The Gravel of Marathon runs Sunday, November 15, 2026 in Greece. The 121-kilometre UCI qualifier climbs 2,020 metres while repeating a 36-kilometre lake, farm-road, stream, ramp, and dam loop three times.
This eight-week Finisher plan assumes an existing riding base and concentrates the runway on 75.2 miles, 6,627 feet, and three repetitions of the same demanding loop. Purposeful long rides test lap discipline, repeat-climb durability, and variable-surface control, fueling, and repairs without adding volume that cannot be absorbed before the start.
75.2 MI · 6,627 FT CLIMBING · THE ORGANIZER PUBLISHES APPROXIMATELY 90% OFF-ROAD TERRAIN · 8 WEEKS · 7–11 HR/WK · FINISHER
WHAT'S INSIDE
- Structured workouts on your calendar, with real power and heart-rate graphs
- Strength work built in, with video walkthroughs
- Weekly notes from me, plus the Gravel Grit mental program
- A testing week, so the plan runs on your real numbers
- The full Gravel of Marathon guide — terrain, gearing, fueling
Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party