I went into the race weekend knowing it was going to take a lot out of me. Unbound is a huge event, arguably the paramount gravel race in the world. I knew being my best self as a coach, full of positive energy and calm reassurance meant I would need more energy and time for my athletes so I chose to race the 50 miler. It was really fun lining up with such an enormous field and I experienced a lot of those nervous start line feelings. I’ve raced Unbound 200 and I’ve coached the Unbound Gravel training camp. I know how unforgiving the terrain can be and how extreme the conditions can get. I have a huge respect for the Flint Hills and for those brave warriors that return to Emporia’s gauntlet year after year. As a professional cyclist I’ve raced the spring classics in Europe but Unbound is another beast entirely.

The 50 mile race did not disappoint. From the start, it was mostly single file with a few souls taking their chances off the front. The front group decisively broke away when we entered a mud section. I had always planned to shoulder my bike and run if there was anything remotely dangerous to my drive train and there we were running and laughing and slipping in the deep mud, trying to edge into the tall grass as much as possible. Those of us that dismounted and remounted quickly established a small group that worked seamlessly together all the way until the final kicker in Emporia. From there it was a long sprint to the end and I am a good sprinter.