PAST IRON

Three Ironman finishers share the advice they wish they’d been given before their first race

GET EDGY

‘If you start the swim in the middle of the pack, it feels as if you’re in an underwater moshpit for the entire 3.8km. For a calm first leg, position yourself at the back outer edge of the group, where there aren’t as many people to bump into or swim over you.’ Ian Bedwell, Ironman Switzerland finisher

GO WITH THE FLOW

‘Piss on the go. It sounds disgusting but loads of riders wee into their shorts on the bike. If you need to go several times, doing your business on the move will save you quite a bit of time over the whole leg.’ Matthew DeHaty, Ironman Challenge Almere-Amsterdam finisher

RUN THE GAUNTLET

‘Keep running for as long as you can. I managed 32km before I slowed to a walk. Once I started walking, everything started to hurt more – I almost had to stop. Running was more mentally demanding but it hurt less.’ MF editor Nick Hutchings, Ironman Switzerland finisher