(179,8,'2019-06-07 08:29:02','2019-06-07 08:29:02','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"82\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-154\" /> \r\n\r\n<p class=\"text-center\" id=\"athletic-event\">Sunday June 29, 2014<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</p>\r\n\r\nMy time was 13:32:36.  A new PR for me.\r\nFor the details, please read the story below.\r\nThank you\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong><br>\r\nIt started with a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt going via Dallas. There was 3 hour delay in Dallas so it took even longer. I thought that I had missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately I got through customs very quickly.  35 minutes from arriving at the game, I was not only able to get through customs but pick up my bags, take a bus to the train station, then re-book my ticket and make my train with 5 minutes to spare!  Of course being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions. Then a 3 hour train ride to Munich where I switched trains and then a four hour train ride to Klagenfurt, Austria.  The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular.\r\nThe 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. I tried to make up with this naps during the day.  Sunday would come all too quickly. \r\nThe rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo and having a chance to swim in the lake and then take a van ride around part of the biking course. When my bike did arrive (I had it shipped), 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.\r\n\r\nSaturday we checked in at the race which included leaving your bike and all your 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 have left the number back in the hotel. 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 a thing done. Not an easy thing to do as it was one 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. 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 (not an easy thing to do 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. I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which and it said race director.  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 my card told him to look me up. He said he would.\r\nAll’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.\r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong><br>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. Breakfast is at four am and we leave for the race at 4:45am. It was about 58 degrees (heading into the 70\'s) and very clear and no signs of rain. It has rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. Got to the transition area and prepped my bike for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm. Since it was about a 500 meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake.\r\nAt the lake we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake.  It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were already go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros for had signed up to start early. I missed this sign up and at first I was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out it was 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 (it gets very jammed up at the beginning of the swim).\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my fourth Ironman. I was dedicating this race to two people.\r\nOn my left arm I had head initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr Jeff started me off in the wonderful world Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend and died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\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\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM</u></strong><br>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still was 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 answer save a little energy at the beginning. Once 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 first group of only about 150 people there was plenty of room. In 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!!).  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 see or hear nothing\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 left or right. You just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I excited 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\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" />As one exits 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 so the street was heavily lined with spectators. It 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. At the beginning this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake. As we left 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. And in 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 or6 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. Going back was long downhill, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns which meant we had to slow down. 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. There were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on along with a big loud speaker 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 loud speakers. Then 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. 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 a180 degree turn again (like at the beginning) so we hat to really slow down But this was 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 where there was an announcer I would hear \"and here is Peter from the United States\".  Always nice to hear to keep one going. My usual time is about 3hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins. 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 is where one can leave a bag that morning of anything they may want or need at that point. It is 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.  When I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of the 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 is yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop miles 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.\r\nAll in all, it went well on the second loop.  The crowds were less due to the rain but there were, still crowds out there. At 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. \r\nMy second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain.\r\n It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\nIn town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly.\r\n\r\nGot off my bike in and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles.  Got my running shoes on and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nPS 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\r\n\r\n<p><strong><u>THE RUN</u></strong></p>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" />When one leaves transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say are running from here to there and play this mental games with yourself the whole way. It 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 therefore I would pass the finish line 4 times. In this area 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 end the first turn around about 4.5 miles out. I 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 the beginning of each loop, so although brief, it was a nice view. After 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 of these two areas.  At this point everything was good and I had no pain.  As we passed through the finish line area (middle of the figure eight), we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small foot bridge and onto a small (in width) cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square. People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people. 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 run back to the starting area. I got back to starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop my stomach started to feel little funny.  This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about again 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 athlete 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\nI just kept telling myself to keep going.  One foot after another...just keep going... Part of the way it was shady so that helped a lot too. The sun stays up until 9 o’clock so it never went down while I was running. Mile 18, I got a second wind. Felt very upbeat and in a good place so I was able to pick up pace.