UNBOUND Gravel Magazine by The Emporia Gazette

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W e o v e r c o m e m o u n ta i n s w i t h i n u s by explor i n g thos e arou n d us .

Saris MTR is our answer to longer wheelbases and fat, juicy tires. Its modular tray design lets you customize carrying capacity for just one bike up to a crew of four. Developed in Madison, Wisconsin, for adventures everywhere. MTR 2-Bike Hitch Rack

UNBOUND GRAVEL TEAM LeLan Dains Michelle Duffy Sara Mahan Kristi Mohn Carli Smolen Treva Worrel PUBLISHER Chris Walker ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Montana Cushing ART DIRECTOR & DESIGN EDITOR Gisela Swift Mark Swift

INSIDE 7

LETTER FROM UNBOUND GRAVEL TEAM

MEET THE UNBOUND GRAVEL TEAM

NEW NAME UNVEILED

TAKE PART IN LIFE TIMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OTHER WORLD-CLASS BIKING EVENTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY

ATHLETES MAKING A DIFFERENCE

15 YEARS OF RIDING FLINT HILLS GRAVEL

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NORMAL AND PANDEMIC TIMES

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

COVER DESIGN & PHOTO Shawn Honea UNBOUND Gravel Magazine is produced by the White Corporation. All content is

THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME CHANGE AND WHAT IS NEXT

ADVERTISING DESIGN Dan Ferrell Margie McHaley

WANT NEW RIDING ADVENTURES?

ATHLETES DONATE $320,000 TO SUPPORT SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS

15 YEAR CELEBRATION

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eli Lederman Dan Hughes Kristi Mohn Amanda Boyer

LIFE TIME FOUNDATION

copyrighted. No part, features, or look and feel of the magazine can be copied or

YEAR ANNIVERSARY

duplicated without prior authorization.

For more information send certified mail to: UNBOUND Gravel Magazine, 517 Merchant, Emporia, KS 66801

LETTER FROM UNBOUND GRAVEL TEAM

Welcome to UNBOUND Gravel. We are excited to be here, and are so grateful that you are part of this crazy and diverse family that has come from riding many miles of unpaved roads together. As the last 15 years have proven, we grow and change when we are riding out there, and that won’t be changing anytime soon. 2020 has proven to be a year of turmoil, but also opportunity. The history of this event is one to remember, but the change we have committed to will provide a more welcoming start and finish line for our gravel family. Truth is, we’ve always wanted our start line to be one of inclusion, and the realization that our name meant exclusion for some simply wasn’t acceptable. We welcome you to read the updates we’ve posted on our website. Our new name is exciting — it represents the way so many of you feel, leaving Emporia and heading into the vast and scenic Flint Hills region. In the past, we’ve encouraged you to find your limit. Moving forward, we want you to embrace that you are capable of more than you think possible. We hope this event helps you push past limits to find something even bigger. We are grateful for the opportunity to help you do just that. While gathering together in Emporia in 2020 was not possible, we hope you find some inspiration and encouragement in the following pages. We miss you, Emporia misses you, and we can’t WAIT for 2021!

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Meet the Team

LeLan Dains

Michelle Duffy

Treva Worrel

LDains@lt.life

MDuffy2@lt.life

TWorrel@lt.life

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: Associate Marketing Director, Life Time Off-Road Events

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: Athlete Service Manager & Director of Stoke

Hometown: Westminster, CO

Hometown: Madison, KS.

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: Race Director Hometown: Emporia, KS Bike or Bikes: Salsa Beargrease and Salsa Cutthroat Favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel: Before I was a co-owner of the event, I was a participant. After finishing the 2008 DK, I then turned to supporting friends and being their crew member. Supporting others in their quest to finish this event and have lifeenriching experiences are my favorite memories. I am blessed to be able to continue doing that in my every day job! Favorite place to ride: The remote and rugged roads of the Flint Hills. Dream place to ride: I’ve had the great pleasure of riding my bike in many wonderful places. But, Iceland looks otherworldly and I’d love to pedal a bike there!

