What’s with this buzz about riding gravel? Are you getting burnt out with road cycling races with dwindling rider numbers? Or have you been doing triathlon so long you have calloused forearms? Sick of so many cars buzzing you? Well here’s a way to mix it up AND increase your bike fitness. I started dabbling in gravel about 4-5 years ago while I was still racing on the Ironman circuit and chasing Kona. Each year I got more into it and then in 2015 after making it back to Kona, I decided to just follow the motivation – and it was 100% directed at gravel cycling and skimo (a topic for another day!). I started out as a cyclist and skier so it’s been incredibly fulfilling to come full circle. 

For many triathletes, the “dream goal” is getting to Kona.  That’s not the goal for all triathletes, of course.  But that dream is prevalent enough so that you can assume just about everyone toeing the line at an Ironman has at least toyed with the idea.  And then, if an athlete is serious enough about the sport to hire a coach, you can bet that a Kona qualification is something floating around in their mind. 

How many times did we hear "cry me a river" growing up? I know I did, a lot; my dad was a "rub some dirt on it" kind of guy. We were taught to move on, and move on quickly.  There are multiple deliveries of the same saying ("get over it," "toughen up", "let it go" etc.) and I often met those expressions with an eye roll. Never did I think those childhood moments would come back and play a pivotal role in my adult sport life (if you want to call it that).