\r\nAt that point 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 you normally he runs a lot faster but not today. He told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster. So 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 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 one has after racing for over 13 hours. There was a small archway as one entered into the city square. There was a small bell on a string that it was hanging from. If you rung 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 turn around, 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. The guy I was running with and I just kept talking. He was from Prague where I was going after the race so we were going 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 one comes with closer to the finish line, the noise level is incredible with cheering, cowbells and more. I then heard the announcer say:\r\n<strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling one has when you hear that never gets old.\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\nAnd at 13 hrs. 32 minutes and 36 seconds I had a new personal best for me by 18 minutes\r\nMy friend I met on the run the finished right behind me. I then met his wife and three kids.\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around it was off to the massage tent and get some food.\r\n\r\nPS I finished around 8:30 pm. At 9 pm the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour.\r\n I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n\r\nI want to make everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that were 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.\r\nCollectively, I want to thank massage therapist, my acupuncturist and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through.  And wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with my long workouts that made me late sometimes.\r\n\r\nThere a few individuals that need to be singled out individually.\r\n I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.\r\n\r\nAnd 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. \r\n\r\nI 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.\r\n\r\nAnd 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!\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Peter A. Fields, MD DC</span></strong>\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">The Athletic Doc®&nbsp;and 4X Ironman Triathlete</span></strong>\r\n\r\n','Race Report 4th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 08:29:02','2019-06-07 08:29:02','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/153-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(180,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 08:38:07',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','180','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=180',14,'nav_menu_item','',0),(181,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 08:38:07',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','181','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=181',13,'nav_menu_item','',0),(182,8,'2019-06-07 08:59:24','2019-06-07 08:59:24','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"82\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-154\" /> \r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\" id=\"athletic-event\">Sunday June 29, 2014<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\nMy time was 13:32:36.  A new PR for me.\r\nFor the details, please read the story below.\r\nThank you\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong><br>\r\nIt started with a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt going via Dallas. There was 3 hour delay in Dallas so it took even longer. I thought that I had missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately I got through customs very quickly.  35 minutes from arriving at the game, I was not only able to get through customs but pick up my bags, take a bus to the train station, then re-book my ticket and make my train with 5 minutes to spare!  Of course being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions. Then a 3 hour train ride to Munich where I switched trains and then a four hour train ride to Klagenfurt, Austria.  The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular.\r\nThe 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. I tried to make up with this naps during the day.  Sunday would come all too quickly. \r\nThe rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo and having a chance to swim in the lake and then take a van ride around part of the biking course. When my bike did arrive (I had it shipped), 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.\r\n\r\nSaturday we checked in at the race which included leaving your bike and all your 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 have left the number back in the hotel. 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 a thing done. Not an easy thing to do as it was one 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. 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 (not an easy thing to do 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. I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which and it said race director.  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 my card told him to look me up. He said he would.\r\nAll’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.\r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong><br>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. Breakfast is at four am and we leave for the race at 4:45am. It was about 58 degrees (heading into the 70\'s) and very clear and no signs of rain. It has rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. Got to the transition area and prepped my bike for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm. Since it was about a 500 meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake.\r\nAt the lake we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake.  It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were already go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros for had signed up to start early. I missed this sign up and at first I was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out it was 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 (it gets very jammed up at the beginning of the swim).\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my fourth Ironman. I was dedicating this race to two people.\r\nOn my left arm I had head initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr Jeff started me off in the wonderful world Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend and died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\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\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM</u></strong><br>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still was 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 answer save a little energy at the beginning. Once 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 first group of only about 150 people there was plenty of room. In 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!!).  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 see or hear nothing\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 left or right. You just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I excited 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\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" />As one exits 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 so the street was heavily lined with spectators. It 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. At the beginning this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake. As we left 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. And in 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 or6 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. Going back was long downhill, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns which meant we had to slow down. 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. There were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on along with a big loud speaker 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 loud speakers. Then 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. 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 a180 degree turn again (like at the beginning) so we hat to really slow down But this was 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 where there was an announcer I would hear \"and here is Peter from the United States\".  