The Prince's Trust

100 Mile cycle for charity

This year Graeme entered another race for charity, this time it was for “The Princes Trust”, a charity that Graeme is actively involved in.
The race was a very gruelling 100 mile road race between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

‘It’s done... And I am alive’ is the first words Graeme Ferguson said when he completed the 100 mile race on Sunday.

Here is his story.

So when I woke up at 5 am on Sunday I thought to myself , You're dead, what have you gone and committed to now, at least the weather isn’t as bad as forecast (gale force winds, heavy rain) I only need to wear bib shorts and a t shirt. After a quick shower and breakfast I took a taxi to Marc’s house, he seemed so well prepared and over dressed. We arrived at Murrayfield and boarded the bus for Glasgow; I must say I was starting to fall asleep on the journey, until Marc pointed out the weather ahead was not looking great.

Arrival at Glasgow (07:45) really hit it home to me, there’s no turning back. I felt cold and it started to rain. I felt under dressed. The first 5 miles were wet and cold, however my bike and I felt strangely confident. Kit felt like he had lost a few pounds, which made up for my finding them, I actually thought wow this is a great bike this shouldn’t be that bad, let’s go. Cycling through the city wasn’t all that bad at all, I passed a sign I had seen before “Crookfur”, I had been here some months before meeting with some of the people behind the Retail Trust (another of my favourite charities) I was a little concerned as this meant we were heading south?!

The next 15 miles were bad, I had thought I was making real progress, passing through East Renfrewshire however I was so disorientated cold I wasn’t sure if I was still on the right road, I was cycling alone (I had been separated from Marc on the city outskirts). When I saw a sign for “Moscow” I genuinely couldn’t believe my eyes, where are the signs for EDINBURGH surely I must be close?!
When I passed the 20 mile mark, I started to pray, I was sure I had done at least 30/40 miles? Why didn’t I train, this should be a breeze? 20 miles, signs for Moscow??!!?? The “organisers” must have got it wrong. What am I going to do this is horrible, I hate this bike, road and wind! I started planning meticulously thinking about an honourable exit from this sentence of certain death. My first thoughts were; a puncture like no other I want something to literally shred my tire to pieces that ought to do it J I started willing the slightest bump to destroy my tyre, desperation and depression make you think weird things ?!

As the miles past the hope for the mother of all punctures faded, I was just concentrating on staying on my bike – the wind was fierce and the rain fell relentlessly my feet were soaked and felt like bricks – I felt a bit like Pinocchio however I found the lack of feeling helpful. After what seemed like an eternity I reach a mile marker 40 miles!! The feeling of joy was immediately replaced with a feeling of emptiness. I am not even half way and I feel like I have got to stop and climb in a coffin – I need another exit strategy, and fast!! I shall take a “dive”, then i can we whisked off to a nice warm hospital bed – no more pain a nice sleep and a warm meal. Hang on. What if I fall off and only hurt myself a little – I will be unable to fake or lie about my condition and pride will force me back on my bike to finish. What if I break something? I wonder if I will have frost bite, I haven’t been able to move my toes in the last 4 hours?

50 Miles -You know I might just finish was my thoughts, by this time I was taking comfort from speaking to myself and anything within earshot – not that the cows and sheep understood?! Despite being completely numb, I felt ok – certainly enough gas in the tank to finish?? 70 Miles – Excellent that went passed really quickly I didn’t even notice a 60 mile marker only another 30 to go – last year 30 miles was easy. Still numb with cold, the wind seems to be coming from the side and the rain has calmed down – things are looking up!!! 80 Miles – Wow I am flying, I AM going to finish – averaging 20 Mph now – and looks like it’s only going to get better P.S. winds now behind me and I am at full tilt – I Hope I don’t get a puncture – I will be so upset!!! 85 miles – up to 30MPH average – I love this bike, I love this road and I love this wind! 90 Miles – I am over taking people that over took me and some new faces too – ha-ha. I have been humming the theme tune from rocky – I would have sung it however I didn’t know the words – there was also a bit of Eye of the Tiger in there too... Finish line.

Seems like I have only been cycling for a couple of hours could keep going.

The Prices Trust gives practical and financial support to young people in the UK: 14-30 year olds who have struggled at school, been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

For those who want to donate please goto - http://www.justgiving.com/graemeferguson