
Episode #201
Fueling the Long Haul: Cecily Decker on Gravel Racing, Gut Training & Race-Day Nutrition
Send us Fan Mail In episode #201 Kyla Channell talks with gravel racer Cecily Decker and breaks down how she’s built a gravel-first racing career around endurance, fueling, and smart adaptation after major knee injuries. The conversation covers her transition from ski racing to cycling, the mental side of long efforts, and the nutrition protocol that now helps her perform at a much higher level. We discuss Cecily’s race background, her approach to carbs, fluids, caffeine, and bicarbonate, plus the race-day routines she uses to stay consistent and competitive. Key topics Cecily shares her path from ski racing to cycling Her off-road focus Her endurance mindset Her mental cues in deep pain Her nutrition evolution from granola bars to liquid calories Treating her gut like a performance tool Straightforward recovery strategies Please note that this podcast is created strictly for educational purposes and should never be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. ABOUT CECILY DECKER Cecily Decker is a professional cyclist recognized for her versatility across endurance disciplines and her consistent presence at the front of elite gravel racing. Known for combining aerobic depth and resilience, she has built a reputation as a fierce and adaptable competitor in some of the sport’s most demanding events. In her 2025 season, Cecily achieved a podium at Unbound and Leadville and 2nd place in the Lifetime Grand Prix Series. In 2026, she’s hit the podium at Mid South and finished top 10 at the Sea Otter Classic. Beyond results, Cecily values a good adventure above almost anything. Cecily competes in skimo racing during the cycling offseason and uses it as a tool to explore the mountains and compete in a lower pressure environment. Her multidisciplinary approach is what sets her apart, giving her a distinctive perspective in both sports. She is also a former alpine ski racer for the US National team. FOLLOW CECILY: IG: https://www.instagram.com/cecily_decker FREE RESOURCES Gut Training Tips: https://mailchi.mp/nutritional-revolution/guttrainingtips Carb Loading Guide: https://mailchi.mp/nutritional-revolution/free-carb-loading-guide MENTIONED MNSTRY Fueling Products, Available on the Feed: https://thefeed.com/teams/nutritional-revolution TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introducing Cecily Decker and her second-place Lifetime Grand Prix finish 01:08 - Two truths and a lie: skimo title, ultra running, and whitewater kayaking 03:05 - From ski racer to cyclist after knee injury and rehab 04:46 - Why Cecily leans hard into gravel over mountain bike and road racing 05:19 - Managing chronic knee pain and the impact of repeated injuries 06:20 - The osteotomy surgery that realigned her femur 07:46 - Why long-duration suffering became appealing 09:08 - Mental strategy for embracing discomfort instead of fighting it 10:00 - Using self-talk in the pain cave and staying calm under pressure 11:45 - Grand Prix year two and the early nutrition evolution 12:01 - The first 100-mile race and the meal replacement bar that never got eaten 13:37 - Progressing from inconsistent fueling to 90 to 100 grams of carbs per hour 14:31 - Sea Otter race plan and lap-based carb targets 15:20 - Finding the sweet spot before GI issues become a problem 16:09 - Testing 160 grams per hour and discovering a late-race second wind 17:48 - Fueling by gut tolerance, not calories burned 18:46 - What she learned from pushing carb intake in training 19:10 - Recovery after high-carb efforts and race nutrition 20:26 - Why she avoids full gut bombs during racing 21:10 - Cutting fiber about 24 hours before races 22:46 - Gradually increasing carbs in the final three days 23:55 - Favorite carb sources: rice, oats, and bread MORE NR Apply to work with Kyla → https://p.bttr.to/3ZrwzcF Use code NEWPOD10 for 10% off our meal plans → https://nutritional-revolution.com/products/ CONNECT Instagram → www.instagram.com/nutritionalrevolution Sponsorship inquiries → kyla.c@nutritional-revolution.com Interested in having your biomarkers or nutrigenomics checked? Email us at nutritionalrev@gmail.com TRUSTED RESOURCES Supplements (save 20%) → https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/kchannell Feed Club ($20 off) → https://thefeed.com/teams/nutritional-revolution Kyla's top picks → https://shopmy.us/shop/nutrev Follow us @nutritionalrevolution






