(4704,9,'2021-06-04 01:16:42','2021-06-04 01:16:42','[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"478\"]<img class=\"wp-image-154\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"478\" height=\"178\" /> Sunday, June 29, 2014:  2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run[/caption]\r\n<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Before Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular.The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. I suddenly felt a sharp sting in my left thigh this was under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. I also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"204\" height=\"370\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:16:42','2021-06-04 01:16:42','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4704',0,'revision','',0),(4705,9,'2021-06-04 01:20:05','2021-06-04 01:20:05','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Before Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. I also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:20:05','2021-06-04 01:20:05','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4705',0,'revision','',0),(4706,9,'2021-06-04 01:20:57','2021-06-04 01:20:57','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Before Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:20:57','2021-06-04 01:20:57','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4706',0,'revision','',0),(4707,9,'2021-06-04 01:23:37','2021-06-04 01:23:37','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\" wp-image-154\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:23:37','2021-06-04 01:23:37','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4707',0,'revision','',0),(4708,9,'2021-06-04 01:23:55','2021-06-04 01:23:55','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignleft\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:23:55','2021-06-04 01:23:55','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4708',0,'revision','',0),(4709,9,'2021-06-04 01:24:45','2021-06-04 01:24:45','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignleft\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:24:45','2021-06-04 01:24:45','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4709',0,'revision','',0),(4710,9,'2021-06-04 01:25:35','2021-06-04 01:25:35','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:25:35','2021-06-04 01:25:35','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4710',0,'revision','',0),(4711,9,'2021-06-04 01:26:00','2021-06-04 01:26:00','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:26:00','2021-06-04 01:26:00','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4711',0,'revision','',0),(4712,9,'2021-06-04 01:26:44','2021-06-04 01:26:44','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:26:44','2021-06-04 01:26:44','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4712',0,'revision','',0),(4713,9,'2021-06-04 01:29:41','2021-06-04 01:29:41','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:29:41','2021-06-04 01:29:41','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4713',0,'revision','',0),(4714,9,'2021-06-04 01:30:03','2021-06-04 01:30:03','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">    My <em>Ironman #4</em> experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\">I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:30:03','2021-06-04 01:30:03','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4714',0,'revision','',0),(4715,9,'2021-06-04 01:30:59','2021-06-04 01:30:59','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:30:59','2021-06-04 01:30:59','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4715',0,'revision','',0),(4716,9,'2021-06-04 01:31:53','2021-06-04 01:31:53','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:31:53','2021-06-04 01:31:53','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4716',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (4717,9,'2021-06-04 01:32:18','2021-06-04 01:32:18','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignnone\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:32:18','2021-06-04 01:32:18','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4717',0,'revision','',0),(4718,9,'2021-06-04 01:32:48','2021-06-04 01:32:48','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"467\" height=\"174\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, re-booked my ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:32:48','2021-06-04 01:32:48','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4718',0,'revision','',0),(4719,9,'2021-06-04 01:34:30','2021-06-04 01:34:30','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"429\" height=\"160\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, </em><em>re-booked my </em><em>ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:34:30','2021-06-04 01:34:30','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4719',0,'revision','',0),(4720,9,'2021-06-04 01:34:55','2021-06-04 01:34:55','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"429\" height=\"160\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, </em><em>re-booked my </em><em>ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:34:55','2021-06-04 01:34:55','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4720',0,'revision','',0),(4721,9,'2021-06-04 01:35:24','2021-06-04 01:35:24','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"429\" height=\"160\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, </em><em>re-booked my </em><em>ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:35:24','2021-06-04 01:35:24','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4721',0,'revision','',0),(4722,9,'2021-06-04 01:35:45','2021-06-04 01:35:45','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"429\" height=\"160\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, </em><em>re-booked my </em><em>ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:35:45','2021-06-04 01:35:45','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4722',0,'revision','',0),(4723,9,'2021-06-04 01:36:08','2021-06-04 01:36:08','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"429\" height=\"160\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, </em><em>re-booked my </em><em>ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:36:08','2021-06-04 01:36:08','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4723',0,'revision','',0),(4724,9,'2021-06-04 01:37:15','2021-06-04 01:37:15','<h2>Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record</h2>\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-154 alignright\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"429\" height=\"160\" />\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3><em><strong class=\"subhead\">Travel and Pre-Race for Ironman #4</strong></em></h3>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>    My Ironman #4 experience started with a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 3-hour delay in Dallas made it even longer. Then, I almost missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately, I got through customs very quickly. I picked up my bags, took a bus to the train station, </em><em>re-booked my </em><em>ticket, and made my train with 5 minutes to spare!</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Of course, being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions, such as the train ride to Munich where I switched trains to Klagenfurt, Austria. The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular. The next days were just getting settled in. Usually, I\'m a very good sleeper. But unfortunately, for about 4 days, I was unable to sleep a lot at night, so I tried to make up with naps during the day. Sunday would come all too quickly.