UNBOUND Gravel XL is one of the premier ultra-gravel events in the Midwest, along with Gravel Worlds Long Voyage and Iowa Wind and Rock. T2M coached athletes have placed near the top of all of these races, and we’ve taken the key plan structures and workouts, to create training plans for each of these races… this particular plan is focused on the topography that is unique to the UNBOUND Gravel XL area.
This training plan assumes the athlete is an experienced gravel racer and has a solid base of training (has been riding consistently for 3+ years) and starts with the assumption that the athlete has been riding roughly 7+ hours of riding a week over the past month. Because this race is most likely around 24 hours+ in total duration for many athletes, the training plan does include a significant volume of training. As such, expect some long weekend rides (max of 12 hours in one day) and up to a maximum of 3 hours a day during the week on Tuesday through Fridays, and peak volume at 24 hours of total training in the peak week. Mondays are the designated rest day in this schedule.
This plan utilizes a combination of power and heart rate (HR) based workouts. It utilizes power for interval type work, and heart rate for endurance work (assuming many people use HR on gravel riding). In general, the interval work is best performed indoors on a trainer for most people. To utilize this plan, you will need both a power meter and a heart rate monitor.
Included in the plan are general notes on gear, fueling and pacing considerations that past T2M athletes have found helpful for ultra-gravel events. This plan is not specific to an individual year, meaning it can be applied to future years, or even other gravel ultra-events (realizing the notes and workouts are designed specifically with the race format and topography of the UNBOUND Gravel XL race).
For other T2M training plans, or modifications options for this plan, please see the following page: https://www.tri2max.com/plans
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Your Results Matter. For most of us, we race for fun and not for a paycheck. For many, part of the fun is being able to show improvement over time... the feeling that the time you are investing will result in meeting your athletic or fitness goals. Tri2Max provides comprehensive and individualized coaching for Triathletes and Ultra Cyclists, designed to optimize your precious time and energy.