At SBT GRVL earlier this month, I set a goal of finishing in seven hours, hoping to be back at the finish line by 2 p.m. Is this an ambitious goal for me? Not by a long shot. Is it realistic? Yes.
That 2pm finish would put me at a comfortable pace of 8 mph for my planned completion of the Red Course, which consisted of 56 miles (90km) of gravel and pavement with nearly 4,800 feet (1463m) of climbing. My typical pace on gravel is 11 mph, so my goal was readily achievable as long as I stuck to the plan of minimal stops, walking when necessary to maintain forward progress, and keeping the rubber side down.
