Day 813 – Australia – NSW [Rest day in Sydney]

31/08/22

 Rest day in Sydney (New South Wales, Australia)

Day in Sydney with my parents, answering media requests and a cocktail reception by the French Consulate

Looking at the Opera House from across the bay

Yesterday was such an incredibly happy and joyous day! My head was buzzing so much with the excitement brought about by the finish that I could not sleep in spite of all the tiredness. With only about 2 hours of sleep under my belt, I met with my parents for a day in the city. James, who has traveled by my side for the past 9 months, is on his way back to Europe – what a journey this has been, for him too!

I won’t be running with them anymore…

We walked around the Botanical gardens, where I had also run yesterday. It was nice to have more time to enjoy them and see the beauty of it. Set by the sea, very well looked after, with amazing fauna and flora.

For the 1st time in the journey, it seems the French media (national media) have caught up with me now. It all started with 1 article in Le Parisien followed by a video (now viewed almost 800k times) made by Le Parisien too and published on their online platform. And then the 3 major TV channels expressed their interest as well as the two leading radio stations and a few newspapers, podcasts etc…

Le Parisien’s video: https://bit.ly/3KyxkKv

If you have followed my journey long enough, you’ll know that I am not used to the attention at all – beside the odd local paper every now and then. It was a bit of a surprise and it takes a lot of time and effort to answer all the queries. Add to that the 8hrs time difference with France.. I have a lot on my plate!

Sharing the journey

In the evening, the Consulate hosted a function to honour the world-run, at the Tatteralls Club on Elizabeth Street. In attendance were some of the people who ran with me yesterday and welcomed me at the Opera House, members of the Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the French community, as well as Women in Business and philanthropists.

Tom Denniss (right) and I holding the Normandie Flag – as a nod to Serge Girard (a Normand like me), last man to date to have run around the world

My parents, my Sydney-based friends, Pat Farmer were there too – and of course Tom Denniss, whom I met for the 1st time yesterday. It is quite incredible to meet a person whose own fabulous journey and enticing account of it had inspired you on your own personal path. And as if it was not enough, Tom also encouraged me from the very moment I wrote my 1st message to him back in 2016 or 2017.

The Consulate made an introduction and then I had the floor for about 10 minutes where I shared some highlights of the journey. This was followed by a Q&A session. I was very enthusiastic about the event, there is so much to share now… but it still feels I haven’t “landed” yet.

Maybe because there is still 1 run left to perform: that of my antipodal point in Auckland! On on, more about it tomorrow!