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>The rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo, and having a chance to swim in the lake. There was also a van ride around part of the biking course. When my shipped bike arrived, I rode it for about 20 miles and then had the mechanic adjust it slightly. The rest of the time was spent trying to stay calm and relaxed while not working out a lot.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>Saturday we checked in at the race which included leaving the bike and gear. The race number paper for my bike did not fit properly and I was advised not to tamper with it and ask an official when I went to check in my bike. When I got out of the van at the check-in point, I realized that I had left the number back in the hotel.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>In German, I asked one of the check-in officials what he could do about it. He said he could not do anything and that I would have to go to the registration area to have something done. But it was a mile away and I had all my gear with me in bags, so walking the bike would not be an easy thing. So I opted to go back to the van and have them take me back and get the number.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>As I was walking away one of the spectators came up to me and said in German that someone wants to talk to you back from where I came. I looked back and saw someone standing there who had a race official badge around his neck. So I walked back (which wasn\'t easy either with several thousand people there) and asked him in German if he could do anything about this. He said no problem he could help me. I was surprised as the first guy had said no.</em></p>\r\n<p class=\"col-md-8\"><em>I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which said <strong>Race Director</strong>. He said, \"I\'m the boss and I can do it for you\". And within minutes everything was taken care of. He told me he travels to the States sometimes. So I gave him my card and told him to look me up. He said he would. All’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.</em></p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY FOR IRONMAN #4</strong></h3>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. It was about 58 degrees, very clear, and with no signs of rain. It had rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. So I prepped my bike at the transition area for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm.\r\n\r\nSince it was about a 500-meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake, where we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake. It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were all ready to go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros had signed up to start early.\r\n\r\nI missed this sign-up and at first, was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out. It ended up being a good thing as I would be the fastest in the next group of 2200 athletes and not all bunched up with the fast group.\r\n\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my Ironman #4. I was dedicating this race to two people. On my left arm, I had the initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr. Jeff started me off in the wonderful world of Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend. But he died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\r\n\r\nOn my right arm, I had the initials FFF, for my father Fred F. Fields. Simply put, he was everything in the world to me. He would have been so proud of me, as he always was. It was with great honor and pride that I am able to call myself his son. He died almost 10 years ago and there is not one day that goes by that I do not think of him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM</strong></h3>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still were 2200 starting in this pack. Since there were definitely going to be some really fast swimmers in this group, I decided to stay behind the first group of people and go off a bit slower. The strategy worked to my advantage as I was able to save a little energy at the beginning.\r\n\r\nOnce I got out about 400 or 500 meters I was able to get into my stride and swim well. It did get a little crowded but I was able to stay with the pack. This is good as when we turned back towards shore, we entered a canal that is about 1000 meters long. I had been warned that it can be extremely crowded in the canal and one can\'t really move at all. But due to the fact that I was with a group of only about 150 people, there was plenty of room.\r\n\r\nIn triathlons, one lifts their head every four or five strokes to sight the land and make sure you are going straight (unlike in a pool, there are no black lines on the bottom of the lake!!). <strong>When I picked up my head, I could see the sides of the canal where there were probably over 1000 people lining the canal yelling and cheering. This really was a unique experience as normally one can\'t see or hear anything!</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen I got about 100 meters towards the end, it got a little jammed up, and I was not really able to move ahead quickly or to the left or right. I just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I exited the water at a little over one hour and six minutes, which turned out to be first place in my age group (a first for me). And there were no wetsuit strippers (volunteers who strip your wetsuit off you when you lay down on your back). So we just pulled the wetsuit off our shoulders and ran about 500 meters to transition one (T1), where we had to pull the rest of our wetsuits off (not an easy thing) and get ready for biking.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" />As we exited the T1 area, there were over a thousand people cheering us on. We rode down a street for about 300 meters and made a U-turn back. <strong>The street was heavily lined with spectators.</strong>\r\n\r\nIt was a beautiful day, sunny and probably about mid to upper sixty\'s with no clouds in sight. As usual, I did not eat anything after the swim for about 15 minutes to allow the blood to get into my legs. In the beginning, this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake.\r\n\r\nAs we left the lake we went into the small town where there was a traffic circle. And after that is where we started our first big hill climb. At the traffic circle, there was one of the race announcers announcing the race and cheering us on along with the spectators.\r\n\r\nIn all the small towns there were lots of people standing on the streets watching and cheering. As we started the steepest part of this climb, the street was lined with people, probably 5 or 6 deep on either side, cheering and screaming to encourage us to get up the hill. This part was a big loop so we did not come back the same way.\r\n\r\nGoing back was a long downhill ride, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns. All along here we had spectacular views of the mountains. At mile 45 or 46 miles, we started the biggest climb up the Ruperberg mountain. As we approached this mountain climb, we made a sharp left in town and started going up.\r\n\r\nThere were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on. Plus there was a big loudspeaker with a DJ playing music. It was not too long but very steep. And again at the top were a lot of people and another DJ play playing music over really big loudspeakers.\r\n\r\nThen it was mostly downhill back to town to start a second loop. As I came down the hill, I saw a large bee coming right at me. This happens quite often on the bike. I felt it hit my right shoulder and bounce. And then suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my left thigh under my bike shorts. I rolled back my bike shorts and there was a big red welt. It hurt but there was nothing I could do about it. I just blocked it out of my mind. The pain subsided after about 15 or 20 minutes and I just went on with the race.