Lisa Braatz
I’m a mom, wife, CPA, and the CFO of a publishing company. For about 12 years I took spin classes a couple times a week and would occasionally ride gravel with my husband until February of 2021 when I got a flat bar, skinny tire hybrid bike so I could ride with him on the road. After chasing him for a few months, I got a proper road bike and things escalated quickly from there.
By December of 2021, I had ridden over 9000 miles, completed five centuries, and was preparing to do my first road race after only 9 months on a road bike. In 2022, I logged over 10000 miles and placed 3rd in my age group in the Florida State Road Race Championships.
The past two years have been a whirlwind for me. When I started, I would see the Alpha kits on the road and never imagined that I’d be wearing one, that I’d be a member of the team, that I would become the Florida State Time Trial Champion in my age group and that I’d become best friends with Jeanine Seeger, a US National Champion who inspires me daily in more ways than I can count.
It’s been so much fun, but being a woman in a sport completely dominated by men has never been easy. The challenges and pressure throughout my entire journey have been constant but they’ve forced me to continually get out of my comfort zone and push myself to my limits and beyond.
From I Don't Do Easy
As mentioned many times throughout our posts, stories, and the people we interact with, it is not about achieving in specific sports. I Don't Do Easy is about overcoming challenges regardless of what they may be. Our philosophy preaches strength, resolve, and the will to push forward despite the challenges and despite the amount of pressure. Lisa has the I Don't Do Easy strength and we are proud to have Lisa as a part of the tribe.