Halfway Through the Comeback: Three Lessons from the Heart and Gravel Tour
by Coach Paul Warloski We’re now midway through the 2025 Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour, and I’ve learned a few powerful lessons. This year, I’ve committed to racing 10 gravel events across the Midwest on the road to Gravel Nationals in September—all while raising funds and awareness for pediatric heart care. Here are three takeaways […]
Choosing the Best Gravel Tire for My Season: Why I’m Switching to the Continental Terra Speed 45s
After two seasons on the Challenge Gravel Grinders, it’s time for a change. With a busy gravel racing calendar ahead—including Gravel Nationals in September—I wanted a tire that would roll fast, grip confidently on mixed surfaces, and handle the unknowns of Midwest gravel. I started by digging into reviews, pressure recommendations, and rolling resistance tests. […]
Gravel Racing with a Heart Condition: My Cycling Comeback, Athletica Training, and a Setback with Ventricular Tachycardia
I headed to the Hungry Bear gravel race in Cable, WI, hopeful. Training had been going well, my legs felt strong, and the early-season races had gone off without a hitch. But just 20 minutes into the race, the familiar signs of ventricular tachycardia returned. My heart rate spiked to 204 bpm, and just like […]
Mud, Miles, and Milestones: Gravel Racing Adventures at Rough Road 100 and Barry Roubaix
Mud, Miles, and Milestones: Gravel Racing Adventures at Rough Road 100 and Barry Roubaix Rough Road 100: A Muddy Adventure in Morris On April 5, I traveled down to Morris, IL, for the Rough Road 100-a flat and increasingly popular gravel race. Over 800 riders braved a chilly morning start in historic Morris, a nice […]
Dirty South Roubaix: First Race of the Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour—Lessons, Grit, and an Orange Tutu
The first race of the Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour is in the books. I finished the Dirty South Roubaix in Alto Pass, Illinois, a 100km gravel race that happened on March 1. I had no heart issues. I wore the orange tutu and orange antenna to celebrate the fundraising milestone. (We’ve raised $1,000 already […]
From Heart Surgery to Gravel Racing: My Comeback at the Dirty South Roubaix
Two years ago, I wondered if I’d ever race a bike again. This weekend, I’m back at the starting line for the Dirty South Roubaix in southern Illinois, my first gravel race since heart surgery-and the first of the Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour. I’ll do the 100k race, which I did three years ago […]
From Heart Scare to Comeback: The Journey Behind the Heart and Gravel Tour
The summer of 2023 started off well for training and racing my bike I was holding my own in the challenging group rides with guys half my age on Saturday mornings. When I started to have some irregular heartbeats, sometimes on rides, I thought they were just spasms and ignored them. Even when I was […]
Riding for Young Hearts: My Gravel Racing Journey to Support Children’s Hospital
Base Training for Cyclists, Runners, and Triathletes: How to Build Endurance, Strength, and Recovery for a Successful 2025 Season
Caffeine Supplementation: Debunking Myths and Uncovering the Truth for Endurance Athletes