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Kristi Mohn KMohn@lt.life

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: Marketing Hometown: Emporia, KS Bike or Bikes: That’s a big list Favorite UNBOUND Gravel memory: Again, that’s a big list. But if I had to pick just one favorite memory, it would be celebrating Ann Gentle’s 100-mile finish in 2019 Favorite place to ride: I do love the Flint Hills, and am grateful it’s my backyard playground Dream place to ride: Not sure on this, but it would be one with good friends joining.

Bike or Bikes: Salsa Warbird Favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel: The 2019 Training Camp was my first true introduction to the Flint Hills. Being able to spend so much time with our team and seeing the gravel roads that inspired my desire to ride them is an experience I’ll remember forever. Favorite place to ride: The towers climb, deep in the beautiful Flint Hills Dream place to ride: Bikepacking trip around Ireland

Bike or Bikes: Salsa Cutthroat, Salsa Timberjack Favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel: Giving out hugs in the finish chute and working the checkpoints in Madison! Favorite place to ride: Greenwood County near where I grew up! Dream place to ride: In the Flint Hills during UNBOUND Gravel weekend!

Sara Mahan SMahan@lt.life

Carli Smolen

Benjamin Pickel

Smolen@lt.life

BPickel@lt.life

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: All Things Gravel Expo Manager

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: Director, Strategic Partnerships Off-Road Endurance

UNBOUND Gravel Staff Role: Sponsor Relations Manager

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Hometown: Superior, WI (original) Leadville, CO (current)

Favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel: The people involved in the All Things Gravel Expo are simply phenomenal. From our athletes and volunteers to exhibitors and staff, I look forward to spending my time in Emporia surrounded by such inspirational and engaging individuals.

Bike or Bikes: Specialized Epic and Salsa Mucluk Favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel: The people and our amazing partners! Whenever I get to see the Emporia crew, it’s a treat. Favorite place to ride: Too many to choose one! Leadville county roads and single track (thanks to Cloud City Wheelers), CAMBA single track in Cable, WI Dream place to ride: Still need to make the trek to ride southwest Utah. If we’re dreaming big, Scotland!

Bike or Bikes: Jamis Coda

Favorite place to ride: Atlanta BeltLine Dream place to ride: Any western National Park

Hometown: Denver, CO Bike or Bikes: Salsa Warbird, Jamis Renegade Favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel: My favorite thing about UNBOUND Gravel is the people of Emporia. The kindness and welcoming nature they extend to every rider leaves a permanent impression on anyone who visits this amazing community. Each time I visit I find myself filled with a giddy excitement as I enter the Flint Hills knowing that I’m about to arrive in a community that permeates a genuine enthusiasm for Gravel Cycling. Favorite place to ride: Emporia, KS Dream place to ride: Bike Pack the Arizona Trail

