Mud, Miles, and Milestones: Gravel Racing Adventures at Rough Road 100 and Barry Roubaix

A Slow but Steady Start

This year, I began more conservatively than usual, mindful of my recent experience at the Hell of the Wind race in Iowa, where fatigue ended my day prematurely. 

And while I had done two races, I still did not fully trust my heart to do a hard four-hour effort. 

My strategy was simple: maintain a manageable heart rate (below 160 bpm) and ride within myself to finish comfortably.

Unexpected Teamwork and Muddy Roads

Mid-race, I found one of my junior coaching athletes struggling due to a strained hamstring. 

I accompanied him for five miles until his dad arrived, and we chatted while waiting on the side of the road.

By the time I resumed, many riders had passed, leaving me to ride solo through mud-coated gravel roads.

Community on Wheels

A highlight of the day was catching up with one of my favorite cyclocross racers. 

We shared stories and experiences over the next 10-15 miles, embodying what makes gravel racing special: community and connection.

Celebrating the Finish

The final stretch along the muddy Illinois and Michigan Trail led to the finish. 

I was able to celebrate at the finish with several Simple Endurance Coaching athletes—including a couple who completed their first gravel races at Rough Road. 

Barry Roubaix: A Racing Mindset

The Barry Roubaix in Michigan on April 12 marked a shift in strategy. 

With over 4,000 cyclists, this race felt like a vibrant, rolling festival. 

My goal was clear: ride hard but strategically, keeping my heart rate mostly in the 150s.

Navigating Early Challenges

Barry Roubaix began with the challenging Three Sisters climbs. 

Past experience taught me the value of pacing; I let the lead group go and settled comfortably into the second group of Wave 2. 

The ideal weather conditions helped maintain an optimal pace throughout the race.

I was able to ride in bib shorts and a jersey with arm warmers, which I took off half-way through the race. 

Perfecting My Fueling Strategy

My fueling strategy aimed for 70-100 grams of carbohydrates per hour. 

Utilizing Embark Coffee Maple syrup packets and bottles filled with NOW Carbo Gain (maltodextrin) and electrolytes, along with water from a USWE hydration pack, proved effective. 

This approach kept my energy stable throughout the 62-mile race.

I used my USWE pack for plain water. 

Conquering Sager Road

I achieved a personal milestone by navigating the notoriously muddy and sandy Sager Road without stopping—benefiting greatly from being near the front of Wave 2, thus avoiding the congestion typically caused by stuck riders.

Simple Endurance Coaching Cyclists Hit Podium

Anna P. and Sloan B. took second and third in the juniors 11-18 category in the 18-mile. 

Simple also had riders in the 36-mile and 62-mile races. 

We had a great day on the bike! 

Training Progress and Future Goals

My consistent training with Athletica is paying off. 

I’m doing a lot more intensity this year, in addition to weekly long rides. 

I comfortably tackled challenging climbs, like the infamous 16% "Wall" at Barry, indicating promising progress towards gravel nationals in September.

I felt good throughout the race, and only felt some cramping near the end, which comes from not having enough long, hard miles in my legs. 

Coming up next is the 1904 Gravel Race on May 3, part of the Big River Gravel Series in Illinois and Iowa. 

1904 is an 80-mile race so I’ll be curious how the legs feel over a longer distance. 

Following that will be the Hungry Bear (I’m doing the Snacking Bear 60-mile race) on May 10. 

Three Key Takeaways from My Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour

1. Fueling Success: My carbohydrate-focused fueling strategy effectively supports race efforts.
2. Training Validation: Athletica's structured intensity sessions are clearly improving my performance.
3. Endurance Necessity: Continued emphasis on long endurance rides combined with tempo intervals will be crucial for upcoming challenges.

Need more? 

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Paul Warloski is a:

• USA Cycling Level 1 Advanced Certified Coach
• RRCA Running Coach
• Training Peaks Level 2 Coach
• RYT-200 Yoga Instructor
• Certified Personal Trainer