06/05/2026
Unbound 200 - Carrie's ride.
2025 Unbound - I didn't finish. I was physically ready but didn't follow my nutrition/hydration plan and my body didn't make it. I made my "how I will finish 2026 list" the next morning.
2026 - I "raced" with only one goal - FINISH. Time didn't matter, I was going to cross the finish line. Here's a few highlights:
* Mother Nature tried to strike down every rider on the course. So much lightning all day and night.
* The Kansas peanut butter mud lived up to its legend. My bike has been washed twice, parts removed/washed and has battle scars.
* Flooded tunnels up to your knees are as disgusting as they look, but my shoes and legs were "clean" after them.
* The never ending lightning strikes actually helped keep me stay focused. At night it was quite the show across the Flint Hills.
* I started the ride with sun protection sleeves on because it was supposed to be sunny. They helped protect my arms in the hail storm well. Hail does sting on the face.
* Nutrition/Hydration - I am capable of eating massive amounts of gels in one day, variety was the key this year. Drinking a coke at each SAG stop was a good call.
* Turning off notifications to my Garmin and watch from my phone probably wasn't the best idea. I didn't know Dan and Ryan had each texted me to seek shelter in the last 40 miles of the event due to being in the magenta/pink part of the radar.
*Somehow I never crashed in all the mud, rain, flooded roads, hail, etc.
* I felt great all day.
* I followed the plan eating, drinking and spinning my bike through mud, rain, hail, lightning, wind, and some sunshine.
I FINISHED UNBOUND 200 - my terms, my plan, it was an amazing day I will never forget.
Thank you to everyone who has been encouraging me and sharing in this madness. Time to chill a little, hit some golf balls, go bowling and yes, ride my bike.
(photo cred to people who were out there in the crazy with me, sorry I didn't copy names)