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

New Name

Unveiled BY ELI LEDERMAN

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

d LINDA GUERRETTE

To be unbound is to be untethered and unrestrained. Those who are unbound

embrace life without limits or restrictions. The word owns many definitions and derivations, but each one ultimately reaches the same finish line. To be unbound is to be free. It’s the spirit that 4,000 riders bring with them to the Flint Hills of Kansas for one weekend each spring; the spirit of an event that began with 34 participants in 2006 and now stands as the “World’s Premier Gravel Event.” And so, it is fitting that the event and its organization, the one embodied by a limitless ethos that calls Emporia home, now has a name to match its ferocious spirit. The DK is now UNBOUND Gravel. After 15 years of history and nearly a full year of change, the cycling event known around the world has a new name. Between a COVID-19 cancellation, a leadership shift and now, at the request of the Kaw Nation, a name change, it’s been a year of transformation for the organization. But with a new title, fresh colors and an original, Kansas-centric logo, UNBOUND Gravel is ready to embark on a new beginning in the fall of 2020. As the organization transitions into its next chapter, UNBOUND Gravel intends to honor the history it has built over the past decade and a half while continuing to uphold the event that attracts riders from nearly 40 countries to Emporia every spring. But UNBOUND Gravel also has its eyes on the future; with help from its partner, Life Time, the organization will seek to expand its reach and inclusivity, both in Emporia and within the greater world of cycling, hoping to attract an even wider breadth of athletes into its family. It’s an opportunity the organization is ready to embrace. “This event has always been a place for people to come and ride bikes and celebrate community, and we’re excited to continue that tradition,” UNBOUND Gravel Marketing Manager Kristi Mohn said. “But we’re also excited about moving forward to an even more inclusive start and finish line and experience than we’ve ever had.” As UNBOUND Gravel navigated the difficulties of a COVID summer, it also was forced to grapple with transition at the very top of its leadership structure. On June 20, event co-founder Jim Cummins and Life Time parted ways after he made public comments on Facebook justifying the police-shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta. UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Following the dismissal, the existing leadership team at UNBOUND Gravel and Life Time released a plan to create change and move forward, operating in uncertain times without one of the founders who built DK into one of the largest gravel races in the world. To many, the name “DK” for years signified the rugged-nature of gravel racing in the Flint Hills. The organization’s premier, 200-mile event is not for the faint of heart. Cuts, scrapes and mud stains are just as much an element of the ride as the challenge of the endurance event itself. “DK, and what its athlete represented, had become something of a badge of honor in the region,” Marketing Director Michelle Duffy said. “Previously, we had support from the Kaw Tribe. They had seen what this event means to our athletes and what it means to the town. But that didn’t mean that it wasn’t also hurtful at the same time. It is important to acknowledge that having the tribe’s support for what our race and athletes embody is not the same as having approval of the name. It became clear that this actually isn’t something that we, or they, felt proud standing behind.” Now, as fall turns to winter, UNBOUND Gravel is turning a new page. Along with a changed name, the event is beginning its transition with an altered color-scheme and a new logo. When the UNBOUND Gravel team began plotting its next steps, consulting community members and involved members of the cycling world, it set out to find designs that epitomized not only the event, but the

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

beauty of the region that is on display each spring. The natural accents of Emporia in springtime have become as much a staple of the event as the challenging rides and the community atmosphere. Glistening blue skies, plush green foliage and yellow flowers are all elements riders have come to expect from the Flint Hills, and each of those colors will now be incorporated into UNBOUND Gravel’s colorways. Its new logo, a bison in mid-stride, will serve as a symbol for the region and for the organization’s goal of continually moving forward. “The new logo and colors, we feel, are representative of the area,” Mohn said. “It represents the hills where you ride and the winding roads that you’re on. All of it is a nod to the region.” A new name, fresh colors and logos and renewed leadership team have arrived for an event that has built a brand on its familiarity with riders in the world of cycling. In the name, appearance and management, UNBOUND Gravel is an altered, improved organization. But the event that riders from near and far have become accustomed to isn’t going anywhere. Ask the team at UNBOUND Gravel, and they’ll say it’s only set to get better. “We work with some of the best athletes and communities, and we can’t wait to have them back in Emporia,” Treva Worrel, Athlete Services Manager stated. In 2006, 34 riders embarked on the first DK gravel race in the Flint Hills of Eastern Kansas under the purview of co-founders Cummins and the late Joel Dyke. In 2020, the event was forced to cap its field to 4,000, operating with a lottery system to handle

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TO BE UNBOUND IS TO BE

massive demand for registration. The small ride that began 15 years ago is now a global event, attracting riders from all 50 states and 38 countries. When the event began, gravel racing was niche, and Kansas was considered flyover country in the world of cycling. Over the past decade, gravel racing has boomed and Emporia has become its unlikely epicenter as the event and its organization have blossomed. Today, UNBOUND Gravel offers more than a half-dozen events along with programming and a 100-plus vendor expo on its racing weekend, attracting amateurs and professionals alike to ride through Emporia, its neighboring communities and into the Flint Hills every spring. When the event rolls around each year, the population of nearly 25,000 that calls Emporia home typically grows by another 10,000 visitors. UNBOUND Gravel, often referred to as the world’s premier gravel event, has certainly earned its moniker and intends to continue that tradition. “Anywhere in the world, within the world of cycling, if you bring up our event, it is recognized,” Race Director LeLan Dains said. “We hear that from pro racers who travel to Europe. They get bombarded with questions about our

event and American gravel and what the whole scene looks like. UNBOUND Gravel is the Super Bowl event of gravel riding.” The grueling races UNBOUND Gravel has to offer have, of course, been its calling card, but the community it brings to Emporia and fosters within the world of cycling has been maybe just as important in building the event. Under its new banner, the organization plans to maintain that momentum, continuing to cultivate the cycling family it has established. But as part of its new mission, UNBOUND Gravel is also facing and learning from its past, and evolving now to make its start line and event weekend even more inclusive in its future. As the events of this past summer unfolded, the members of the UNBOUND Gravel team came to realize that -- for as comprehensive as its community had always been -- it still was not as inclusive as it may have thought. The costs associated with cycling have long kept people from underserved and underrepresented communities from becoming involved in the sport, and UNBOUND Gravel’s annual event has been no exception. The organization is working to change that. In its June 26 statement announcing the name change, Life Time also committed to forming a diversity, equality