Always nice to hear to keep one going. My usual time is about 3hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins. 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 is where one can leave a bag that morning of anything they may want or need at that point. It is 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.  When I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of the 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 is yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop miles 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.\r\nAll in all, it went well on the second loop.  The crowds were less due to the rain but there were, still crowds out there. At 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. \r\nMy second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain.\r\n It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\nIn town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly.\r\n\r\nGot off my bike in and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles.  Got my running shoes on and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nPS 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\r\n\r\n<p><strong><u>THE RUN</u></strong></p>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" />When one leaves transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say are running from here to there and play this mental games with yourself the whole way. It 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 therefore I would pass the finish line 4 times. In this area 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 end the first turn around about 4.5 miles out. I 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 the beginning of each loop, so although brief, it was a nice view. After 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 of these two areas.  At this point everything was good and I had no pain.  As we passed through the finish line area (middle of the figure eight), we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small foot bridge and onto a small (in width) cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square. People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people. 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 run back to the starting area. I got back to starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop my stomach started to feel little funny.  This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about again 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 athlete 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\nI just kept telling myself to keep going.  One foot after another...just keep going... Part of the way it was shady so that helped a lot too. The sun stays up until 9 o’clock so it never went down while I was running. Mile 18, I got a second wind. Felt very upbeat and in a good place so I was able to pick up pace.\r\nAt that point 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 you normally he runs a lot faster but not today. He told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster. So 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 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 one has after racing for over 13 hours. There was a small archway as one entered into the city square. There was a small bell on a string that it was hanging from. If you rung 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 turn around, 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. The guy I was running with and I just kept talking. He was from Prague where I was going after the race so we were going 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 one comes with closer to the finish line, the noise level is incredible with cheering, cowbells and more. I then heard the announcer say:\r\n<strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling one has when you hear that never gets old.\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\nAnd at 13 hrs. 32 minutes and 36 seconds I had a new personal best for me by 18 minutes\r\nMy friend I met on the run the finished right behind me. I then met his wife and three kids.\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around it was off to the massage tent and get some food.\r\n\r\nPS I finished around 8:30 pm. At 9 pm the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour.\r\n I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n\r\nI want to make everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that were 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.\r\nCollectively, I want to thank massage therapist, my acupuncturist and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through.  And wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with my long workouts that made me late sometimes.\r\n\r\nThere a few individuals that need to be singled out individually.\r\n I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.\r\n\r\nAnd 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. \r\n\r\nI 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.\r\n\r\nAnd 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!\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<h6><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Peter A. Fields, MD DC</span></h6>\r\n<h6><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">The Athletic Doc®&nbsp;and 4X Ironman Triathlete</span></h6>\r\n\r\n','Race Report 4th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 08:59:24','2019-06-07 08:59:24','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/153-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(183,8,'2019-06-07 09:00:30','2019-06-07 09:00:30','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"82\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-154\" /> \r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\" id=\"athletic-event\">Sunday June 29, 2014<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\nMy time was 13:32:36.  A new PR for me.\r\nFor the details, please read the story below.\r\nThank you\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong><br>\r\nIt started with a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt going via Dallas. There was 3 hour delay in Dallas so it took even longer. I thought that I had missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately I got through customs very quickly.  35 minutes from arriving at the game, I was not only able to get through customs but pick up my bags, take a bus to the train station, then re-book my ticket and make my train with 5 minutes to spare!  Of course being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions. Then a 3 hour train ride to Munich where I switched trains and then a four hour train ride to Klagenfurt, Austria.  The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular.\r\nThe 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. I tried to make up with this naps during the day.  Sunday would come all too quickly. \r\nThe rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo and having a chance to swim in the lake and then take a van ride around part of the biking course. When my bike did arrive (I had it shipped), 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.\r\n\r\nSaturday we checked in at the race which included leaving your bike and all your 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 have left the number back in the hotel. 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 a thing done. Not an easy thing to do as it was one 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. 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 (not an easy thing to do 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. I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which and it said race director.  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 my card told him to look me up. He said he would.\r\nAll’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.\r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong><br>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. Breakfast is at four am and we leave for the race at 4:45am. It was about 58 degrees (heading into the 70\'s) and very clear and no signs of rain. It has rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. Got to the transition area and prepped my bike for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm. Since it was about a 500 meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake.\r\nAt the lake we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake.  