TEXARKANA -- Natalia Victoria is inline skating her way from Houston to Chicago, working to become only the third woman in the United States to complete the task.
Small in stature but big in heart, Victoria is a power house who expects to make the 1,100-mile journey in only three weeks estimated time. The challenge brought her to Texarkana on June 22 and 23, with Little Rock her next destination.
"What inspired me to take on the challenge of skating 1,100 miles across the country was the desire for enlightenment and empowerment, paired with my mom, who used to often tell me when I went to her for insight, 'Skate it out,'" Victoria said.
She was only 2 years old when her mother introduced her to skating at Humble Family Skate Center in Humble, Texas, igniting a passion in her at a very young age that remains to this day.
"By the time I was 4, I was zipping around at high speeds and earning myself a reputation for being a beast on skates," she said.
Her mother was a lover of skating and would bring Victoria to the skate rink at least once a week. In her teenage years, she trained beneath Mitch Tate, a former speed skate coach for the Humble Speed Team. When she was 19, she ventured into roller dance.
Victoria didn't stop there. She even attempted roller derby for a period of time in order to meet friends with similar interests in skating.
Four years ago she was given the opportunity to participate in roller dancing for a large event through a talent agency. She's been roller dancing for a living since then. Victoria said she loves her career and is grateful every day that she gets to live out her dreams.
"I am very fortunate to be able to provide for my daughter and I on my skill set as an artist and performing artist," she said. "I have fought and worked very hard for this dream and hope to inspire others to follow their dreams, as well, by sharing my story."
For Victoria, skating is a form of therapy, whether dancing or skating long distances as a form of meditation.
"Typically, skating long distance involves me cruising in the neighborhood or exploring in the city, but this wild idea came to me in an experience that is logically unexplainable."
One night when Victoria was driving home, she began to fall asleep at the wheel. The next moment, a flash of bright light spread across the sky and in that moment she felt a surge of energy burst within her.
Then she heard the voice of her mother telling her, "Skate to Chicago."
"My heart was racing," she said. "I was shocked trying to make sense of what I just experienced, and then I heard her again: 'Just do this and everything will fall into place.'"
For a while prior, Victoria had been soul searching, learning to cope with the loss of her mother and other major changes in her life. It was then when she came up with the idea, with a nudge from her late mother's voice pushing her to take on the challenge.
Everything began to fall into place for her big plan, with only two weeks to get everything she needed, to research more and to prepare -- and she made it happen.
"My friend Bo volunteered to drive behind me this summer. My daughter would be visiting with family. Then my friend Stathis stepped in to help me start a fundraiser," Victoria said. "My friend Debra was between productions and able to fly out and help document my journey."
Other details, such as where she will be staying during the nights, are still up in the air. Along the way she is facing some challenges, such as having to change wheels, enduring painful blisters and consuming enough calories to provide energy.
"I am taking one day at a time," she said.
All of Victoria's safety gear didn't arrive until the day before she left for her trek. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to break in her new skates because she caught COVID two weeks before she left.
"I stopped my training and gave myself the two weeks to recover and prayed for my strength to skate while dealing with the fatigue that is associated with COVID."
So far, she has met a lot of wonderful people encouraging her, though there have been a few naysayers.
"People have reached out to me to let me know they have been following my journey with their kids, some waking up before 7 a.m. just to witness me go live and skate into the next city.
"I haven't had a very good response from some of my family, though. In fact, I have more support from my friends and complete strangers. ... Boo. I will prevail," she said.
Victoria has learned about two other women who have attempted the feat.
"One young woman did it to prove stranger kindness, and another wanted to set a record with Guiness," she said. Her reason is to learn life lessons.
"I want to record these lessons in a series of diaries for my daughter so she has them forever. I want her to see and hear what I'm learning so she has something to keep after I'm gone," she said.
Victoria is discovering much about herself during her trip, things she never imagined would help her grow in strength and spirituality.
"I'm learning what I'm capable of and the insight I'm gaining from my journey," she said. "This is a journey of the Phoenix."
She wants to show other women, young girls and especially her daughter that they can be anything and anyone they set their minds on.
"Be someone you are proud of," she said. "Follow your heart and don't let anyone stop you. If the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams, then dream big and grow into them."
She emphasized that dreams don't get achieved without failing at times. The important thing is persevering, never giving up.
"Victories are seldom found without failure," she said.
Victoria looks forward to seeing her daughter as she completes her arduous but meaningful trip in Chicago. She looks forward to having her mother look down with happiness and pride. And she looks forward to inspiring other people to follow her example by chasing their dreams, whatever they may be.
"Love inspires people to do big things," she said. "The bond and love I shared with my mom was very big, so big that I will skate across the country because I trust her. I trust that I will inspire my own daughter to follow her dreams, and show by example that she is capable of whatever her heart desires."