a cheerful word. It was a pick me up to see him, especially because I realized that my stomach was starting to turn - not a good sign.

I was so thankful to hit the second water stop and even more thankful to see a woman handing out ice. It was over 90 degrees by that point and the heat was definitely getting to me. I did need to pee again, which signaled to me that I was drinking enough, and I was able to cool down by pouring cold water on my neck and arms, and putting ice in my bra. I drank some cold water and ate an Uncrustable, but didn’t want to sit down. Carmen and Cherie had not arrived, so I left with a small group and we pushed out of town with the wind in our faces.

I should have slowed down at that point and focused on getting in fluids and gels, but instead I focused on fast wheels and staying out of the wind. I was functioning okay until I hit my least favorite part of the course, the R Ave Death March. I made it through without walking, but I was so ready to hit SAG 2. My stomach was turning and sipping carb mix made my stomach turn. (NP from SAG1 to SAG2: 1.9W/kg)

My stomach had already been rejecting my attempts to eat, but I hoped that cooling off at SAG 2 would help revive it. I drank a little ginger ale and some sweet tea (good idea) and had another Starbuck expresso (bad idea) and I ate my potatoes again (also bad idea). There was no way I could beat the sun at this point, but I hoped to keep my place on the podium and DNFing was not an option with the chalice on the line. I knew I was getting on the bike in bad shape, but I really hoped that the cooler afternoon temperatures and an easy pace would help me revive. They did not.

I poured cold water on my neck and arms and kept taking sips of water and carb/electrolyte mix, but my stomach was having none of it. I was feeling more and more nauseous. All I wanted to do was finish. I knew I was slowing down and I couldn’t make myself care. I might have called it if I hadn’t been riding for my chalice, but I’d faced this before and I knew I could finish. It just wouldn’t be pretty.

I finally decided to stop, feeling like I had to throw up. It didn’t happen, but while on the side of the road dry-heaving, another rider stopped to check on me… and of course it was someone I knew. Very embarrassing, but he was having a good race, so I told him that I was fine and to keep going.

I was so grateful to see Lake Kahola. Luckily, because I’d been soft pedaling the last 25 miles, I didn’t have any troubles with the last few hills. I finally gave in and put on some music and pushed myself the rest of the way in on music and the legs that were the only part of my body still working. (NP from SAG2 to Finish: 1.5W/kg)

I felt like I executed the beginning of the race well. I was taking in plenty of fluids and fuel for the first seventy miles; however, at some point after that, I fell behind and was never able to catch up. It’s amazing how much one can practice during training rides, but somehow during the race, the plan starts to fail.

I have crossed that finish line five times, some times sick, some times energized, but I have never been so happy to see it as I was this year. I am sad that I didn’t do a better job of taking care of myself earlier, but very proud that I was able to finish five races in five years. I will enjoy the memories I have of these races for years to come.

I love riding in the flint hills. Despite the weather, it’s a beautiful course. I love everything about the race from the rough roads to the cows to the quaint towns to the comradery on and off the course, but most of all the people: the staff at Lifetime who works on this race really wants it to be a great experience for all the riders and the crew; the folks at Crew for Hire and 3-Feet Cycling are kind and encouraging; the people who set up tents along the course and share water and cheer for the riders; and the wonderful welcoming community of Emporia.

I plan to be back again. I swore after this year that I would do the 100 next year so I could get back and enjoy the festivities, but now my friends are talking about beating the sun again and I want another shot at making the whole race without getting sick.

Thank you to my friends who came to race with me and those that trained with me in Gainesville and those I made in Emporia. Thank you to Keith Williams at Springhill Therapeutic Massage for keeping everything working and Robbie Horstman at Race With Robbie who did not give up on rehabbing my back when even I was doubtful. Thank you to Paul Williams at Perfect Fit Fix Ride for my beautiful bike that indeed fits perfectly and thank you to JD Donnelly at Super Cool Bike Shop for getting me ready to roll. It takes a village and I am lucky that I have such a wonderful community.