Leah DK’s Gravel Journey - Part 2
There’s only a short time left for Moab Fondo Fest! I’m so excited to be taking on the 50 miler at the Gravel Fondo! I’ve never done this race before or gravel biked in Moab and I’m nervous and excited, and maybe not as prepared as I probably should be. But I do have some experience to lean on.
Last year, I realized that I love riding long distances and I'm pretty good at it. Good in that I have endurance and enjoy it, not that I’m fast or stand on the podium. Sometimes, you can’t explain your why, your desire to ride more to push yourself to test yourself, and so after racing the 38 miler course at Grassroots Gravel in Pueblo, CO for two years in 2025 I decided to go big and do the 75 miler (technically 74 miles).
I didn’t know how to plan for a 75 mile race. How was I going to eat and hydrate? How was I going to pace? I drafted up a race plan. I studied the mileage, elevation gain and aid stations and came up with a plan. The plan included mental mantras, what to drink, what and when to eat. I had even prepared real food to eat, as I planned on being out there for about seven or more hours.
Here’s some of what was included in my race plan:
RACE Goals:
Don’t look at my watch - no mileage data - just ride
Have fun!
Enjoy the experience!
Finish!
If I can go a little harder then push a bit more
If I need to slow down then slow down
Mental Strategy:
Body check-in (Legs, stomach, arms, head)
Mental Check-in
Stay positive. I know it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be long hard, endurance hard, mentally hard. How do I stay positive and strong?
I can do this! I can Do Hard Things!
I am strong!
My legs are strong!
If I can do Moab Rocks I can do anything!
This is fun! Look around at the beauty!
Be in the moment
Make Friends
Listen to Music
Be confident. Believe in myself.
I read my race plan a few times the week leading up to the race, the night before and the morning of. Though I did all this preparation my plan changed when I forgot all of my real food that I had prepped in the cooler back at the campsite. I had a moment of panic. What was I going to do, what was I going to eat? I took count of what I had, I had liquid calories, bars, and chews and I knew there would be food at the aid stations. I accepted that I couldn’t do anything about my food and that I had plenty to fuel me and once I accepted it I stopped worrying about it and could focus on getting ready.
At the time of the race I had only ridden 50 miles. That morning I was extra nervous (ya know, extra time in the porta-potties nervous). I got to the start line just in time. As usual, once I started pedaling the nerves settled, I was on my bike. I rode to the 18 mile aid station (where the 38 milers turn around). As I was leaving to go further than I ever had I watched the 38 milers turn back to the finish line. I had a brief moment of doubt and questioned why I chose to ride so far but then a moment of confidence and excitement and I told myself ‘now I get to go further than I ever have, I don’t know what’s ahead of me, but we’re going to pedal and find out.
Most of the climbing for the 75 mile course is between the start and the third aid station at mile 33. I was riding on roads I didn’t know existed, looking at beautiful farm land with the background of the front range mountains having a great time pushing hard on my bike. I was about 5 miles away from the aid station and I started feeling tired, hungry, weak, my mental strength was waning. I started having negative thoughts, if I feel like this now how am I going to continue another 40 miles? I struggled into the aid station. I took some extra time, ate some extra food, and hydrated. When I got back on my bike, to my surprise, I felt great! I kept pedaling and I felt really strong on the next climb.
I knew I would finish the race then. And I did! I finished 74 miles (3,658 ft) in 6 hours and 30 minutes. I came in under my goal time! As usual I was towards the back but I rode with so many fun people and we talked to pass the time, commiserated in our communal suffering, and encouraged and cheered for each other. I met my goal of making new friends! The bike community is one of the reasons I love this sport and I love racing my bike.
Now, I get to take on 50 gravel miles in Moab at the Transrockies Moab Fondo Fest! I keep picturing the Gemini Bridges climb, the one I’ve done three times during Moab Rocks, since it’s really the only part of the course I know. I think about the start line, then taking off to climb that hill and then send it on the other side. I know it’s going to hurt a little, maybe a lot, but I’ll be riding my bike in MOAB and I can’t wait to see those views again while racing my bike! I know I’ll have moments of weakness when I wonder why I do these things but I know that I can do it. And I know that I will meet great people, I will have fun and I will see beautiful Moab sites that I’ve never seen before.
Whether this is your first race or one of many, here are my friendly tips, which I learned from many years of working with Coach Durner of Durner Performance)
Make Goals that you can control.
Your race goal shouldn’t be ‘I don’t want to be last’. Someone will be last but that doesn’t take away their accomplishment of finishing the race. And sometimes being last isn’t in your control.
Create a Plan. It really is helpful.
Know that the plan can change, whether you forgot all your prepared food, or the weather came in and the course changed, or you got your fucking period.
Whatever course you’re doing, don’t diminish it by saying Just,”I’m Just doing the 30 miler.” You’re DOING the 30 Miler/50 KM!
Practice eating and drinking while riding.
HAVE FUN! I think this can sometimes be undervalued, but it really is important. Sometimes during a race, I ask myself, am I having fun? If my answer is, Yes, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else, then I’m having Fun! We are riding bikes, afterall!
When you’re on the start line just know that whatever you did to prepare is what you did, you can’t change it, you’re there, You Are Ready! I believe in you!
Believe in Yourself!
See you in Moab!