When Kevin Borg from Great Britain first arrived in Montenegro, he was not looking for a new home or a new beginning. He came to run a marathon and return home. The flat course, good climate and a city that does not exude the nervousness of large metropolises were enough for him to escape from the hectic everyday life, at least for two days. But the trip that was supposed to be just a sports weekend, turned into a life decision. And into a peace that started from the Podgorica Millennium Run race track, and continued beyond it.
The capital, which on his map was only conceived as a stopover, began to take on the form of everyday life. It slowly became a place where the morning has a rhythm, people have a soul, and the day leaves room to breathe, train, belong... And there, almost imperceptibly, from a place for a "good race", our country became a base for him and his wife. Not a tourist base, but a life base. Here they said the fateful "yes" and realized that Montenegro was no longer their destination. Montenegro was their home.
"We wanted a slower life - we found it here."
For several months now, the Borg family has been enjoying the heart of Podgorica. They are adapting to a new way of life, playing sports, which, among other things, have brought them together, and discovering the beauty of a space that is in many ways different from cities that are fascinating on the outside but exhausting on the inside. As Kevin describes the new beginning, it is clear from every sentence how much he enjoys the change. They have come to love, he says, the simplicity and slower pace that big metropolises could not offer them.
“I can easily say that life in Podgorica is much simpler. Of course, it also depends on what you want to do. My goal is a quiet, simple life filled with running. That's why I think Podgorica is the right place,” Kevin is honest.
He and his wife easily adapt to new circumstances and connect with other people. This was the case in this case as well. They are slowly acquiring new habits, new friends, and they are trying to learn more about our culture and way of life every day.
“Since we both have no problem with adaptation and love learning how other people live, we had absolutely no difficulty getting used to it. The only thing that made it difficult to fully integrate was the language. That's why we take Montenegrin language courses to feel as much like Montenegrins as possible. I believe that learning a language also means getting to know the culture.”", says Borg.
When asked if there is anything he doesn't like about us and what he would change if he had the chance, he answers without hesitation:
“I wouldn't change a thing. I like people the way they are. What impresses me the most is that they are so relaxed and in no hurry at all.”
They play sports and motivate the community
And between exploring our country and learning the language, this family does not fail to enjoy healthy lifestyles.
Kevin has been a professional runner since 2005. He has run more than 30 marathons, a large number of half marathons, and road and stadium races. His wife is a triathlete, and sport is the thread that connected them. This year, they will try their hand at the fifth edition of the NLB Podgorica Millennium Run - the race thanks to which they came to our country and chose their new place to live.
“We came to Podgorica Millennium Run for the first time because of the flat course and the climate. I have only run once, and my wife ran this race last year. She also participated in the X Waters Swimming Championship in September 2025 and the Last One Standing in October - she covered 30 km”, Kevin tells us, adding that on November 9th they will both run a marathon.
In addition, he is also the ambassador of the NLB Podgorica Millennium Run this year, and his task is to gather interested citizens at least twice a week and, through joint training, help them achieve their goal and "conquer" the set distance.
“Honestly, it is a great honor to be a part of this great organization. I love running and believe that a world with more running is a better world. Although I am a competitive runner, my other goal is to encourage people to run and get moving. "I think the role of ambassador gives me that opportunity and I enjoy it. I hope that each time we go, we will attract even more runners, walkers or simply people who want to get moving," says Kevin.
“What the marathon has taught me over the years”
And how important running is in his life is shown by the fact that he will soon publish the book “The Philosophy of Marathon.” Right there, between the covers, this long-time athlete has summarized his two decades of running experience.
"It's not a book with tips, secrets or 'magical' training methods, nor a book about which shoes to wear. The book is about what marathoning has taught me over the years, the kind of person I've become since I embraced that philosophy and how I apply it in my everyday life. How I deal with both the bad times and the good times," our interlocutor says.
He emphasizes that exercise is not an option, but a necessity. Therefore, he uses the opportunity to once again send a message about the importance of physical activity, and to invite all running enthusiasts to register for the upcoming NLB Podgorica Millennium Run.
“As civilized beings, due to the technologies created by our brains, we often use our heads more than our bodies. We forget that in nature everything strives for balance, and as part of nature, we too must maintain a balance between body and mind in order to get the best out of life. In short, the body needs to work as hard as the head. The only way to achieve this balance is to engage in some kind of sport. I can easily say that the most efficient and simplest way to get the body moving is running. Since the Millennium Run is a running event, I definitely recommend it to everyone. I will be there, waiting for you…”, our interlocutor concludes.
As a reminder, registrations for the NLB Podgorica Millennium Run are open until November 1st on the official website www.podgorica.run/registracijaAll details about the rules of participation, registration fees, schedule and prize pool are available at SITE.
(Podgorica Millennium Run)
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