\r\n\r\nAs we came into town they had us make a 180-degree turn again (like at the beginning), so we had to really slow down. But this was a good thing as the street leading to this turn was lined with thousands of spectators cheering us on. Occasionally at this point and other ones, there was an announcer, and I would hear, \"and here is Peter from the United States\". Always nice to hear to keep one going. <strong>My usual time is about 3 hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins.</strong> I was feeling very good.\r\n\r\nAs we started back out on the second loop, I stopped at special needs and refueled myself. Special needs are where we can leave a bag of anything we need at that point. There is one at the halfway point of the bike and another one at the halfway point of the run. I tossed my fuel bottle out and took a new one from the bag I had left. And then also resupplied myself with my gels and other nutrition. I carry my own nutrition so as not to try anything new on race day.\r\n\r\nWhen I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of a small boy about 6 or 7 years old. His mom looked at him. He just looked at it. I told him, in German, here\'s a present for you. Take it home and clean it! It\'s yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\n\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop, the drizzle started that got a bit heavier with time. Now the streets were wet and there were puddles. This meant we all had to slow down. All in all, it went well on the second loop. The crowds were less due to the rain. But there were still crowds out there.\r\n\r\nAt about mile 80, my stomach had a little bit of trouble. Nothing big, just that I could not eat for about 20 or 30 minutes. But I got over it without any problems. My second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain. It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all, I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\n\r\nIn the town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly. I got off my bike and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles. Then I put on my running shoes and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nP.S. Several places on the bike course (and later on the run course) there were people from Endurance Sports Travel. This is the group I went with. They were cheering me on loudly. This was much appreciated.\r\n<h3><strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" />When leaving transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say to yourself, you are running from here to there and play these mental games the whole way.\r\n\r\nIt was warm and sunny and about 75 degrees. But not too hot. Plus, there was tree cover on at least 60% of the run course. The run was a double loop. It was actually a figure 8 that we had to do twice. So we would pass the finish line 4 times.\r\n\r\nAt the finish line area, there were thousands of people yelling and screaming. After a mile or two, I started to feel a bit tired in my legs. So I just told myself I would run to the first turnaround about 4.5 miles out.\r\n\r\nI had my Garmin (GPS) on so I was able to see my pace and keep it where I knew I could maintain it. We ran along the lake at the beginning of each loop. So although brief, it was a nice view.\r\n\r\nAfter only 2.5 miles, I came upon a woman that was having trouble running so I ran for a little bit with her to keep her going. At 4.5 miles we turned around and headed back to town. Now I felt strong again and my legs were loosening up. In training, I had problems with my foot and also slightly with my hamstring (the hamstring had been my Achilles heel in the last two races). I trained part of the time in the water for my run (deep water running). This was very helpful as it took the stress off these two areas.\r\n\r\nAt this point everything was good and I had no pain. As we passed through the finish line area, we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small footbridge and onto a narrow cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this street for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square.\r\n\r\n<strong> People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people.</strong> It was about 6 or 7 o\'clock at night. And since the sun stays up until about 9 o\'clock the cafes are very, very crowded. We continued on into the town square where there was a large TV screen where people were watching football (soccer). Here we turned to begin the last part of the figure eight and ran back to the starting area.\r\n\r\nI got back to the starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop, my stomach started to feel a little funny. This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Many runners were walking due to this or muscle cramps, dehydration, or other things. I felt fairly lucky. I would cheer these fellow athletes on when I went past them and told them to just keep going. Everyone appreciates that. I had been in their situation in the past and know what it feels like when someone gives you a shout of support.\r\n\r\n<strong>I just kept telling myself to keep going. One foot after another. And just kept going.</strong> Part of the way it was shady, so that helped a lot too. Since the sun stays up so late, it never went down while I was running.\r\n\r\nAt mile 18, I got a second wind. Feeling very upbeat and in a good place, I was able to pick up my pace. Plus, I started to run alongside someone a little bit faster than me. After only two miles, I could not keep up with him and told him so. He told me that he normally runs a lot faster, but not today. And he told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster.\r\n\r\nSo for the rest of the marathon (about 6 miles), we ran together. We ran back along the canal and into the city square again where there were still lots of people. His pace was definitely faster than I would have gone but he was pushing me thru all the aches and pains from racing for over 13 hours.\r\n\r\nThere was a small archway when entering into the city square. And a small bell on a string hanging from it. If you rang the bell (by tapping it with your hand) they would donate money to charity. So I rang it every time I passed it. At the final turnaround, it was very exciting knowing that I only had 3 miles left. I had never developed any pain from my foot or my hamstring. And I was very pleased with my run.\r\n\r\nWe continued to talk and run. He was from Prague where I was going after the race and we planned to exchange numbers after we finished. So as we got near the finish line area, the noise of the crowd got louder and louder. Since they take your picture as you cross the finish line, he said I should go ahead of him to be alone. I thanked him very much for helping me along.\r\n\r\nSo at about 100 meters away, I took off from him. The crowd was very loud; almost deafening. There was a cheerleading squad there along with photographers and a local TV crew. As I ran closer to the finish line, the noise level became incredible with cheering, cowbells, and more. I then heard the announcer say: <strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling when you hear that never gets old.\r\n\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\n\r\n<strong>For Ironman #4, I finished at 13 hours, 32 minutes, and 36 seconds with a new personal best for me by 18 minutes.</strong>\r\n\r\nMy new friend I had met on the run finished right behind me. I was able to meet his wife and three kids.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around, I was off to the massage tent and to get some food.