The planning process makes a huge difference in executing the ride. Layout your fuel stops, rest stops, checkpoints. Plan your ride and Ride your plan.
Achieving an IBA certification is relatively easy in Texas given the high speed limits available on country roads. SH34 south of Honey Grove is a two lane blacktop with 75 mph limits. Man, I wish we had that here in Virginia.
A SaddleSore 1000 is the basic certification ride. Get a start receipt and put it in a baggie. Stop at least every 250 miles and get another receipt and put it in the baggie. At the end, get a final receipt. Have someone sign the witness block on your form at the start and at the end of the ride. On my receipts I write the stop number and the odo reading from the bike.
The time limits on the RAT and RAT Insanity are, imho, very generous taking into account the aforementioned high speed limits available in Texas. My recent ride from Coney Island, NY to the Golden Gate Bridge, CA was 2930 miles and completed in 46h 10m. Now it was all Interstate but, still, the roads on this route can be ridden at similar speeds (well, maybe not western Utah and Nevada speeds but still fast).