Gravel is back, baby!

2023 is off to a powerful start, and we are back on some good ol’ Texas gravel!

I will be the first to admit that it definitely tests my spirit chasing down gravel in this part of Texas. Roads are constantly being paved over. Dogs are scary. The venture to find routes with gravel in them just keep getting longer and longer.

When the season’s done, I basically stop riding gravel entirely, which is a little sad, but not surprising.

I haven’t raced Texas gravel since Gravel Locos in May 2022!

But I am super excited to be back. The break was much needed. I feel strong. I feel energized. I’m ready to get after it again.

… which brings us to the first race of 2023, right on the first weekend: the Stockdale Gravel Roundup in Stockdale, Texas, hosted by Capital City Racing.

This is by far my favorite little local racing crew. Their routes are great, and they always make the day feel special.

Last year’s SGR was super windy, cold, and miserable. This year it was much warmer — started in the mid-60s and the weather got up to the mid-70s by finish, with overcast conditions and light winds.

I started out hard, probably too hard, but I was feeling good. I had plenty of good rest in my legs. I just got a new bike fit and felt like I wasn’t losing power through my left leg anymore with more stability in my foot. I had a good waffle breakfast, a big stash of gummy bears, and I was definitely ready to rock!

I held onto a paceline for the entire first half. We pushed a solid and quick pace, and with the tailwind, it made things a lot easier. Once we came up on the halfway point, there was a nutrition refill table, and we all split off unfortunately. Some people in the line were only doing the 30 mile route, and a couple others just decided to stop to refuel.

I kept going solo and eventually another group found me. These guys were holding a great pace. It was smooth and punchy until a pretty steep hill derailed the bunch, and we broke into a group of 4.

I felt pretty good hanging with these guys, who were pushing 19-20 mph. One of the riders slowly dropped off, so it was just us 3 for a long while.

The big bummer came at about 2.5 hours in, though, when my right foot started hurting something fierce. I think something about the insole was just irritating my nerve, and I had shooting, severe pain through my right foot with every pedal.

It was miserable.

I just kept telling myself that I have to finish, and relief will come soon. I did stop to make sure nothing was super off with it, like maybe it broke apart or something, but it didn’t.

I lost the riders between miles 45 and 50. They were strong, I was hurting, and that’s OK. I dug deep mentally to finish out the ride.

My goal became under 3h30m once I realized that I could actually do it. I tried to keep eating and drinking to give me the last little bit of energy to get to the finish line. I don’t think I was out of energy physically in my legs, but mentally, with the foot pain, I was really done.

In the very last mile, another rider came up on me. I could see her back there for a couple of miles, but I wasn’t too nervous.

Right at the end, though, woah, all of a sudden she was there. There was this crazy grass section that took you from the road to the finish, and we were literally neck and neck the entire finish.

I guess that helped me forget about the foot pain, haha!

We had a sprint finish! I was able to find some extra energy and punched it toward the end.

I was hoping it was for 3rd place, but it was for 4th and 5th. Seems kind of silly but I am glad I did push myself.

Overall, my average speed was 17.1 mph. That is my fastest ever for gravel.

I felt confident, comfortable (I mean, minus my poor foot), and I fueled pretty well. I could have fueled better, but I couldn’t find my Tailwind! I settled for some Heed, which did not do me well. Not only does it taste gross like all the other stuff they make (remember when I had to pep talk myself to eat those gels on the Belgian Waffle Ride because they tasted like straight barf but it was all I had?), but I’m not a sugar shamer and it has a bunch of other weird stuff in it that just have no proven benefits. Plus, it really made me have to poop!

***

I’m feeling really good about this year, if not a little scared, and also a little sore.

The cool things I have to look forward to include lots of big days in the gravel and MTB saddle.

I’m going to attempt Leadboat in August. That’s both the Leadville 100 MTB and the Steamboat Gravel (SBT GRVL) ride a week afterward. I am riding the Steamboat “Black” distance which is about 140 miles.

I have to build up not only endurance but lots of resilience and sustained strength. I’m going to push myself to the max, but I also need to prioritize recovery and make sure my body has what it needs to build back up quickly.

I also have to heal this bone bruise that I got during a crash in November. I fell hard, on rocks, directly on my knee. I seriously thought it was broken but am grateful that it wasn’t. Over the last couple of weeks, with the nagging pain still there, I went to have an MRI, and it revealed the deep bone bruise.

I’m going to go through physical therapy to prevent any loss of motor function. I know that I do have some from favoring it for so long. Hopefully we can get that back quickly.

I’ve already resumed core training 2x a week, adding in a little bit of functional movement too. It’s humbling, to say the least. I used to feel like a straight up core queen, and I know I’ll get back to that over time, but right now it is definitely giving me a challenge! But I know that it’s some of the best training I can do, so I’m going to keep doing it.

I also want to lift some big weights 2x a week. And ride 5 days a week. And work on off-road skills.

How am I going to fit all this in?

I don’t know.

I am excited about my move to San Marcos. I feel like things are more accessible here. It’s not a huge fight with traffic. The riding and the routes are good. The community is amazing! The gym is close. I think all of these things will help.

I no doubt have a lot of work ahead of me, but I just need to take it one day at a time.

Everything officially starts in February. I can’t wait to get back to it!

If you see me out and about, give me a hug and some encouraging words. There’s no doubt I’ll need it.