All Races
Gravel
Unbound Gravel
5 June 2026Kansas, USA
Distance
322km
Elevation
3400m
Unbound Gravel is a brutal gravel challenge in the Flint Hills of Kansas: routes of 100, 200 and up to 350 miles across relentless terrain, heat, wind and endless stretches of unmaintained gravel. You need endurance, versatility on rough terrain and preparation that includes long sessions, training on irregular surfaces and mastering nutrition and hydration management.
Official siteHow NUA prepares you for Unbound Gravel
Builds your aerobic base
Trains race-specific efforts
Manages load & recovery
Fine-tunes the final weeks
Frequently asked questions about training for Unbound Gravel
How long do I need to prepare for Unbound Gravel?+
NUA builds your plan backwards from race day. For most gran fondos and similar distances, 12-16 weeks is the sweet spot — enough to build aerobic base, then sharpen race-specific efforts. With less than 8 weeks, NUA adapts the plan to focus on finishing strong rather than chasing peak performance.
What does NUA's training plan for Unbound Gravel look like?+
A weekly mix of Z2 endurance, race-specific intervals (climbs, sustained efforts, attacks), and structured recovery. Each week adapts based on your readiness, completed sessions, and how the previous week went. The closer to race day, the more specific the work — tapering kicks in automatically in the final two weeks.
Can NUA help if it's my first time at this distance?+
Yes. During onboarding NUA asks about your weekly volume, experience, and goal (finish, finish strong, target time). First-timers get a base-building approach focused on completing the distance comfortably. Experienced riders get more aggressive interval work and race-day pacing strategy.
Does NUA's plan for Unbound Gravel include indoor training?+
Yes. NUA prescribes both outdoor and indoor sessions based on your availability and weather. Indoor workouts export as ZWO files compatible with Zwift, Rouvy, TrainerRoad, and intervals.icu, and the full plan syncs to Garmin and Wahoo head units.