\r\n\r\nP.S. At 9 pm, thirty minutes after finishing, the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour. I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n<h3 class=\"col-md-8\"><em><strong>APPRECIATIONS:</strong></em></h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that was on the internet during the race. I appreciate every one of you. And for everyone else, your thoughts and cheers before and after the race were heard. There are lots and lots of people I need to thank but the list is too long. You know who you are and a big thank you goes out to all.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Collectively, I want to thank my massage therapist, my acupuncturist, and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through. And my wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with the long workouts that made me late sometimes.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>There a few individuals that need to be singled out individually:</em>\r\n<em>I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And then there is the world’s best podiatrist, Dr Dan Altchuler. Without his help and caring, my foot would have never made it through the race.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I want to thank my very special friend Angela Past. Several years ago she got me into this wonderful world of Ironman triathlons (she became an Ironman before I did). She actually got up in the middle of the night in California to follow me as the race began at 10 pm west coast time. Wow! Thank you so much for your emotional support when I needed it the most.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And last but not least, I want to thank my mom and dad as they taught me not to give up even when the times get tough. And although my dad is no longer with us, his thoughts are with me in spirit every day. My mom is 88 years young and is active and vibrant. She\'s an inspiration to me every day. She has never lost faith in me and my abilities... Thank you, mom!</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 4X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n<div id=\"sidebar2\" class=\"col-md-4\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman2014-large-1.jpg\" alt=\"Race Report 4th Ironman\" width=\"389\" height=\"662\" />\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/BBwqL4H48qpXLAZw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2014 Austria\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-9th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2017 Ironman Santa Rosa</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-8th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-7th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2016 Ironman Switzerland</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-6th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-5th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2015 Ironman Brazil</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-4th-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2014 Ironman Austria</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/About/The-Athletic-Doc/Race-Report-3rd-Ironman\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2013 Ironman Canada</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-2nd-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2012 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n<a href=\"/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-1st-ironman/\"><strong style=\"color: #cc0000;\">2011 Ironman Cozumel</strong></a>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Ironman #4 and a New Personal Record','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2021-06-04 01:37:15','2021-06-04 01:37:15','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4724',0,'revision','',0),(4726,9,'2021-06-11 18:27:28','2021-06-11 18:27:28','<div>\n<h2>Elbow Injury Treatment</h2>\n</div>\n<div class=\"youtube-click-div video_left\">[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=\"RJCzx6yt0zY\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" anchor=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Jennifer-Elbow.jpg\" alt=\"Jennifer- Elbow\"]\n<strong>Jennifer - Elbow</strong></div>\n<h4>Elbow Injury Treatment</h4>\nOrthoRegen<sup>®</sup> offers you the most effective elbow injury treatment. Plus, this natural treatment avoids the long-term side effects that may be associated with NSAIDs and cortisone injections. Our comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedic treatments such as Stem Cell Therapy, PRP, and <a title=\"Prolotherapy\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/dextrose-prolotherapy/prolotherapy-treatment-overview/\">Prolotherapy</a> elbow treatments offer our patients a non-surgical solution for their elbow pain and injuries. From future Olympians to weekend warriors, we can help you return to your sport without surgery, without pain medications, and without extended periods of time away from your sport.\n<h4>Why Regenerative Orthopedics for Elbow Injury Treatments?</h4>\nPeter A. Fields, MD, DC, <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/the-athletic-doc/about-the-athletic-doc/\">The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup></a>, is an experienced marathoner, long-distance cyclist, and swimmer. He has participated in Triathlons as well as Ironman competitions. And since he is a triathlete himself, he understands the passion that athletes have to train and compete. He has also experienced injuries himself and utilized Regenerative Orthopedics to get back in the game.\n\nAnd being both a medical doctor and chiropractor gives him more insight as he cares for your particular need. In our experience, comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedics is an effective elbow injury treatment and the best therapy for long-term positive results.\n\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"http://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\n\n<strong>Some of the most common elbow pain and injuries we treat with comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedics include:</strong>\n<ul>\n 	<li>Arthritis</li>\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/conditions/chronic-pain/chronic-elbow-pain/\">Elbow pain</a></li>\n 	<li>Elbow sprain</li>\n 	<li>Golfers elbow</li>\n 	<li>Lateral epicondylitis</li>\n 	<li>Medial epicondylitis</li>\n 	<li>Post-surgical elbow pain</li>\n 	<li>Tendonitis</li>\n 	<li>Tendinosis</li>\n 	<li>Tennis elbow</li>\n</ul>\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Regenerative Orthopedics?</h4>\nPeter A. Fields, MD, DC, and our staff at OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup> offer traditional Dextrose Prolotherapy elbow treatment, as well as <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/prp-treatment/\">PRP Prolotherapy</a> and <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/stem-cell-treatment/ \">Stem Cell Prolotherapy</a>. To see if you are a candidate for one of our non-surgical treatments, or for a second opinion for a recommended surgery, contact us for a consultation at OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup>, <a href=\"tel:+[phone_raw]\">[phone]</a>.\n\nWant to hear stories from some of our patients? Check out the testimonials on this page and on our <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/Testimonials/Elbow-Testimonials/\"> Testimonials page</a>.