Volunteering — In a Kilt! - theHumm February 2017

In 2009, during a visit to Perth, Scotland, for that city’s 800th anniversary, Mary Stewart and her husband Terry hatched an idea — to hold a kilt run through historic Perth (Ontario). Back home in Canada, they organized a seven-member planning committee, brought together a much larger team of enthusiastic volunteers, and that summer put on the very first Perth Kilt Run in 2010 as a “one-time event.”

That June’s race was an enormous success. Precisely 1,089 people finished the run, setting a new Guinness World Record. Mary knew they were on to something, although she didn’t know how big that something was. “The sprawling part wasn’t planned,” she says. “It just happened.”

This summer, on June 24, the town will host the 8th annual Perth’s World Record Kilt Run. Fittingly, given that the run continues to draw more and more people to Perth each year, the Town has hired Mary Stewart as a Planning Consultant to oversee the race details. It’s a transition she welcomes.

“It’s a new venture really — a challenge that I look forward to,” she says. “It comes with more responsibility but a well thought out plan is in place — and seven years’ experience. We have a great committee with a town staff member who offers much assistance.”

The theme for 2017 is “All Things Maple”, which ties in to Lanark County’s claim of being the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario.

“I hope to work closely with the Lanark County maple producers and see how we can add county value to this year’s run,” Mary says. “We also pay great attention to the finishers’ swag — it always has a Scottish theme. First year was the kilt, then the socks, then the flask. 2014 was The Year of the Spurtle, and last year featured locally handmade pottery whisky mugs. 2017’s swag will be just as special and sweet!”

This year’s event will also proudly promote Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations. Mary notes that in 1867, a Dominion Day was held in Perth with a parade, regatta, fireworks, and a foot race. Perth’s World Record Kilt Run 2017 is also officially being welcomed as “An 1867 Dominion of Canada ‘All Things Maple’ Celebration.”

In fact, this year’s planning is well underway with the wee Lads and Lassies runs (for kids aged 2–6) already set for June 24 at 4pm, followed by the Lads And Lassies 1k over the Rainbow Bridge and through Stewart Park. The Warrior Division will continue this year, Mary says, for those who run 5 miles with sword and shield and participate in Scottish highland style challenges.

Registration is also now open for the 8k and the Royal Mile at perthkiltrun.ca . There will be much more information about all race activities and non-race activities — including free live music in Stewart Park (“with better shade”), face painting, shortbread competition, and the Canadian Haggis Toss Championship — available soon on the Kilt Run’s website.

From its earliest surprising success to last year’s run that filled up the whole downtown with close to 5,000 people participating, easily setting the Guinness World Record for most people running in kilts at one time, Mary says the key to Kilt Run’s ongoing success has been its many volunteers.

“Volunteers are the backbone of this event,” she says. “Last year saw over 200 volunteers helping with sorting and labelling kilts — think of it: waist sizes from 20–54, male and female, coupled with thousands of t-shirts to be labelled and sorted and then matched with the corresponding kilt — to curbside traffic control to the obstacle race to organizing the wee lads and lassies…”

“I would say the volunteers cannot get enough of helping with the Kilt Run — it’s like the clans are in their blood,” she adds. “People flocked to my door to offer assistance.” She says Perth’s Firefighters, who set up a truck on race day and hose runners off with cool water, are also wonderful volunteers and a favourite of participants and onlookers alike.

“A huge thank you,” she adds, “to the massive number of east-end neighbours who provide water sprinklers, music and song along the route!”

Knowing very well the key role volunteers play in ensuring the races and activities go on each year without a hitch, Mary is counting on the community to help with this summer’s run.

“We continually recruit new volunteers,” she says. “Yes, many are the same from year-to-year, but recruiting is a must. It is similar to the way you must never stop promoting your event — it doesn’t happen by osmosis.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer for the 2017 Perth’s World Record Kilt Run can contact Mary at therunninggoat@cogeco.net .

“It will take about 150 volunteers to complete this year’s race,” Mary says. “Every volunteer receives a tech t-shirt and a lunch voucher for the day.

A Perth Kilt Run booth to sign up volunteers will also be at the Festival of the Maples.”

During her seven years as a key volunteer on the organizing committee, Mary says the rewards were plenty. “The very best reward was in providing training to those who wanted to don a kilt but had not run since high school,” she says. “Those grandmas and grandpas who dedicated themselves to the training required to complete the event, and seeing their amazing delight once they realized they could do it and then to see them succeed!”

Once again, this year’s Kilt Run is a fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. If you wish to make a donation, whether you are running in their races or not, you can do so on the Perth Kilt Run website at perthkiltrun.ca .

Paddye Mann —Speaking theLanguage of Clothing - theHumm February 2017

By — Bruce Anderson (submitted Jeff Mills)

Hummble Thought

Volunteering — In a Kilt! - theHumm February 2017