2025 Unbound Gravel 100: The Final Chapter

Missed my articles leading up to Unbound? Read them here:
Unbound Gravel – New Year New Goals
Preparing for Unbound Gravel 100: One Month and Counting

Two Weeks Out: The Countdown Begins

As the two-week countdown to Unbound Gravel kicks into high gear, I find myself buried in a checklist that’s as long as the race itself. I love making lists. It’s my secret weapon against the overwhelming chaos of pre-race prep. Emporia, Kansas, here I come!

Top on the to-do list: a final check of my Salsa Cutthroat at my LBS. I also booked a one-on-one training with TrekHP shop owner KC Speich to brush up on my roadside repair skills. It turns out that replacing a broken derailleur hanger and fixing a snapped chain are must-knows for this kind of adventure.

Color me stupid, but I entered the Unbound lottery without realizing it was an unsupported ride. I’ve done my fair share of centuries, but the routes were always close to civilization should I need help.

Next on the list: add Emporia to my weather app. The forecast? Rain. Rain. And more rain! But hey, at least race day was looking dry. Hot but dry. Kansas mud, I’ve been told, is different than Illinois mud. It’s like peanut butter—sticky, unyielding, and unrideable. I was well aware that a paint stick and a Muc-Off Claw Brush were must-have items in my gear bag. The brushes help clean mud from the chain and cassette.

Monitoring the Unbound Participant Facebook page was now a full-time job. One rider recommended purchasing Restrap’s Hike a Bike Harness. Physically unable to shoulder my bike for any distance, this looked like a perfect addition to my growing gear list. Plus, I knew buying the harness would guarantee dry conditions and, of course, reduce some of my anxiety. KC jokingly offered to sell me a Burley trailer to haul everything for the race. I said he should ride next to me with all my stuff.

Keeping the credit card busy, I started second-guessing wearing a one-year-old pair of RAB Cinder bib shorts. I quickly ordered two pairs, treating myself to a fresh new chamois. Gotta keep my southern region happy.

The Girls Gone Gravel final More Women More Miles webinar was also two weeks before the race. Kathryn Taylor and Kristi Mohn covered various topics, including a course preview and race day strategy. In addition to the More Women More Miles Facebook group, they launched a WhatsApp group of over 70 women. It was a safe place to ask questions, provide encouragement, and share tips from previous Unbound experiences.

Lastly, so many phone apps were highly recommended, if not required. I downloaded the LifeTime app for packet pickup, What3Words app to provide the exact location in an emergency, a weather alert app since storms can quickly roll in over the plains, and Link My Ride to RSVP for a Friday shakeout ride. This is insane for one ride!

Seven Days Out from Race Day

One week from race day, a.k.a. the dreaded taper week, excitement and anxiety begin to build. Since training volume decreases, there’s more time to watch the Emporia weather. I’d find myself refreshing the app frequently, hoping it would magically stop the rain. Sadly, it doesn’t. I’m even receiving flood alerts. It’s reassuring, muddy or dry; everyone must deal with the same conditions.

It’s time to finalize my nutrition and hydration. I’d been training my gut to handle everything I planned to consume on race day, so it was simply calculating quantities and considering the 90-degree temps. I divided the nutrition/hydration into two bags or 54-mile segments. I’d carry the fuel for the first half on my bike, while the fuel for the second 54 miles would be in a drop bag.

I calculated consuming Tailwind’s new High Carb Fuel Mix to achieve 90 grams of carbs/hour. Bite-sized dried figs and coconut slices made up the remaining carbs/calories. I also had Cliff Blocks with caffeine that I began taking 20 minutes before the race started.

By adding SaltSick Fast Chews and tablets to the plan, I hoped to keep up with my electrolyte intake. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Since the race day temperature shouldn’t fluctuate much over the next week, I selected two cycling kits. One for Friday’s shakeout ride and one for race day. Both days I’d wear RAB Cinder bibs, but for race day, I chose the lightest, most breathable, and sun protection jersey and sports bra I own – Jelenew sports bra and Endura Pro SL jersey.

Because of the unsupported nature of this ride, Life Time requires you to hire a team or bring your crew. I selected a company called Crew for Hire. They had a good reputation, would transport my drop bag, offer emergency Jeep pickup, and provide minimal nutrition at the halfway point in Council Grove. I used my kayaking dry bag (in case it rained) to store the supplies I might need for the second half of the ride, including:

Spare tire and tube
Sunscreen
Nutrition/Hydration, including Pringles for the salt
Photochromatic sunglasses (for riding in the rain or after dark)
Rain jacket (thunderstorms might develop in the afternoon)
Bikey Wipes chain degreaser and rotor cleaner single-use wipes
Lube
Rags
Dry socks
Wet naps

Lastly, it was time to figure out the proper PSI using Silca’s tire pressure calculator. I had to weigh the bike, gear, and myself for the most accurate information. To do this, I packed my bike and dressed like it was race day, including filling water bottles and a USWE hydration pack. Shocking, the weight came in at 40 pounds over my body weight!