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UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

and inclusivity coalition to impact UNBOUND Gravel and its other 30-plus events in the endurance cycling and running industry. Its goal, as UNBOUND Gravel moves into its next phase, is to partner with organizations within cycling that are already helping diverse and underserved communities and to form connections to make its own event and the industry as a whole more inclusive. The coalition, in its infancy now, is a key part of the organization’s commitment to being better. “It’s our responsibility to create a place that’s inclusive for everyone, because we believe that’s what cycling is about,” Mohn said. “It’s a place for everyone. That’s what gravel is. Maybe our last event name and brand didn’t make it feel like a place for everyone, but that’s not what the event represents.” While UNBOUND Gravel is only beginning to work toward tangible progress in this respect, it has in the past succeeded in broadening its appeal to new groups. The event has been an industry-leader in bringing women into the world of cycling. Headlined by a “200 women, 200 miles” campaign in 2017, Mohn and her team led a charge that significantly diversified its field, with women making up more than 25 percent of total athletes at the 2019 event. The team has also worked to expand youth event offerings, partnering with organizations such as Pedaling Minds and Buddy Pegs, to offer educational- and

fitness-centered cycling at the event. They are excited to continue broadening the offerings and growing the cycling community. UNBOUND Gravel’s priority now is to achieve the same success in diversifying its event among communities it has previously overlooked. “This is an opportunity for us not only to change our name, but to change our position in the industry,” Duffy said. “While we’re already leading at the forefront, we want to continue to push the needle as industry leaders to make sure everyone feels included and represented. If this event doesn’t feel like a place for everyone, then we’ve failed as an event and an organization. And our plan is to succeed with flying colors.” In 2020, the cycling event that put Emporia on the map has a new title. In name and, more than ever, in practice, the organization is UNBOUND Gravel, ready to embrace the future. In the past, a popular slogan within the event was to “find your limit,” a motto aimed at pushing riders to their extremes. But to be unbound is to be limitless and to move freely. It’s the approach this event and its riders have always epitomized. Now it’s the mantra the organization is living by as it seeks to improve and looks forward to the future.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

YEAR ANNIVERSARY

THENAND

NOW

15 Year Annivers BY DAN HUGHES

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

sary

“We’ll be friends forever, won’t we Pooh?” Piglet asked. “Even longer.” Pooh answered. - A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh

Much has changed since 34 intrepid souls pedaled out of Emporia for the inaugural DK 200 in 2006. The size of the field at DK has skyrocketed alongside the average speed, and as technology has evolved over the years, so too has the sheer horsepower of not only the riders, but also the organization behind The World’s Premier Gravel Grinder. And yet, some things have not changed at all. The course — laid out anew every few years — is still long and punishing; likewise for the incredible outpouring of Midwestern hospitality that Emporia showcases every year. But more than UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

anything, it’s the friendship and camaraderie of the gravel squad that endures and brings riders and their families back year after year. To be sure, Kansas is not often heralded as the best spot in the world to ride a bicycle; much less for hours on end, especially if you’re more familiar with the Midwest as being flyover country. But if you come in with lowered expectations, then the stage is set for your assumptions to be upended as Kansas is beautiful, tough and at the same time, welcoming. Ask Yuri Hauswald, the winner of what most consider to be the most epic Kanza ever, the 2015 edition (“the mud year”).

