Sydney Australia 2009 - The Running Kilt, Jim Montgomerie. Marathon Runner, running kilt merchandise, www.therunningkilt.com, kilt, sahara marathon, north pole marathon, new york marathon

Sydney Australia 2009

This was supposed to be my last race but not being able to get down to Antarctica I had to keep myself busy .Australia was a place that I did not really think about going to. For some reason it didn't do it for me or so I thought, how wrong was I to be.

I was in training to do a triathlon believe it or not that Canadian guy I told you about earlier must have planted a seed in my mind .I was swimming cycling and running daily and feeling really good but for different reasons I could not do the triathlon so I think the training I had done for this put me in good stead for the Sydney marathon.

I was not looking forward to the trip to Sydney, the flight was playing on my mind ,the thought of being so far away from my family I did not like. I know what you are saying I have been all over but this was basically on the other side of the world. But it had to be done simple.

It was that time again at Glasgow Airport with Clare and my girls. The usual emotional send of turning round looking at their little faces crying a nightmare I just can’t get used to it. When I was on the plane the flight path brought us down the coast over my house it was a very clear day I could make out the larger buildings so I went to the toilet and tried to call Clare to tell her if she looked up in the sky and seen a plane I was on it but I could not get a signal.

Anyway onward to ban cock all 12 hrs of flying we stopped there for a few hours then onward down to Sydney another 10 hours of flying my flight believe it or not was fine it didn't seem as long as you think. When the plane was descending I got a lovely view of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera house the nicest sight I have seen from a plane when I got off the plane I was like a zombie.

I walked up to passport control and the wee guy said unlucky yesterday matey I said what he said the cricket we beat you on the last day. I said I am from Scotland I don't like cricket he turned and said to me I thought you were a pome I thought you were a pome. I took my passport and walked on. The airport was mobbed even this early in the morning. I got to a call box called my girls, got them up at some crazy time and told them I had landed safely. I got outside and jumped in a cab and went to my hotel (same old same old).

I stayed at Darling Harbour. What a lovely place I could not believe how beautiful it was. When I seen it the first thing I said to myself was the girls should be here with me. Sydney is the nicest city I have been at. How wrong was I to be not wanting to come here. When I looked out my Hotel window it looked right over the harbour onto the city skyline. At night time it was like a huge picture.

My body clock was all over the place I just felt tired and in a trance this must have been the jet lag. I went out and toured the city when I seen Sydney harbour and the Opera House I honestly could not believe I was there it is amazing. I have used this word often in my web site but the places I have been fortunate to see are truly unbelievable, I have been very lucky. The city reminded me of Glasgow but less people. I felt at home here. The bridge and the opera house are up there with the statue of Christ and the great wall. What is it with these manmade constructions? Tomorrow I said to myself I will be running over that bridge I was so excited. I went and got my bib nos and kit and made my way back to the hotel to get ready for the big day.

When I was back at my digs I got a phone call from Clare's uncle Eddie who stays nearby we made arrangements to hook up after my run which I was looking forward to. Then I got another call from a friend of mines called Duncan who's brother stays there. He asked me how long I thought I would take to get round the course I told him and he said I will see you at the finish line.

Silly me said how will you recognise me he said are you not wearing you're kilt I said yes and he said well I don't think there will be too many kilts about (it was the jet lag or so I am saying). Got my kit out and set my alarm yeah you know what time for 3 am and went to bed.

For the first time in my life I slept before a marathon only for about 4 hrs but that was enough. Woke up had breakfast done my stretches called home and told Clare I would call her later once I was finished. Went outside and caught the train which took us over the bridge.

The start of the race was from below the bridge a lovely start, bridge above you and opera house just across the water.

Everyone I spoke to before the race seemed to have some in their family from Scotland they were all telling me about their tartans they knew their stuff about ours sacred cloth.

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I was walking about just minding my own business when this woman came up to me and touched my kilt and said lovely, I knew her face. It was Nicole Kidman the movie star. She asked me if I was running in it she thought I was mad.

I was doing more stretching when a cardinal wearing a Stetson a huge man asked me if he could have his photo with me i said yes as long as I can get a photo too. There were lots of people round him wanting his attention. I remember his bright red gown and massive red ring anyway we had a chat about where I came from and stuff. He said a prayer for me gave me a cuddle and said to me you are going to run well today. He was so right.

We got called to start the race. It came across the system that we had a runner from Scotland and everyone cheered a nice gesture.

The race started it was up hill for about a quarter of a mile and then we were on the Sydney bridge it was amazing running across that it was very quiet once I was in the middle of the bridge I dropped my Scottish flag so all the runners could run over it now I was on my way.

I was right in the zone from the start, running at a good pace but again I had to be careful it was getting warm. At the 7 km mark I was up there with the leading group it felt strange. They must have been thinking who's this nutter with the skirt on. As we got further in to the race I had to tone down my speed, not too much because I was feeling very good.

I remember running round a corner and it was me and the leader the guy who eventually won it and I honestly thought about tripping him up because I was thinking I could win this. A stupid thought I know but that's what I thought anyway I didn't and the guy went on to win it. At the half way point I was running extremely well so I kept the same pace I was further back now but there was no one overtaking me I was running fast. It was a very hilly course, the sweat was pouring off me at the 20 mile mark my breathing was good and I said to myself if you keep this up you are gonna do a good time.

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With just one mile to go the streets started to fill up with people cheering us on this is what gets you through. I could see the Opera house that was where the finish line was.

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The nicest finish to any race. I crossed the line in 3hrs 14 mins. If I was not wearing my kilt and the course was flat I would have burst the 3hr mark. I just crossed the line and I heard someone shouting Jim Jim Jim. It was roddy, Duncan’s brother he was true to his word he came to see me finish the run.

We got some photos which you can see and I done something I have never done in my life. After the race I went to the pub and had a beer when I called Clare after the run and told her I was in a pub having a pint she could not believe it. I told her I was with Roddy and she laughed. I will tell you this it was lovely I eventually had three and felt a little light headed. I felt really well after the race so I went back to my hotel got changed and went down the harbour jumped on a speed boat and went out cruising in the Pacific I went under the Sydney Bridge and passed the opera house more impressive when you are out in a boat. The harbour was very busy with boats I had to be careful.

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Got back to my digs and got changed because I was going out for dinner with Eddie and Val. We had dinner in darling Harbour in a lovely restaurant in a lovely setting with lovely weather. This was what I needed to take my mind off back home. Eddie, Val and their son and his girlfriend we had great night. We were talking mostly about family, catching up and about the run. They even told me when I finished and what place I came in just shows you they were really interested.

Eddie and Val are two honest, loving, caring people who made my trip to Sydney all the more special and if you guys are reading this again thanks very much for a wonderful evening. I am going to take the girls out sometime to meet them they would love it.

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It was time to get my flight back home, jumped on the plane and slept all the way to Glasgow excellent.

Got off the plane and the girls were running to me. Back to the best part the hugs. I was back home.

One left to go and my mission is complete. That is all that is going through my head. I can start to taste it I can nearly touch it. When I think about it gives me butterflies.

Will I complete it how will it go what will I do when it is done all these things are racing through my head.