William Ryan flatt

How I got started in Triathlon.
In  2003 I had the oportunity to work at the Ironman world championships in  Kona, Hawaii as a student Chiropractor. During the week leading up to  the race we worked with a variety of athletes preparing for their race. I  was inspired these people with their M-Dot tattoos that had raced  elsewhere and qualified to come race Kona. From that point on I knew I  was going to do a triathlon. I knew that I was going to one day get back  to Kona and race that race. That is still my driving force.
What’s the best triathlon advice someone ever gave you?
Get a coach.
What's the worst triathlon advice someone ever gave you?
Oddly, I don’t believe I’ve ever been given bad triathlon advice.
What has been your most challenging race experience?
Definitely,  my second Ironman. Which was the last year for Ironman Canada in  Penticton. I figured I could improve on my results from the previous  year. I went too hard on the bike and ended up puking after the last big  climb on the bike. I spent the entire marathon portion of the race  jogging, walking, puking, looking for a place to hide, as much older,  slower looking individuals went trotting by me. Pacing their race much  better than I. I spent a good ten minutes of my running sitting on the  side of the road where my parents had been waiting patiently for me,  contemplating dropping out of the race and going back to the hotel. In  the end I figured I could walk the rest of the distance and still finish  what I started, besides what else was I going to do that day?? I  learned from that race that Ironman will eat you up if you let it get  away from you. If you let your ego win, if you try and race beyond your  training, if you try and keep up with the person going by you. You need  to do your own thing, as in the end its all about the challenge within  yourself.