\n\n<a style=\"display: block; margin: 0 auto; max-width: 275px;\" href=\"https://www.carecredit.com/go/762HNB/bb3poscustacqbtnclk08132020/?dtc=Ds5X&amp;promocode=CLT/\"><img style=\"max-width: 100%;\" src=\"https://www.carecredit.com/sites/pc/image/carecredit_button_applynow_280x100_a_v1.jpg\" width=\"275\" /></a>','Elbow Injury Treatment','','inherit','closed','closed','','582-autosave-v1','','','2021-06-11 18:27:28','2021-06-11 18:27:28','',582,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4726',0,'revision','',0),(4727,9,'2021-06-11 18:27:48','2021-06-11 18:27:48','<div>\r\n<h2>Elbow Injury Treatment</h2>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"youtube-click-div video_left\">[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=\"RJCzx6yt0zY\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" anchor=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Jennifer-Elbow.jpg\" alt=\"Jennifer- Elbow\"]\r\n<strong>Jennifer - Elbow</strong></div>\r\n<h4>Elbow Injury Treatment</h4>\r\nOrthoRegen<sup>®</sup> offers you the most effective elbow injury treatment. Plus, this natural treatment avoids the long-term side effects that may be associated with NSAIDs and cortisone injections. Our comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedic treatments such as Stem Cell Therapy, PRP, and <a title=\"Prolotherapy\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/dextrose-prolotherapy/prolotherapy-treatment-overview/\">Prolotherapy</a> elbow treatments offer our patients a non-surgical solution for their elbow pain and injuries. From future Olympians to weekend warriors, we can help you return to your sport without surgery, without pain medications, and without extended periods of time away from your sport.\r\n<h4>Why Regenerative Orthopedics for Elbow Injury Treatments?</h4>\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD, DC, <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/the-athletic-doc/about-the-athletic-doc/\">The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup></a>, is an experienced marathoner, long-distance cyclist, and swimmer. He has participated in Triathlons as well as Ironman competitions. And since he is a triathlete himself, he understands the passion that athletes have to train and compete. He has also experienced injuries himself and utilized Regenerative Orthopedics to get back in the game.\r\n\r\nAnd being both a medical doctor and chiropractor gives him more insight as he cares for your particular need. In our experience, comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedics is an effective elbow injury treatment and the best therapy for long-term positive results.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"http://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Some of the most common elbow pain and injuries we treat with comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedics include:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Arthritis</li>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/conditions/chronic-pain/chronic-elbow-pain/\">Elbow pain</a></li>\r\n 	<li>Elbow sprain</li>\r\n 	<li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n 	<li>Lateral epicondylitis</li>\r\n 	<li>Medial epicondylitis</li>\r\n 	<li>Post-surgical elbow pain</li>\r\n 	<li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n 	<li>Tendinosis</li>\r\n 	<li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Regenerative Orthopedics?</h4>\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD, DC, and our staff at OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup> offer traditional Dextrose Prolotherapy elbow treatment, as well as <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/prp-treatment/\">PRP Prolotherapy</a> and <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/stem-cell-treatment/ \">Stem Cell Prolotherapy</a>. To see if you are a candidate for one of our non-surgical treatments, or for a second opinion for a recommended surgery, contact us for a consultation at OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup>, <a href=\"tel:+[phone_raw]\">[phone]</a>.\r\n\r\nWant to hear stories from some of our patients? Check out the testimonials on this page and on our <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/Testimonials/Elbow-Testimonials/\"> Testimonials page</a>.\r\n\r\n<a style=\"display: block; margin: 0 auto; max-width: 275px;\" href=\"https://www.carecredit.com/go/762HNB/bb3poscustacqbtnclk08132020/?dtc=Ds5X&amp;promocode=CLT/\"><img style=\"max-width: 100%;\" src=\"https://www.carecredit.com/sites/pc/image/carecredit_button_applynow_280x100_a_v1.jpg\" width=\"275\" /></a>','Elbow Injury Treatment','','inherit','closed','closed','','582-revision-v1','','','2021-06-11 18:27:48','2021-06-11 18:27:48','',582,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4727',0,'revision','',0),(4728,9,'2021-06-16 23:35:24','2021-06-16 23:35:24','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\n\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is that knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often, the other treatments patients receive only provide temporary relief.\n\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\n\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\n\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\n\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs. An Injured Knee</h3>\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. To accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\n\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping, and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule, or ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\n\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the effect it has on your life.\n\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. People living with Arthritis deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\n\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\n<h4><em>Nerve Fibers</em></h4>\nThe tissues containing many nerve fibers include the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium, and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\n\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, they are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\n<h4><em>Ligaments</em></h4>\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee because they guide the motion of the knee joints and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of a knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\n\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons, and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\n[caption id=\"attachment_4734\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4734 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stem.Joint_.KW_-500x375.jpeg\" alt=\"Stem.joint.kw\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /> Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment and Articular Defect Repair[/caption]\n\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\n\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy, are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons, and menisci and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\n\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. And Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers because they provide not only pain relief but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\n\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatment as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\n<h3>References</h3>\n<ol>\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\n 	<li>\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\n<div class=\"column\">\n\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\n\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\n</div>\n</div></li>\n</ol>','Get Rid of Knee Arthritis Symptoms by Treating the Source of the Pain','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-autosave-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:35:24','2021-06-16 23:35:24','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4728',0,'revision','',0),(4729,9,'2021-06-16 22:37:49','2021-06-16 22:37:49','Knee Arthritis','Knee Arthritis','Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment','inherit','open','closed','','knee-arthritis-2','','','2021-06-16 22:38:16','2021-06-16 22:38:16','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4730,9,'2021-06-16 23:20:44','2021-06-16 23:20:44','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment To Get Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is because knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often the other treatments patients receive, only provide temporary relief.