“I came to the Kanza because GU was a sponsor of the event,” he said. “But what blew me away was the beauty of the Flint Hills, the support of the community and the lasting friendships I have made. I was one of those guys that thought, ‘How hard can it be? How boring will it be, etc.?’ But I was floored when I got here.” Hauswald’s thoughts are not unique amongst the gravel-minded. “We were the crazies back then,” 11-time DK 200 finisher and 2010 champion Corey Godrey of Lincoln, Nebraska, said. “The roadies were doing their thing and mountain bikers had their own endurance events in the shape of 12-hour and 24-hour races, but I wanted a challenge that wasn’t doing laps somewhere, something that was unique and new throughout the event. Plus, you make a lot of friends when you’re riding side-by-side with someone for hours and hours.” Equally lasting is the effort behind completing the race and the personal transformation that results from it.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

YEAR ANNIVERSARY

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

“You learn a lot when you turn yourself inside out to finish this thing,” Godfrey added, underscoring the idea that no matter where someone finishes in the field, the challenge and growth are ubiquitous, even if achieved at slightly different speeds. Wendy Davis agrees. Davis was the first woman to complete five DK200s and enter the vaunted 1,000-Mile Club, and did so while pulling off a streak of six consecutive finishes on Commercial Street. “You always finish the race as a different person,” Davis said. “I’ve made lifelong friends back in the pack, where we tell each other stories and sometimes even secrets we might never have said out loud; such is the nature of being out there all day. The DK is the best thing I’ve ever done on a bike, and even when people told me I was crazy for doing it, I thought, ‘Well, I better keep being crazy!’” This level of curated insanity certainly has caught the eye of the cycling industry too, as major manufacturers now produce specific gravel racing machines.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

“Before I ever tried the DK200, I had a guy tell me across a campfire that I could never do it. I think about him every time I get in a dark spot during the race, and every time I cross the finish line in Emporia. I’ll think of him this year when I come back for my seventh finish.”

Designed to aid riders by providing comfort and carrying capacity over the course of their long day, modern gravel bikes meld the vibration damping characteristics of mountain bikes with the sleekness of their road bike cousins. And, as the bike industry has embraced gravel, so too have the crème de la crème of the bike racing world. Intrigued by its novel nature and lured by the prestige of a high placing at the race,

it’s now commonplace for everyday racers to line up alongside folks that have raced at the highest levels around the world. But even for accomplished racers like Ted King, the experience can be about more than finishing first. King, the men’s overall winner in both 2016 and 2018, has professional racing experience in events such as the

- Wendy Davis

Tour de France, the Tour of Italy, and Paris-Roubaix, but completely embraces the ethos of the gravel scene. “There are other metrics for success than just winning,” King said. “I love walking down Commercial Street and being surrounded by a community that’s bigger than the race itself. Moreover, I love the people DK and what gravel in general have brought to the sport. There are people in Emporia and beyond that were never going to be roadies, but this vibe draws them in.” And while some bemoan the presence of elite racers, others are not so quick to let their interest dissuade them from their personal journey. “I hear people say it’s changed because the pros are there. I say, ‘Hogwash’ to that,” Australian-born UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

YEAR ANNIVERSARY

five-time finisher Janeen McCrae said. “At the start line, I see the same look of excited fear on the faces of first-timers as I wore myself that first year. In that moment, I don’t think angrily to myself, ‘Dammit, all those pros at the front will push me to 410th place instead of the 310th result that I so richly deserve.’ I kid — but seriously, I think this race is about what I can do, not other people, and that never changes.” That ethos of solo effort often keeps rolling beyond the finish line. On several occasions, Kanza conquerors have gone home with not only memories, but also inspiration. “Before I ever tried the DK200, I had a guy tell me across a campfire that I could never do it,” Davis said. “I think about him every time I get in a dark spot during the race, and every time I cross the finish line in Emporia. I’ll think of him this year when I come back for my seventh finish.” That she has channeled that same attitude as she coaches beginner gravel cyclists to their own personal bests at the DK is a testament to the profound reach of the event. This is also true for three-time women’s winner Rebecca Rusch, who returned home to found her own event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho. Or King himself, who launched his new gravel event, Rooted Vermont, last year. And don’t forget Godfrey who, along with Craig Schmidt, is on his 11th running of Gravel World’s in Lincoln, Nebraska. “The gravel scene is so amazing that I wanted to share it with all the folks back home,” Godfrey said.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

So, while DK has grown and evolved to the juggernaut that it is today — bringing with it fresh legs, new machines, and rising expectations, while at the same time exporting the gospel of gravel across much of the nation (and beyond) — most of what brought those initial riders to the Flint Hills of Kansas in the first place has remained refreshingly constant: the challenge, the camaraderie and the community. With enough of all the above to spare. To borrow a phrase from Piglet: “This race will go on forever, won’t it?” Even longer Piglet. Hopefully…even longer.

