WHAT'S HAPPENING AND LIST OF STREET CLOSURES
Running the ‘big one’ will be a dream come true
AN Edmonton nurse hopes his father will be looking down on him when he crosses the finish line of his first full Ironman Cairns.
For Sze Hang Jim, six foot three (190.5cm) and built of muscle, the Ironman is the next big hurdle in a five-year plan building up to representing his country in the ITU World Triathlon Series.
Jim has kept his focus despite enduring hardships such as the recent death of his father.
“My father used to be a sports teacher, and he encouraged us to do whatever we wanted to do,” he said.
“I think this is one he would have liked to see.”
Jim’s fitness journey began 20 years ago.
Inspired by a uni lecturer who participated in Ironman, he came to Australia looking for a place to train to begin his own triathlon journey.
Now, at 41 years of age and with a Cairns 70.3 Ironman already under his belt, that journey is going strong.
“I know a little bit of what to expect, but it’s still daunting,” he said.
“I’ve been doing a lot of swimming at Tobruk pool and running on the Esplanade to get ready.”
Originally from Hong Kong, Jim has lived and trained in Cairns for the past two-and-a-half years while working as a theatre nurse at Cairns Hospital.
Despite the pressures of his job, Jim said he had found Cairns an excellent place to train.
“I actually spent most of my years in Australia trying to find a good place to train,” he said.
“Before Cairns, I lived 18 years in Tasmania and it was just too cold to train in.
“We have a lot of people from Tasmania who can’t cope with heat competing in marathons in Australia because of the weather there.”
Jim is aiming for a time of under 13 hours for the completion of his first Ironman.
He hoped the wet weather building on the weekend wouldn’t dampen his chances.
“If the weather keeps up and it gets slippery, you won’t push as hard, slow down more for the corners,” he said.
“It won’t affect the number one competitors as much, they’ll go fast no matter what.
“I’m just hoping to finish and do my best.”
The full Ironman is comprised of a 3.8km swim. a 180km cycle and a 42km run.
The forecast is calling for possible showers and rainfall of up to 3mm on the day of the race.