\r\n\r\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\r\n\r\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectivenesss of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\r\n\r\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\r\n\r\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\r\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs An Injured Knee</h3>\r\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. In order to accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\r\n\r\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule or the ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\r\n\r\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments, and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\r\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\r\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the affect it has on your life.\r\n\r\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age, and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. Arthritis sufferers deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\r\n\r\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\r\n\r\nThe tissues that do contain a lot of nerve fibers includes the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\r\n\r\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert to the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\r\n\r\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee, because they guide the motion of the knee joints, and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\r\n\r\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in the injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\r\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And  actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital in order to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons and menisci, and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers, because they provide not only pain relief, but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatement as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\r\n<h3>References</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\r\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n\r\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>','Get Rid of Knee Arthritis Symptoms by Treating the Source of the Pain','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-revision-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:20:44','2021-06-16 23:20:44','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4730',0,'revision','',0),(4731,9,'2021-06-16 23:24:46','2021-06-16 23:24:46','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is that knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often the other treatments patients receive, only provide temporary relief.\r\n\r\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\r\n\r\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\r\n\r\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\r\n\r\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\r\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs An Injured Knee</h3>\r\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. In order to accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\r\n\r\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping, and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule or ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\r\n\r\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments, and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\r\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\r\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the effect it has on your life.\r\n\r\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. Arthritis sufferers deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\r\n\r\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\r\n\r\nThe tissues that do contain a lot of nerve fibers include the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium, and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\r\n\r\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\r\n\r\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee, because they guide the motion of the knee joints, and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of a knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\r\n\r\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons, and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\r\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital in order to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons, and menisci, and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers, because they provide not only pain relief, but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatment as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\r\n<h3>References</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\r\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n\r\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>','Get Rid of Knee Arthritis Symptoms by Treating the Source of the Pain','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-revision-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:24:46','2021-06-16 23:24:46','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4731',0,'revision','',0),(4732,9,'2021-06-16 23:31:21','2021-06-16 23:31:21','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is that knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often, the other treatments patients receive only provide temporary relief.\r\n\r\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\r\n\r\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\r\n\r\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\r\n\r\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\r\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs. An Injured Knee</h3>\r\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. To accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\r\n\r\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping, and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule, or ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\r\n\r\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\r\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\r\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the effect it has on your life.\r\n\r\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. People living with Arthritis deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\r\n\r\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\r\n<h4><em>Nerve Fibers</em></h4>\r\nThe tissues containing many nerve fibers include the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium, and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\r\n\r\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, they are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\r\n<h4><em>Ligaments</em></h4>\r\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee because they guide the motion of the knee joints and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of a knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\r\n\r\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons, and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\r\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy, are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons, and menisci and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. And Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers because they provide not only pain relief but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatment