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Cycling across Mexico for charity Marco writes..."Well guys, I am back and can proudly say I have done it! For those of you not familiar with me, I have just come back from cycling across Mexico to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief. A huge challenge which has taken me to the very limits of my physical and mental ability and completely changed my perspective on a lot of things.  Myself and 42 brave others made our way to Mexico a few weeks ago to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Over eight days, starting just south of Veracruz on the Gulf Coast, we cycled over 600km to Puerto Escondido on the Pacific Coast. Over these eight days we cycled through banana plantations, dry desert, dense jungle and tropical forests. We also climbed to over 10,000 feet in altitude in the Sierra Madre mountain range and camped in cow pat covered fields, in freezing cold cloud forests and in deserted laybys at the side of treachorous mountain roads, inhabited only by stray dogs, chickens and fierce fire ants. Over these eight days we never saw a shower, a toilet, a chair or a Macdonalds. These eight days forced us through some of the highest highs and lowest lows of our lives, but we did it - all while raising over £180,000 for cancer patients throughout the UK. I could talk forever about all of the great things that happened on this trip, even though it was a short one, but the experience on a whole was the best thing I have ever done in my life. The cycling was so varied and unlike anything I have ever seen here. Day three was just unbelievable! We set off camp at 7am. We left an hour earlier than usual to give us more daylight to complete the days cycling knowing that we had to climb 10,000 feet over 68km. For those of you who aren't so great with measurements and scale, that is one mondo hill - well actually a mountain!  It is really hard to describe what this day was like without actually taking you and standing you on the hill, but let's just say cars have to stay in first gear for 68km to get up it, and unless you are a mountain goat, walking down it would not be easy. So anyway, we set off early with one objective in mind, to make it to the top before sundown, which gave us 12 hours to get there. I had no idea how long it would take me as I wasn't a cyclist before I went and had no concept of what this sort of hill would do to a person. After about 10 km, we were struggling and the group was completely divided, stronger cyclists leading the way, weaker ones already walking. I set off with a good pace and was leading the pack with a couple of other guys. After about 30km, I had lost the other two and was completely alone somewhere in the Sierra Madre, completely drained and losing the will to continue. By this point it was no longer a test of physical ability, it was all in my head. I forced myself to continue, each push of the pedal causing an incredible burning sensation to pass through my thighs. The sun was burning my neck and I was consuming more water than an African elephant. I pushed on. The day continued like this until around the last 10km. We had been warned that the last 10km to the summit were the toughest, steeper than any part of the day - the thought was enough to kill me. I refilled my water bottles and continued up the hill. In 5km I managed to finish three litres of water. I was weak, despite consuming around eight bananas and 12 energy bars and I was quickly becoming very dehydrated in the unforgiving sun. I was slowly going out of my mind, shouting select words into nowhere and hearing the mountains shout them back at me. Everwhere I looked was another hill, nowhere to go but up and no signs of them stopping. My legs were spinning but I was going nowhere fast. I began wondering to myself what the hell I was trying to prove, why was I doing this to myself? I felt sick. The altitude felt like a bag of cement on my back and trying to get a breath was near impossible.  Suddenly I remembered why I was doing it and how this must be how cancer patients feel every day of their lives... drained, demoralised and facing an uphill struggle with every breath they take. With this in mind, I pushed with every last bit of energy I had in me to the summit. I made it to camp. It was just after 1pm. I was exhausted, ill, and aching from head to toe, but I felt amazing. Robin (a keen cyclist who was there for his 3rd time had completed it in just under 4 hours breaking his previous record) waited for us at the top. He congratulated me, filled me with water and rehydration salts and I collapsed onto the ground in joy. I was finally there. We then set about putting up everyones tents and waited for them to arrive. Ten others made it to the top that day, taking up to 12 hours to complete it, really pushing themselves to the limit. It was a real emotional night for everyone involved. You just wouldn't believe what we had been through that day. The trip continued like this, fast downhills followed by more massive climbs but we had conquered day three, so nothing was too difficult. Some of the other highlights were day six, cycling through a cloud! A cold and wet experience but one I will never forget. Cycling down hills so steep, we reached speeds of up to 44mph, toying with death everytime we took the corners too wide and came close to a 1000 foot cliff! Plus of course arriving at the Pacific coast, all of us together after eight of the hardest days of our lives.  If you ever get the chance to do one of these challenges, I say go for it. It will change you. You will see just how hard you can push yourself when you need to and you will learn to appreciate (even more) the great things you have in your life. Most of all you will be involved with a brilliant group of like-minded people who will quickly become your best friends because you rely on them so much throughout the experience. NB: Don't be fooled by the pictures, it wasn't all palm trees, ruins and beautiful rivers, I was just too knackered to take pictures at the hard bits!"  Click here >> for more information on fundraising Click here >> for more on volunteer organisation Click here >> to chat about Marco's sponsored cycle ride Click here >> for more on Mexico |
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