(This article is cross posted on Rails-to-Trails’ site.)

When Jenny Nordstrom signed up on Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) Team RTC for the 2008 Brita Climate Ride, she didn’t know exactly what to expect. “I’m an RTC member, and I received [their eNews] featuring the ride,” she says. “I didn’t know anyone else who was going, but I was so excited that I ended up registering 10 minutes later.”

Nordstrom signed up in late July, which didn’t leave her much time for training. She had jumped at the chance to raise awareness of climate change and perhaps meet some interesting people along the way. But at 40 years old, with a toddler at home, she knew her work was cut out for her on a 300-mile ride.

“I was nervous about getting in shape,” she recalls. “So I set up a schedule for myself, increasing ride distances each weekend by 10 percent until I was at a point where I felt comfortable. By the ride, I felt very strong and prepared. I wasn’t the fastest rider by any means, but I didn’t miss a single mile, or walk up a single hill!”

In the end, she pedaled more than 300 miles on the world’s first and only ‘climate conference on wheels’ from New York to the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

“It was really fun being a member of Team RTC. Everyone on the team was so fun and down-to-earth, and our team leader Kartik Sribarra [RTC manager of policy outreach] must be the world’s friendliest person. Plus, we had really cool RTC jerseys!”

When she learned about the 2009 Brita Climate Ride, Nordstrom decided to ride once again. Her second go has her equally excited.

“Climate Ride rocked my world,” she says. “I had done other long-distance charity rides in the past, but never for a cause so dear to my heart. I was amazed by the community of riders—scientists, activists and armchair environmentalists of all ages and experiences. It was inspiring to be riding past people having deep conversations about environmental issues, and I felt honored to be a part of that.”