as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\r\n<h3>References</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\r\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n\r\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>','Get Rid of Knee Arthritis Symptoms by Treating the Source of the Pain','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-revision-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:31:21','2021-06-16 23:31:21','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4732',0,'revision','',0),(4733,9,'2021-06-16 23:32:09','2021-06-16 23:32:09','Slide5','Slide5','Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment and Even Repair of Cartilage Defects','inherit','open','closed','','slide5','','','2021-06-16 23:33:02','2021-06-16 23:33:02','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Slide5.jpeg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4734,9,'2021-06-16 23:34:02','2021-06-16 23:34:02','Stem.joint.kw','Stem.joint.kw','Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment and Articular Defect Repair','inherit','open','closed','','stem-joint-kw','','','2021-06-16 23:34:58','2021-06-16 23:34:58','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stem.Joint_.KW_.jpeg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4735,9,'2021-06-16 23:35:56','2021-06-16 23:35:56','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is that knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often, the other treatments patients receive only provide temporary relief.\r\n\r\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\r\n\r\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\r\n\r\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\r\n\r\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\r\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs. An Injured Knee</h3>\r\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. To accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\r\n\r\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping, and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule, or ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\r\n\r\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\r\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\r\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the effect it has on your life.\r\n\r\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. People living with Arthritis deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\r\n\r\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\r\n<h4><em>Nerve Fibers</em></h4>\r\nThe tissues containing many nerve fibers include the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium, and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\r\n\r\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, they are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\r\n<h4><em>Ligaments</em></h4>\r\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee because they guide the motion of the knee joints and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of a knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\r\n\r\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons, and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4734\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4734 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stem.Joint_.KW_-500x375.jpeg\" alt=\"Stem.joint.kw\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /> <strong>Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment &amp; Articular Defect Repair</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy, are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons, and menisci and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. And Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers because they provide not only pain relief but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatment as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\r\n<h3>References</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\r\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n\r\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>','Get Rid of Knee Arthritis Symptoms by Treating the Source of the Pain','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-revision-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:35:56','2021-06-16 23:35:56','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4735',0,'revision','',0),(4736,9,'2021-06-16 23:36:57','2021-06-16 23:36:57','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is that knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often, the other treatments patients receive only provide temporary relief.\r\n\r\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\r\n\r\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\r\n\r\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\r\n\r\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\r\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs. An Injured Knee</h3>\r\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. To accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\r\n\r\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping, and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule, or ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\r\n\r\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\r\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\r\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the effect it has on your life.\r\n\r\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. People living with Arthritis deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\r\n\r\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\r\n<h4><em>Nerve Fibers</em></h4>\r\nThe tissues containing many nerve fibers include the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium, and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\r\n\r\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, they are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\r\n<h4><em>Ligaments</em></h4>\r\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee because they guide the motion of the knee joints and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of a knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\r\n\r\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons, and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4734\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4734 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stem.Joint_.KW_-500x375.jpeg\" alt=\"Stem.joint.kw\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /> <strong>Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment &amp; Articular Defect Repair</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy, are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons, and menisci and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. And Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers because they provide not only pain relief but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatment as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\r\n<h3>References</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\r\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n\r\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>','Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-revision-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:36:57','2021-06-16 23:36:57','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4736',0,'revision','',0),(4737,9,'2021-06-16 23:38:39','2021-06-16 23:38:39','<h2>Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4729\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4729\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/knee-arthritis-500x500.jpg\" alt=\"Knee Arthritis\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>               Effective Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe treat a lot of knees at our clinic. Part of the reason is that knee injuries are so prevalent. Another reason is that quite often, the other treatments patients receive only provide temporary relief.