WHY WE LOVE... IRONMAN CAIRNS

​Ironman Cairns & 70.3 are next up on the return-to-racing agenda and we couldn’t be more excited! 

T:Zero athletes have a very tidy history of absolutely crushing this spectacular course. There’s so much to love about this race, but here are the top reasons it holds a special place in our hearts… 

​The epic scenery 
Rainforest or Reef - take your pick. Or don’t. Have them both! This course is truly spectacular in every sense of the word and is no doubt one of the reasons Ironman Cairns was voted ‘World’s Best Ironman’ in the 2018 Athlete Choice Awards!

Natural beauty abounds wherever you look, but particularly on the bike leg - where the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and seaside rainforest will 100% help to distract you from feeling sorry for yourself! Carry on!

​The atmosphere 
Although it might be a little different this year, Cairns is generally bustling with tourists. Add Ironman athletes and their families and supporters to the mix and you’ve got a fun-loving party atmosphere that’s bound to keep a spring in your step during the final throes of the marathon. 

The four-lap run course means plentiful opportunity for supporters to see and cheer their athletes on, while the final stretch through vibrant Cairns Esplanade is second-best only to reaching that beautiful red carpet finishing chute. 

T:Zero Represent! 
T:Zero has a pretty epic history of successful outings in Cairns, and we’re sure at least part of this success comes down to the incredible on-course support our FNQ T:Zero Family has provided over the years. 

Coach Mon is Cairns-based, as are a number of our athletes, so there’s never been a shortage of family, friends and fellow teammates lending cheers of encouragement throughout the day. 

And we all know there’s nothing like your very own cheer squad willing you to keep turning the legs over in those final few kms… 

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​Athlete-friendly course 
By this we mean … if you’re thinking of signing up for your first Ironman, this one should definitely make the shortlist. And if you’re looking to step up from short-course to long-course there’s always the 70.3 option on the same day! 

A rolling-start ocean swim at Palm Cove Beach followed by an undulating three-lap bike course on closed highway and a four-lap flat run is a nice, neat little package for an Ironman course. Multi lap courses might be polarising but they do mean that cheer squads and mechanical assistance (in the event it may be required) are never too far away. 

​Pre & post race activities abound
This one is an all-important factor for athletes planning on tying a holiday into their race plans or for those who have convinced their families to tag along and cheer for 10+ hours with the promise of pretty sweet rewards (beyond witnessing their loved one cross the coveted Ironman finish line of course!). 

Cairns is traditionally a tourist hot spot so not only does the city know how to cater well for a significant influx of visitors, it also already has a host of activities suitable for everyone (Great Barrier Reef trips, Kuranda Scenic Railway, markets, Esplanade etc.). 

If Cairns doesn’t float your boat beyond the IM weekend, Port Douglas is only a relatively short drive away, as is the Daintree Rainforest. Paradise awaits!

Good luck to all our T:Zero athletes racing this weekend! We will be eagerly tracking your progress and cheering you on from afar, if we can’t be there in person!