Unbound Stories: Mental Prep Before the Flint Hills

Words James Ion - Photography provided by Anny, Tanya, David and Chris

In this last instalment of Unbound Stories before the big race in Emporia, the riders reflect on how they deal with the mental side of training and racing—and how they plan to overcome any setbacks that might hit out on the Flint Hills.

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For some, like Chris Fowler, the battle is fought in solitude. "Alone, my thoughts wandered to why am I pushing this hard? These hills are killing me!" he recalled after Wild Horse Gravel. “Why don’t I just stop at the rest area and chill for a while?” But Chris has a personal reminder etched on his skin—a permanent motivation to keep pushing when the race bites back. “I just have to look at my arm for my permanent reminder of why I am here in this moment and what I can possibly achieve.” Indeed Pushing into the beyond is what will get him past the second rest stop at Unbound. Dave says, “Because I have yet to learn what the course has to teach me beyond that point.”

Dave and Tanya Konshak, tackling the monumental Unbound XL, have taken a pragmatic approach to mental prep. "We’re tackling this by envisioning the different scenarios we might face and practicing under those conditions,” they shared. From fully loaded night rides to mock gas station stops near home, their training mirrors the chaos they expect on race day.

Their self-sufficiency strategy is matched by a meticulous approach to equipment. “One of the biggest hurdles is making sure we have everything we could possibly need for any situation, without weighing the bike down too much.” They've upgraded their lighting setup with a Fenix helmet light and Exposure headlight for longer burn time and better visibility. A custom Cedaero top tube bag with expanded capacity helps them carry more essentials without compromising on accessibility.

For Anna Ferguson, mental toughness isn’t about brute force. “People often think mental toughness means bulldozing through anything. But out here, it looks more like knowing when to back off so you can stay in the game,” she says. Her resilience is grounded in gratitude. “This ride—Unbound—isn’t just hard. It’s a privilege… Gratitude gets me to the start. Stubbornness gets me to the finish.”

Her gear reflects that mindset: reliable, tested, and true. Anna rides a Liv Devote Advanced, a bike she trusts over long hours. “Built for women, built for gravel,” she says. She’s added a RedShift Sports ShockStop stem to soften the blow of rough terrain and rolls on Kenda Alluvium 45s for confident grip when the gravel gets loose. This year, she’s also added a Restrap bike harness, anticipating the notorious Flint Hills mud. “I plan to be ready.”

Where Chris leans on personal milestones, Dave and Tanya lean into preparation and scenario planning. Anna grounds herself in appreciation and well-honed equipment. Different methods, same goal: to be mentally—and mechanically—ready when the Kansas gravel starts to bite.

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Next week is the big one! The riders will be in Emporia, Kansas, getting ready to take on the Flint Hills and the possible mud fest of Ubound Gravel powered by Shimano. They will be keeping us updated with stories and news from the expo and the town and maybe even from the race itself! So make sure to follow @PROgravelmag on Instagram!