By the numbers

15 Years

Record Holders Fastest Average Speed Men Colin Strickland 2019 - 20.19

Fastest Average Speed Female Alison Tetrick 2017 - 17.68

Oldest Male Finisher Gisle Lanslet - 73 200 Miles

Oldest Female Finisher Barbara Tardiff - 63 200 Miles

Male vs Female Finishers

Participants by Event 200 Miles 100 Miles 50 Miles 25 MIles

Male Finishers (72.73%)

350 Miles 0

Female Finishers (27.27%)

Number of Participants

Participants by Years

the

HISTORY Attendance

40 Countries Represented 50 States Represented

2.5k

0 2006

2007

2008

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Number of Participants

2011

2016

50 mile fun ride & 200 mile relay option

Race weekend expanded to include expo and round table forums

2018 All Things Gravel Expo expanded

2010

2013

2017

Race moves to downtown Emporia, in front of Granada Theatre 25 mile fun ride added

100 mile "halfpint" added "race the sun" added

#200women200miles campaign pushed women's registration to 20%

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

PHOTO BY GREG JORDAN

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

PHOTO BY GREG JORDAN

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

DON'T MISS

Gravel and Mountain Biking Events Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough off-road riding? From MTB in the mountains to gravel in the Midwest, Life Time Athletic Events has an off-road experience of every kind. Elevate your training with these Life Time Gravel Events:

Big Sugar - NWA Gravel Located in the Northwest region of Arkansas, Life Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest gravel race is one of the most challenging and rewarding races to which riders can look forward. Curb your gravel sweet tooth with loose, canopy covered gravel roads, elevation gain throughout and picturesque views through the entirety of the courses. The Big Sugar Gravel offers two races so riders of all skill level can have a taste of that sweet NWA gravel. The Big Sugar course is a 100-mile race in the remote and rugged highlands of the Ozark Mountains, while the Little Sugar course is a 50-mile race located in the highlands and designed for recreational cyclists. The Inaugural event will take place on October 23, 2021!

Crusher In The Tushar Experience high-altitude gravel racing through the stunning backcountry of Utah’s Tushar Mountains and Fishlake National Forest. The race begins in downtown Beaver and riders embark on a 70-mile journey that shifts between gravel and tarmac gravel. The Tushars are among Utah’s tallest mountains, and one can expect 10,000 feet of climbing throughout this race! The captivating views make up for the burning of the legs. Crush this gravel race on July 10, 2021.

Switch up your cycling and explore the exhilarating MTB events across a variety of mountain ranges:

 32

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB The iconic race across the sky takes you on a journey of high altitude and extreme terrain across the Colorado Rockies. The race starts at over 10,000 feet and was created for the most committed athletes. As the air gets a little thinner, the views get even better. If you qualify to race the LT100, or get lucky in the lottery, we’ll see you on August 14, 2021!

Austin Rattler MTB Take on thrilling single-track trails through Texas hill country! With courses featuring a mix of terrain at a beautifully maintained ranch, riders can opt for the 33K loop or 100K over three laps to qualify for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. We’ll see you down in Austin on November 7, 2020!

Wilmington Whiteface MTB The Wilmington Whiteface takes you through a paradise of spectacular views and rocky summits in Northeastern New York. You may remember iconic Olympians skiing down this vertical drop east of the Rockies, but you will be climbing straight up on your bike. Choose between the 50K distance or the 100K distance if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to qualify for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. Both are full of rugged backcountry roads, flowing single track and fast descents. The 2021 race takes place on June 5.

Tahoe Trail MTB This challenging course takes you onto ski area trails through breathtaking pine forests in Northern California. Race one 50K loop or tackle two to qualify for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race. This course delivers the perfect balance of fast and flowy trail riding and plenty of hills to keep you on your toes. Take on the Tahoe Trail on July 17, 2021.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Stages Cycling Silver Rush 50 MTB Part of the Leadville Race Series, these 50 miles will put your skills and endurance to the test. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll gain over 8,000 feet of elevation through technical climbs and descents, with stunning views the entire way. The 2021 Silver Rush 50 MTB takes place on July 10!

