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I started riding in 2002. My goal last year was to ride 100 miles in one day. I rode 105 in late September. (The story is here) The thought of doing B.R.A.N. (Bike Ride Across Nebraska) was planted in my head when I was first riding the Keystone Trail here in Omaha, long before I even knew that I would be able to ride long distances.  One day I saw a little old lady on a cruiser bike with a BRAN entry number affixed. I was really impressed by that. I never did talk to her to ask if she had done the whole route, or just part of it, but it didn’t really matter, the point was that she obviously had done it!  After last season ended, I was thinking about my biking goals for 2003. During 2002, we had discovered the Wabash Trace Trail in Iowa, and enjoyed it. I thought it would be a great one day goal to ride the entire length of the trail, back & forth, which is 128 miles! Something was missing in my goals, and it came to me one day that I needed to do BRAN. It seemed like a fantastic dream to me that I could possibly be fit enough to do such a thing. I was the clumsy girl in elementary school who was picked last for the teams at recess. I’d never accomplished anything fitness related in my entire life. At age 42, it seemed like the time had come to conquer that that old mindset, the one that said I could not accomplish something athletic. I was still amazed that I had rode 105 miles last year, but to go 455 over 7 days would be another story! (and in my case, literally another story as evidenced by this webpage!)

 

In order to accomplish this feat, I had to prepare my mind & body. I joined the YMCA, primarily to use their machines to strengthen my lower body. ( I still do upper body, of course) I had been doing strength training for a long time, and felt my upper body was in good shape. Jim bought me a bike trainer for Christmas, and I also used the stationary bike at the Y on a high resistance level with either a hill or interval setting. (A bike trainer is a device that converts your bike into a stationary bike) In my mind, I had to have the confidence that I could do this. The one thing that I was worried about was the hills that I will encounter on the ride. I was used to riding the trail, which was flat with a few inclines here & there….no comparison to the highways of Nebraska. (Yes, part of Nebraska is flat, but when you get off the Interstate, you discover the hills)  Would I be able to ride those hills for as long as 90 miles on multiple days?  As far as I can tell by looking at the route, there will only be about 1 day that is a flat ride. The rest of the days will have hills of various sizes, although parts of a couple of other days could be flat as well. The only way I have to physically prepare is to ride hilly highways as far as I can. Doing this will also give me the confidence that I can make the entire trip. As I did on my 105 mile trip, I will devote each leg of the ride to  certain groups or individuals, and I will ride in their honor.

 

The BRAN route and my daily dedications are as follows:

 

Day 1, June 8th: Valentine to Mullen  74.5 miles  This first day is devoted to my wonderful husband of 22 years, Jim, who has loved me through thick and thin and has so unselfishly volunteered to be my road crew on BRAN. 

 

Day 2: Mullen to Dunning  52.6  This day is devoted to my family and friends. I am blessed to have a wonderful, supportive family and friends, and as I ride, I’ll think of each of them, both living & deceased, and how fortunate I am to have them in my life.

 

Day 3: Dunning to Sargent  89.9  This longest and most difficult leg of the journey is devoted to all my friends in Weight Watchers, particularly those with a long & difficult journey ahead of them. With each turn of my pedals, I ride for these beautiful and caring individuals, that they might know that anything is possible if they dare to dream it!

 

Day 4: Sargent to Spaulding  67.4  At the suggestion of family and friends I will dedicate this day to myself. It seemed like a selfish thing to do, but in retrospect, it’s ok to celebrate who I am & where I have traveled.  

 

Day 5: Spaulding to Central City  56.0  I dedicate this ride to the people that I work with. As my life has changed dramatically over the past 2 years, these people have been there for me, day in & day out, listening to me, & supporting me . They have a special place in my heart.

 

Day 6: Central City to Seward  64.1  This day marks two years since my son disappeared. I almost decided not to do BRAN because of this, but then I felt certain that Jason would want me to do this, and so I ride this day for him and all missing people.

 

Day 7: Seward to Ashland  50.7  As in my 105 mile ride, it is only fitting that this last day should be dedicated to the glory of God. All that I am comes from Him, my strength, my talents, and all that I am blessed with, and these blessings are many!

 

This is a map of the route. The route will not be in a straight line from city to city as depicted. My home, Omaha is not on the route  The ride begins in Valentine, and ends in Ashland.

 

 

 

     

This is my BRAN training progress chart:

BRAN Training Photos here.

 

BRAN training rides adventures here.