\r\n\r\nWhen an injury is left untreated or when the treatment fails to adequately repair an injury, the knee becomes unstable. The instability sets the knee up for a cycle of abnormal joint motion. And that promotes knee degeneration which destroys the joint over time. The result? The knee is set up for the development of arthritis.\r\n\r\nIf you already have arthritis in your knee, we can help. Even if surgery has been recommended due to the advanced nature of your arthritis, there is a good chance we can help. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this non-surgical Stem Cell Therapy to treat knee arthritis. 1,2\r\n\r\nIf you have injured your meniscus or ACL, Regenerative Orthopedics is also an effective therapy capable of repairing the injury and stopping the cycle that leads to arthritis.\r\n\r\n<strong>And...Regenerative Orthopedics is also an ideal treatment for anyone looking to avoid knee replacement!</strong>\r\n<h3>The Healthy Knee vs. An Injured Knee</h3>\r\nLet\'s talk a bit about our knees. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the more complex joints. To accomplish all of the tasks the knee needs to do, many forces and stressors are placed on it.\r\n\r\nA healthy knee moves smoothly during walking activities. And it also moves smoothly when running, jumping, and turning. One of the most important keys to a healthy knee is maintaining stability in response to the forces placed upon it. When any part of the knee joint is injured, such as the bony configuration, muscles, menisci, joint capsule, or ligaments, the whole stability of the knee is disrupted. And that causes symptoms and pain!\r\n\r\nWhen knee injury does occur, Regenerative Orthopedics can stop the disruption and stabilize the knee again. The treatment does this by promoting the healing of unstable and weakened ligaments and other injured joint structures. The result is the elimination of pain associated with knee conditions caused by abnormal joint motion.\r\n<h3>What About Knee Arthritis Treatment?</h3>\r\nKnee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical help. And knee osteoarthritis is a primary player. Arthritis impairs the mobility and activity level of those who suffer from it. If you suffer from it, you sure know the effect it has on your life.\r\n\r\nThe prevalence of knee pain increases with age and is affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise. People living with Arthritis deal with chronic pain, joint stiffness, structural damage, and the progressive loss of cartilage. The condition can be disabling.\r\n\r\n<strong>But did you know the pain of arthritis does not come from the cartilage?</strong> Even though cartilage loss plays a central role in arthritis, it is not the source of pain. How can that be? It\'s because cartilage tissue does not contain nerve fibers.\r\n<h5><em>Nerve Fibers and Pain</em></h5>\r\nThe tissues containing many nerve fibers include the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, joint capsule, synovium, and periosteum. Arthritis pain is due to injury to these types of tissue. Since soft tissue is mainly responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint, when abnormal forces are placed on them, injury occurs that disrupts the balance between normal motion and instability. This is where the painful process begins.\r\n\r\n<strong>The nerve endings that cause pain are also present where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bone, and this area can become a source of ongoing knee pain. Regenerative Orthopedic treatments are often directed at these sites. And as such, they are recognized as one of the most effective non-surgical therapies to treat knee pain.</strong>\r\n<h5><em>Ligaments And Pain</em></h5>\r\nLigaments play a crucial role in the stability of the knee because they guide the motion of the knee joints and restrain excessive motion to prevent dislocation. Ligament injuries are also the most common form of a knee injury. Ligament injury then upsets and disrupts the balance in the motion of the knee joint.\r\n\r\nInjuries that result in ligament damage also commonly result in injury to other knee structures, such as the meniscus, tendons, and cartilage. As mentioned, these injuries can eventually lead to arthritis, which can transpire within a few years with severe injuries or possibly over decades if the injury is less severe.\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedic Treatments Heal the Soft Tissue Injuries</h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4734\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4734 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stem.Joint_.KW_-500x375.jpeg\" alt=\"Stem.joint.kw\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /> <strong>Non-Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatment &amp; Articular Defect Repair</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAlthough many treatments may offer temporary pain relief, it is important to find a treatment that does more than chase the symptoms. And actual repair of the injured soft tissue is vital to restore normal motion to the knee joint.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatment options, such as Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy, are effective therapies that do just that. These treatments stimulate healing of ligaments, tendons, and menisci and restore normal functioning of the knee joint, thus preventing the arthritic progression. In more advanced cases, the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy can be used to promote the regeneration of articular cartilage.\r\n\r\nRegenerative Orthopedic treatments target and repair the structures generating the pain in knee arthritis, effectively resolving the pain. And Regenerative Orthopedic treatments give hope to arthritis sufferers because they provide not only pain relief but also joint repair, resulting in improved function and a better quality of life.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an effective knee arthritis treatment as well as articular cartilage defects.3 If you are suffering from knee arthritis pain, a knee injury, or even an articular cartilage defect, call us today. We\'d love to help you get back to doing what you love.\r\n<h3>References</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Hamoud Al Faqeh, Bin Mohamed Yahya N H, Hui Cheng C, Bin Saim A, BtHj I R (2012) The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic- induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model, Experimental Gerontology 47: 458- 464.</li>\r\n 	<li>Eslaminejad M B, Poor E M (2014) Mesenchymal stem cells as a potent cell source for articular cartilage regeneration. World J Stem Cells 6: 344- 354.</li>\r\n 	<li>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 12\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n\r\nHeba M Arakeep, et al. <a href=\"https://opastonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/repair-of-articular-cartilage-defects-using-bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells-in-rabbits-scri-19.pdf\">Repair of Articular Cartilage Defects using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rabbits</a>. Stem Cell Res Int (2019).  3: ( 1 ) 1 -12.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 11\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>','Knee Arthritis Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain at the Source','','inherit','closed','closed','','2347-revision-v1','','','2021-06-16 23:38:39','2021-06-16 23:38:39','',2347,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=4737',0,'revision','',0),