Stages Cycling Leadville Stage Race The Stage Race takes the course of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB and spreads it over three thrilling days. Riders complete 40 miles, then 20, followed by another 40 on the last day, and have the chance to win prizes throughout the entire weekend. The Stage Race is the perfect mix of enjoyable riding and training.

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Chequamegon MTB Festival Located in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin, the Chequamegon MTB Festival is a weekend full of riding and celebrating. This event offers three different races for riders of all skill levels. Whether you’re a professional athlete or one of the littlest off-road riders, Chequamegon has a race for you. Turn the weekend into a family affair with a post-race festival filled with beer, live music and food trucks. Gather in the woods September 18, 2021!

Barn Burner Head out west for some endurance mountain biking in Flagstaff, Arizona! You can race two loops (50 miles) or four loops (100 miles) through the Coconino National Forest. Although the course isn’t technically challenging, your lungs will still be burning through some climbs. The Barn Burner is a laid back race with some cool weather and high altitude riding. The 2021 race takes place on September 18!

UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

Stages Cycling Lutsen 99er The Lutsen 99er has you racing above the shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota on a mix of snowmobile/ski trails and forest service roads. If 99 miles is too daunting, this event also offers a 69-mile race, a 49-mile race, a 25-mile race and a kids race. As if rolling hills and streams through the southern range of the Boreal Forest weren’t cool enough, you’ll likely see a moose or two on your ride. Mark your calendars for the weekend of June 25-27, 2021!

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UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

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DONATIONS

SUPPORT SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS

onated registration fees from 5Ks, halfmarathons and ultra-endurance events, along with a new virtual event, brings significant dollars to the Life Time Foundation to support schools. With endurance events across the world canceled due to COVID-19, Life Time, which owns and produces more than 30 premier marathons, triathlons and cycling races, worked with athletes to create unique and impactful philanthropic opportunities to benefit children and their families in need. To date, these opportunities total more than $320,000, which will be provided to seven school districts across the country through the Life Time Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and charitable arm of Life Time that works with school districts across the country to inspire and impact the removal of “The Harmful 7.”

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Athletes Across the Nation Give More Than $320,000 to Support School Food Programs’ Urgent Needs after COVID-19 Forces Race Cancellations

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“WHILE WE WEREN’T SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD OPT FOR DONATING THEIR ENTRY FEES, WE HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE OVERWHELMING KINDNESS OF THOUSANDS.” 42

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Triathlon, Crusher in the Tushar, Garmin DK and Leadville Race Series, among others. In addition to registration fee donations, Life Time also created the Leadville 100,000-Foot Challenge, a virtual event to take the place of the marquee Leadville Race Series’ 100-mile run and bike races originally scheduled in mid-August. More than 2,060 athletes participated in the challenge, and 100 percent of the proceeds were also donated to the Life Time Foundation. Between both initiatives, a current total of $320,036 has been donated to the Life Time Foundation by more than 4,000 athletes as of September 1. With this money, the Life Time Foundation has provided immediate COVID-19 assistance grants to school districts in the markets that the races were to take place. They include: • Athletes from nine of Life Time’s signature events were given the option to donate their already-paid entry fees to the Life Time Foundation, to not only improve school menus by removing highly-processed and artificial ingredients identified as negatively impacting student’s health, but also to assist in the Foundation’s temporary focus – to provide immediate assistance for school food programs’ growing needs for personal protective equipment and funding as they navigate entering a new school year amidst the pandemic. “Our Life Time team recognized that our school partners were facing unprecedented and urgent challenges and needed our immediate support to safely continue serving kids and families, and it so happens that we have the most generous athletes,” said Kimo Seymour, President of Events and Media at Life Time and Executive Director of the Life Time Foundation. “As we notified them of our race cancellations, we provided options for handling their race fees, which is something that many other races are unable to do. While we weren’t sure how many people would opt for donating their entry fees, we have been blown away by the overwhelming kindness of thousands.” Participants from the Life Time-produced canceled races include those originally registered for the 2020 Byline Bank Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K, HOKA ONE ONE Chicago Half Marathon & 5K, cbdMD Chicago Triathlon, Verizon New York City Triathlon, Minneapolis

