Victor Harbor quadriplegic Sid James to race in Hawaii Ironman with help of friend Kevin Fergusson
VICTOR Harbor quadriplegic Sid James will get to live a seemingly impossible lifelong dream when he races the Hawaii Ironman thanks to the courage of friend and Adelaide triathlete Kevin Fergusson.
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VICTOR Harbor quadriplegic Sid James will get to live a seemingly impossible lifelong dream in October when he races the Hawaii Ironman thanks to the courage of friend and Adelaide triathlete Kevin Fergusson.
In a world first, Fergusson will tow, push and carry James — who is without the use of his arms and legs — in a 3.8km swim, 180km ride and 42.2km run at what is known as the holy grail of the sport.
They were both reduced to tears on the weekend when they finally got confirmation they would be on the start line in Kona on October 14, after 12 months of training and lobbying race organisers for a special “ambassador” entry.
“I found out on Friday night and told Sid today (Saturday) by handing him our race bib — I cried and he cried,” Fergusson said.
“And I’ve had goosebumps ever since.
“I know how much it means to Sid and even the last 12 months spending more and more time with him, to see what he goes through, he deserves this.”
James had to fight back tears just talking about it.
“I don’t believe it,” he said.
“It’s nearly 25 years since my accident and all that time I’ve heard guys talking about how they’ve raced Hawaii or they’re going to do it.
“I keep watching videos on YouTube of people doing it (Hawaii) the tears and stress on their face, I’m still going to be overwhelmed when it happens.”
The dream began to materialise last year when James asked Fergusson whether he could come to Hawaii to watch him compete. Fergusson responded by saying why not do the race with him.
“I reckon he’s an idiot,” said James, laughing.
“What words can I say, he’s been a close friend and I’m ever so grateful to him.”
In 2006, American man Dick Hoyt finished the Hawaii Ironman as a team with son Rick, who has cerebral palsy, but James will be the first quadriplegic to attempt the race.
A team of 11 will make the trip to Hawaii, including a doctor and four of James’ carers.
James will be placed in a kayak attached to Fergusson with a rope and harness around his waist for the swim.
He will then be put into a two-wheel chair connected to Fergusson’s bike to be towed on the ride, and a third wheel will be added to it so he can be pushed around on the run course.
The total cost of the trip is about $60,000 and the pair have been busy fundraising for the past year in the hope of making it happen.
Fergusson’s typical training week in preparation for the race will see him swim 16km, ride, 500km and run 80km for five weeks before tapering off.
Training includes riding with a bike trailer carrying a mannequin filled with water as well as bottles to weigh 70kg — the equivalent of having James in the back.
“I certainly get a few strange looks out on the road,” Fergusson said.
“We’ve done a few races together for practice, we did Sid’s race at Victor Harbor in March and then a half-ironman at Murray Bridge in April, which was a big test to realise how bloody hard it is.
“But I’ve got seven weeks to go and five of that will be intensive training, and we’ll do the City to Bay to see how our running form is going.”
James has been doing his own training for the event by cutting his meal portions in half and has gone from 82kg to 69kg to lighten the load on Fergusson on race day.
Fergusson, an outdoor education teacher with TAFE, has raced the Hawaii Ironman five times and won his 50-55 year age group in 2014 in the time of 9hrs 16mins. But with James he is simply hoping to finish before the 17-hour cut-off time.
“I don’t care about time, let’s just get through it,” he said.
“I’ve got to save myself because if I push too hard I won’t finish.
“I’m confident in the swim but the bike, it depends if it’s windy, because if it is, I’ll have to hurt myself to get in under the time.”
James was training for his first ironman triathlon in 1993 and even had the entry form on the bench at home, but never got to fill it out after falling from his bike and becoming a C3 quadriplegic.
Wanting to stay involved in the sport, he shifted his efforts into organising the Victor Harbor triathlon and developed a friendship with Fergusson, who became a regular competitor.
James’ biggest concern about Hawaii is racing over the lava fields, because his body cannot regulate its temperature.
“I’m scared about that, I don’t sweat, so I’ve got no way of cooling down,” he said.
“There’ll be lots of water and fluid going in.”
Fergusson’s triathlon journey has been incredible. Thirty years ago he was a beer-drinking smoker who played country footy while working on locks and staying in pubs on the River Murray.
But he saw an ad for a local triathlon at West Lakes and raced it with his brother and it changed his life.
He is now a 13-time world champion in his age-group and has done more than 30 ironmans, including his ‘Iron 5 for 55’ campaign in 2014, which saw him race five ironmans and raise $55,000 for cancer in the one year.
But Hawaii with James will be his toughest test, both physically and mentally.
“This will be the hardest thing I’ve done by far, Iron 5 for 55 was pretty insane, but this adds a huge logistical challenge as well sorting out beds and bed lifts and special vehicles,” Fergusson said.
“Physically, the bike is my strongest leg (in triathlon), but with the extra weight on the hills, I can’t describe how hard it is.
“And emotionally it’s huge, but I’m just looking forward to seeing Sid’s emotions on the day.”