THE Running Kilt made a staggering comeback recently as he completed yet another marathon – this time on Mount Everest.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie’s adventures are well documented and the Saltcoats pub landlord and councillor took on one of his toughest challenges to date - battling the elements and his fear of heights.

Taking place on May 29, the race is billed as the highest and most adventurous marathon in the world and it criss crosses the high Sherpa trails of Khumbu Valley.

Jim told the Herald: “It has been on my mind to do the Everest Marathon for the past four years and I eventually confronted my fears of heights and got booked in for it.

“There was a 10 day trek to get to the start line and this is the first time I have ever been congratulated for getting to the start line.

“The higher we got the more the doctors were checking our oxygen levels and pulse and stuff to make sure we were OK. We were crossing bridges at over 3000ft and facing vertical drops of over 4000ft, it was some experience.

"Once we got to Base Camp (5500m) we were all finding it difficult to breath.We knew it wasn’t right when we seen the helicopters and planes flying below us. The Marathon was the toughest thing I have ever done, it was horrendous. It was freezing, roasting, heights, I couldn’t breath. It's no wonder there hasn’t been a lot of people to complete it.

“Watching guys who had reached the summit coming down with third degree burns and missing fingers was something that will never leave my mind.

"The Sherpas are a different breed altogether and they are special people. Patient and humble they never complain.Without them nothing on Everest would be possible."