Lake County School District – Leadville, Colo. • New York City Department of Education – New York, N.Y. • Minneapolis Public Schools – Minneapolis, Minn. • Beaver County Schools – Beaver, Utah • Piute County Schools – Junction, Utah • Chicago Public Schools – Chicago, Ill. • Emporia Public Schools – Emporia, Kan. “These grants are the result of athletes across the country making individual decisions that collectively create a significant impact,” Seymour said. “It’s because of them that this is possible. We are also incredibly thankful to the school meal professionals, who are working tirelessly to safely deliver food to children during this crisis.” As of August 2020, the Life Time Foundation partners with 25 school districts across the country, which represent 242 million meals served to 1.5 million students per year. UNBOUND GRAVEL 2020

LIFE TIME FOUNDATION

focuses on making a difference in normal times and Pandemic times.

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We believe that for children to reach their full potential, they must have access to nourishing meals. The Life Time Foundation is a public non-profit committed to helping children grow up strong, smart and loved. We believe that for children to reach their full potential, they must have access to nourishing meals. We also believe that there is a direct connection between obesity and the consumption of artificial and highly-processed foods. But obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease are not the only problems. There’s a host of several other issues that negatively impact the lives of our children: high triglycerides / lipid irregularities, increased cancer risk, learning disabilities, limited attention spans, hyperactivity, behavior problems, depression, anxiety, just to name a few. This issue is so important to us, that we made it our very mission to assist school food professionals in their efforts to keep highly-processed foods out of school meals.

The Power of Nutritious Food in Schools Why school meals? The National School Lunch Program is the second-largest anti-hunger program in the country. Each day over 30 million students eat lunch at school in the United States. Twenty-two million low-income kids rely on them. For far too many children, school lunches and breakfasts are their only reliable source of food for the day. School food professionals face incredible challenges and need support to implement their innovative efforts to get the healthiest food possible onto school menus. Lack of cooking equipment, staff training and access to appropriate funds to afford healthier food greatly affect what goes on the lunch tray. By joining efforts with them, we are helping make each meal as nutritious as possible, so that children are ready to learn and reach their full potential.

How it works Our partnerships with districts center around the creation of sustainable change through the procurement of clean label foods and increase of meals cooked from scratch, while eliminating seven categories of ingredients of concern, which we refer to as the Harmful 7. The Harmful 7 include: •

Trans Fats & Hydrogenated Oils

•

High-Fructose Corn Syrup

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Hormones & Antibiotics

•

Processed & Artificial Sweeteners

•

Artificial Colors & Flavors

•

Artificial Preservatives

•

Bleached Flour

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Through our multi-year partnerships, we provide the support of a registered dietitian who works closely with the foodservice team to identify all product labels containing the Harmful 7. Together, they create and implement a plan to shift toward foods free from the Harmful 7 and increase fresh food offerings and scratch and speed-scratch cooking practices. We also provide financial grants to address emerging needs to achieve the elimination of the Harmful 7, such as capital equipment, staff training, education and marketing and operational support. As of July 2020, we have partnered with 25 school districts across the country, helping increase healthier food access for 1.5 million students in 3,319 schools.

100% of every donation supports our mission Unlike many other charitable organizations in which a portion of donations is consumed by administrative costs, 100 percent of every dollar donated to the Life Time Foundation directly supports its mission, because all administrative costs are contributed by Life Time, Inc. Supporting our partners during the COVID-19 crisis Honoring School Food Professionals, Heroes on the Frontlines Today, School Food Professionals are facing an urgent challenge, one they took on without hesitation when schools closed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to continue feeding our children through the unknowns of COVID-19. From walk, bike and drive-thrus, to bus delivery, the feat to feed our children has been nothing short of remarkable. Challenges will only grow with the start of the new school year, and School Food Professionals will continue to be on the frontlines working long hours to make sure no child goes hungry. So, while we continue to be firmly committed to our mission to eliminate the Harmful 7, we are temporarily focusing our efforts on providing our partners with funding for essential supplies needed to safely continue serving students. Your donation is more important than ever. Be a supporter at give.ltfoundation.org/schools.

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We missed seeing you, canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see you next year!