Hey, I'm Patrick McCrann, head coach and founder of Endurance Nation. I've been coaching endurance athletes for close to 20 years, and I've got the race resume to back it up: 30 Ironman finishes, a Big Buckle at Leadville, and a top 10 at Unbound 200. I've coached thousands of athletes through plans just like this one, and I build every block from the same methodology I use with my coached athletes. I know what gravel racing actually demands because I'm out there doing it. Enjoy the work!

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You've built your aerobic base. Now what?
Most gravel riders hit a plateau right here — they've done the zone 2 work but don't know how to translate that fitness into the specific demands of race day: punchy climbs, sustained efforts on loose terrain, and the ability to stay strong deep into a long event. The Endurance Nation Gravel Build plan bridges that gap.

Who This Plan Is For
This plan is designed for intermediate gravel riders who train 4–6 days per week and have 8–10 hours available. You've completed a base phase (or have a solid aerobic foundation from consistent riding) and you're preparing for a gravel event in the next 2–3 months. You should have a current FTP estimate and access to a smart trainer or power meter — all key workouts are available on Zwift for consistent execution.

What You'll Do
This block focuses on building the gravel-specific fitness that base training alone won't give you: muscular endurance for sustained climbs, the ability to hold power at and below threshold for extended efforts, and the fatigue resistance to stay sharp in the final hours of a long race.
Each week follows a predictable rhythm so you can plan around your life: a threshold session early in the week, a midweek recovery ride, a Sweet Spot muscular endurance session, a long weekend ride building fatigue resistance, and cross-training options to round out your aerobic engine without adding more saddle time. Intensity and volume build progressively across the block.

Sample Week (~8:50 total)
Monday — Cross-training (run, row, or hike) for aerobic variety.
Tuesday — FTP intervals: 2×12 minutes at threshold to sharpen your ability to sustain race-effort power.
Wednesday — Easy recovery spin, 60–75 minutes in Zone 1–2.
Thursday — Sweet Spot session with a 20-minute sustained effort plus shorter blocks to build muscular endurance.
Friday — Rest or optional cross-training.
Saturday — Long Sweet Spot ride: 4×15 minutes at sub-threshold intensity to build the fatigue resistance that wins gravel races.
Sunday — 90-minute long aerobic ride, ideally outdoors, steady Zone 2.

What's Included
All structured workouts are built in the TrainingPeaks Structured Workout Builder, so they export directly to Zwift, Garmin, and Wahoo — no guessing at intervals. Each week begins with a coaching note explaining the purpose of that week and what to pay attention to. A Quick Start guide is attached to Day 1 covering how to follow the plan, key terminology, and how to set your training zones.

Have a question before you start? Email your #1 question to [email] and I'll get back to you within 48 hours.