Three Days Out: Trying to Stay Off the Crazy Train

On Thursday, the 9.5-hour drive from Chicago to Emporia, Kansas, was uneventful. It helped me to disconnect from social media and not get sucked into reading about peanut butter mud. It is what it is, and I can’t change it. Why waste energy worrying about things out of my control?

Several shakeout rides were available for Friday morning. They varied by start time, distance, and pace. I chose the 9 am Chamois Butt’r ride – 15 miles, no drop. The hotel was only three miles from the start, so I rode my bike, getting there plenty of time to take pictures and catch up with Steve Mathews, President of Paceline Products/Chamois Butt’r.

Hanging out with Steve Mathews of Chamois Butt’r before the shakeout ride.

The ride attracted 300+ riders of all abilities. Rolling out of town, following the Unbound course, there was a lot of banter among the riders. I met folks from all over the world, each racing between 50 and 200 miles. Pre-riding the first few miles of the course was beneficial, allowing me to familiarize myself with road conditions and turns.

After the ride, a quick three-mile ride to the hotel, shower, change, and drive back downtown. The afternoon consisted of packet pickup, dropping off my mid-point bag with Crew for Hire, and attending the Expo. I swung by the Girls Gone Gravel booth to see Kathryn Taylor. She had arranged for Ali Tetrick, winner of 2017 Unbound, to pace the women’s group for the 100 miler.

Stopping by the Expo to chat with Kathryn Taylor (left) of Girls Gone Gravel and Ali Tetrick (right), bike racer and 2017 winner of Unbound.

After the Expo, it was time to get out of the heat, head back to the hotel, relax, and prepare for race day.

It’s Finally Here – Race Day!

The alarm went off at 5:30 am, and it was time to consume a hardy breakfast of oatmeal, walnuts, fruit, and protein powder. At 6:30 am, I slipped on a special pair of black Trek RSL MTB shoes the company sent to replace the white pair that would show the mud. Then, I pedaled to the race start, using the three miles to warm up my legs and release some nervous energy. The plan was to find Kathryn Taylor holding red balloons in the start chute. I couldn’t believe I found her so quickly in the sea of cyclists and spectators.

As the group of women riding with Ali grew, so did the crowds. Next, Marley Blonsky and Meg Fisher joined our group. It was wonderful to see so many women lining up to race. Women of all ages and riding abilities. Some had never ridden a century. Some had little experience with gravel. But in true gravel vibe, everyone was supportive and excited to be riding.

In the sea of over 1700 riders lined up for the 100 mile start. Marley Blonsky is behind me, and Meg Fisher has her arm around her. My friend Katie is in the white helmet straight behind me.

Packed like sardines, it was time to mount up. At 7:25 am, a woman’s beautiful voice sang the national anthem. The words have greater meaning in light of the current political climate. I found it very emotional and choked back tears. At 7:30 am, the horn went off, and the floodgates opened as 1,700 riders set out on a 108.5 mile adventure.

I am not a racer, and it was hard to prepare for the insanity that ensued during the first 15-20 miles. The initial 20 miles were flat and fast. The gravel roads were relatively tame, allowing faster riders to work their way to the front. There were several crashes early on, which isn’t shocking for such a large pack of amateur racers. Even at 20 mph, people were flying past me on the right and the left, then cutting across the road. I willed myself to stay upright, praying for the pack to thin out.

Needless to say, I lost sight of Ali within the first few miles, so I settled in with a group of four women who matched my pace. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement and go out too hard. I averaged over 17 mph for the first 20 miles.

I left the Garmin screen set to maps and didn’t switch to view distance, speed, or grade. The distances referenced below are estimates. For pacing, I relied on staying in tune with RPE and occasionally glancing at my watch for HR.

After about 20 miles, the terrain changed. The gravel roads were in poor condition in sections due to the recent flooding. In some sections, the rain washed away the top layer of gravel, exposing large rocks and creating downhill sections that resembled MTB rock garden features.

Deep ruts were left from the jeeps driving through the mud a day or two earlier. Some ruts so deep you had to ride with level pedals, coasting until the ground leveled out. One rut that was only 5” wide was so bumpy that it was difficult for me to stay in the center, so I clipped the cage holding the lower jockey wheel. But thank goodness nothing broke. I made a mental note: don’t do that again, or you might not be so lucky.

Miles 20-50 were picturesque, with numerous rollers and challenging downhills. Unfortunately, I saw several crashes over this section and counted five ambulances. I stopped for one man sitting on the side of the road. When asked if he was ok, the response was a separated shoulder and an ambulance was coming. He asked me to help him stand up, and I refused, instructing him to wait for the paramedics. Of course, he didn’t like that response, but who knows if he had a head or spine injury. I pedaled off as soon as I heard the sirens in the distance.

One of the many rollers on the 100 mile course. While not necessarily steep, the sheer numbers start to wear on riders.

There was one creek crossing where two guys pointed out a good line to cross. It was a chaotic scene as riders tried to keep up speed, but the area was too congested. I made it halfway across the creek until a woman stopped, forcing me to try and go around her. Then I stalled and had to walk through 18” deep water to get across. The cold creek felt great as the temperatures were climbing to the 90s, and there was no shade.

