Michaela Handke/ Winonan

Adam Kazilsky found his passion when he was 15-years-old after he completed a bike ride around the entirety of Lake Michigan. He loved it so much he did it another three times in the past five years.

That one bike ride was only the start of Kazilsky’s biking endeavors. After he perfected the nearly 1,000 miles of Lake Michigan, he let his passion lead him further. Last year he participated in a solo, unsupported race of more than 3,000 miles. It stretched from Illinois to Oregon.

“That was when I realized my capability to race across the country,” Kazilsky said.

Kazilsky, a Winona State University senior, has enjoyed his biking adventures thus far, but 3,000 miles in distance won’t cut it. This summer’s race will take him shore to shore as he rides from Oregon to Virginia. As if the distance wasn’t a challenge enough, Kazilsky said he will complete his trek in three weeks on the Trans American Bike Trail: a total distance of 4, 233 miles.

Kazilsky, who is a Recreation and Tourism Major, will start the race on June 6 at 5 a.m. with people from across the world. Because the race is self-supported, if anything is to happen to any of the racer’s bikes, they are in charge of fixing it. They are also held responsible for their food and shelter during the time of the event. Kazilsky and his fellow races can stop whenever and wherever they choose—the only rule is to make it to the finish line on time.

With a challenge as big as this comes preparation and determination.

“The race isn’t just a physical competition. A great deal of mental strength is needed as well, since I will be without human contact for periods of time and on a bicycle for long periods of time,” Kazilsky said.

He said no human contact will be a large struggle, but lack of sleep, which can lead to hallucinations, is another challenge to overcome.

Exercising on an indoor bicycle for several hours each week is Kazilsky’s most important exercise routine. Once snow is gone he plans on adding full day and overnight rides to train for the trip. Though the physical training is important, Kazilsky said he will be training to prepare not only his body but also his mind for this large trek.

“The best training for this is simply getting support through friends, family and the community,” Kazilsky said.

Being on the bike for 15 hours a day for 3 weeks can cause the whole body, and mind, to be strained. But the accomplishment of getting to the other end is what keeps him and other bikers going.

Due to the raise being self-supported, every mile of the race he also needs to raise one dollar.  The money mainly goes toward two things: to meet his caloric needs to be able to sustain his body for the race, and to outfit his bike to be able to sustain the entire race.  Kazilsky has created a GoFundMe website to receive help as well as to keep others informed about the race.

Kazilsky said he is doing this because this is his passion. He said he hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and their passions while spreading the awareness of his own. The three weeks of this intense race will only increase his passion for biking.

On his journey he will carry a little piece of home, the Winona State name, with him from state to state.