Past Unbound riders had warned me there was a sharp lefthand turn right after the creek and a very steep, chunky gravel climb. With no momentum and too many people hiking up the hill, walking my bike to the top was safest. Honestly, I welcomed the mental break.

Around mile 52, we turned onto the Flint Hill Nature Trail, which was flat and fast, and it took us into Council Grove, the halfway point. Tents lined the route with pro and amateur “pit crews” and the companies hired by the riders. Rolling into the Crew for Hire compound, someone yells my bib number, signaling someone else to grab my drop bag. Before I was off my bike, a man had my bag, and a woman offered me a cold Coke. I eagerly accepted both.

Trying to be efficient with my time, I grabbed three packets of Tailwind from the bag and got going, mixing it with cold water to refill my USWE hydration pack. Then I inhaled Pringles for the salt and restocked my feed bag with figs and coconut slices. Before heading to the restroom, I drank some pickle juice and ate a banana supplied by Crew for Hire. Unfortunately, in my rush to get back on the course, I forgot to reapply sunscreen and got a bit toasted.

The event helicopter hovered nearby as I came out of the porta-potty, so I knew the pros were coming through. Someone said it was the 350 XL and 200-mile racers.

There was a climb out of Council Grove, and that’s when a leg cramp hit me hard. I was taking the SaltStick capsules, but it was almost impossible to consume enough electrolytes. I reached for the FastChews, which absorb into your bloodstream faster. It helped a lot, but the cramping returned when there was a significant grade, forcing me off the bike and walking up the hill. I was on and off the “struggle bus” for about 20 miles, riding one-legged or walking.

The Unbound course includes many minimally or not maintained gravel roads.

Around mile 70, small packs of the pro men passed as if we were not pedaling. It’s incredible the speeds they go on the gravel; it’s like they are riding on a paved road.

From mile 90 to the finish line, the course is relatively flat and primarily well-maintained gravel roads, allowing me to pick up the pace. I even had a guy drafting behind me, never offering to share the pulls. One of the afternoon’s highlights was when a pack of pro women passed me. I heard, “Hey, Sheri!” It was Ellen Campbell, and I returned the shout-out. Later, Ellen texted that she was keeping an eye out for me. How sweet!

There was one final hill by the University before heading into town and the finish line. At the top, spectators cheered, and guys handed out hotdogs. That was a hard “no thank you” from me. First, I don’t eat hot dogs. Second, it just didn’t sound appetizing. But they had takers.

As I crossed the finish line, I felt great. Tired, but great. I trained hard and smart, coming into Unbound with 2500 miles for the year. I followed my nutrition plan the best I could, coming up a little short on carbs and calories. It was just too hard to consume solid foods in the heat.

I couldn’t be prouder of what I achieved. The course was one of the most grueling and challenging gravel terrains I’ve ever faced. I set out to push my limits, grow, and step out of my comfort zone. Check, check, and check.

A total stranger congratulated me after I crossed the finish line. It turns out my friend from back home asked if he’d look for me.

You Can’t Beat the Emporia Community

In town and along the race course, the people of Emporia and the surrounding areas rolled out the red carpet. Everyone was incredibly friendly and kind. Very early in the race, a big group of spectators lined the course with signs, a bubble machine, and rock music. What a way to send us off.

As we rode through desolate areas of the Flint Hills, people set up tents, an oasis in the middle of nowhere. They would be cheering, offering ice-cold cans of Coke, bottled water, pickle juice, music, cooling misters, and, of course, cowbell. You always need more cowbell.

I stopped at two different oasis tents. One was to put ice down my jersey, and the other was for a young father handing out cold beverages while his adorable seven-year-old daughter danced on the truck bed to blaring music. I downed the cold Coke, hoping the sugar and caffeine would give me the boost I needed for the last few miles. It did!

Would I Do Anything Differently?

There’s nothing I’d change with my equipment or gear. It worked flawlessly. There are a few areas in which I do things differently. They include:

More heat training: Unfortunately, the temperatures were cool in Chicagoland, and I had little heat training before the race. I resolved to ride my trainer in a warm basement or long miles on only two 80 degree days.
Arrive in Emporia on Wednesday night instead of Thursday. I missed many activities, especially with the Girls Gone Gravel group.
Have a bigger supply of SaltStick FastChews to replenish electrolytes. I only had two packets, which worked great but needed more. Unlike the capsules, they are easy to take while riding and have an immediate effect.
Mix up the solid food so it’s not all the same or sweet stuff for the entire ride.
Make a list of things to do at the halfway point and put it in the drop bag. You are rushing to get in and out fast; forgetting to reapply sunscreen was not smart.

Conclusion

Will I race Unbound again? Nope, one and done. But the experience and confidence I gained, along with the people I met are priceless.

However, if you’re looking for challenging gravel, beautiful rolling hills, and a community that welcomes you with open arms – Unbound Gravel is your race.

Race Stats

5,000 participants from 50 states, including two territories and 47 countries
Ages range from 1 year old in the Kids Crit to a 92 year old male in the 200 mile race
25% female riders across all distances, up 4% from 2024 due in part to the More Women More Miles program
382 women in the 100 mile race, up 42% over 2024

My Race Stats