It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were already go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros for had signed up to start early. I missed this sign up and at first I was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out it was 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 (it gets very jammed up at the beginning of the swim).\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my fourth Ironman. I was dedicating this race to two people.\r\nOn my left arm I had head initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr Jeff started me off in the wonderful world Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend and died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\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\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM</u></strong><br>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still was 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 answer save a little energy at the beginning. Once 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 first group of only about 150 people there was plenty of room. In 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!!).  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 see or hear nothing\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 left or right. You just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I excited 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\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" />As one exits 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 so the street was heavily lined with spectators. It 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. At the beginning this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake. As we left 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. And in 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 or6 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. Going back was long downhill, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns which meant we had to slow down. 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. There were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on along with a big loud speaker 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 loud speakers. Then 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. 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 a180 degree turn again (like at the beginning) so we hat to really slow down But this was 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 where there was an announcer I would hear \"and here is Peter from the United States\".  Always nice to hear to keep one going. My usual time is about 3hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins. 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 is where one can leave a bag that morning of anything they may want or need at that point. It is 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.  When I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of the 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 is yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop miles 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.\r\nAll in all, it went well on the second loop.  The crowds were less due to the rain but there were, still crowds out there. At 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. \r\nMy second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain.\r\n It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\nIn town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly.\r\n\r\nGot off my bike in and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles.  Got my running shoes on and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nPS 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\r\n\r\n<p><strong><u>THE RUN</u></strong></p>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" />When one leaves transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say are running from here to there and play this mental games with yourself the whole way. It 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 therefore I would pass the finish line 4 times. In this area 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 end the first turn around about 4.5 miles out. I 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 the beginning of each loop, so although brief, it was a nice view. After 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 of these two areas.  At this point everything was good and I had no pain.  As we passed through the finish line area (middle of the figure eight), we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small foot bridge and onto a small (in width) cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square. People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people. 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 run back to the starting area. I got back to starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop my stomach started to feel little funny.  This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about again 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 athlete 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\nI just kept telling myself to keep going.  One foot after another...just keep going... Part of the way it was shady so that helped a lot too. The sun stays up until 9 o’clock so it never went down while I was running. Mile 18, I got a second wind. Felt very upbeat and in a good place so I was able to pick up pace.\r\nAt that point 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 you normally he runs a lot faster but not today. He told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster. So 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 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 one has after racing for over 13 hours. There was a small archway as one entered into the city square. There was a small bell on a string that it was hanging from. If you rung 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 turn around, 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. The guy I was running with and I just kept talking. He was from Prague where I was going after the race so we were going 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 one comes with closer to the finish line, the noise level is incredible with cheering, cowbells and more. I then heard the announcer say:\r\n<strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling one has when you hear that never gets old.\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\nAnd at 13 hrs. 32 minutes and 36 seconds I had a new personal best for me by 18 minutes\r\nMy friend I met on the run the finished right behind me. I then met his wife and three kids.\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around it was off to the massage tent and get some food.\r\n\r\nPS I finished around 8:30 pm. At 9 pm the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour.\r\n I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n\r\nI want to make everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that were 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.\r\nCollectively, I want to thank massage therapist, my acupuncturist and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through.  And wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with my long workouts that made me late sometimes.\r\n\r\nThere a few individuals that need to be singled out individually.\r\n I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.\r\n\r\nAnd 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. \r\n\r\nI 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.\r\n\r\nAnd 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!\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<h6>Peter A. Fields, MD DC<br>\r\nThe Athletic Doc®&nbsp;and 4X Ironman Triathlete</h6>\r\n\r\n','Race Report 4th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:00:30','2019-06-07 09:00:30','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/153-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(184,8,'2019-06-07 09:06:53','2019-06-07 09:06:53','<div class=\"col-md-8\">\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">GETTING THERE</strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY</strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n<div class=\"clear\"></div>\r\n<br>\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n<div class=\"clear\"></div>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE: 112 Miles</strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\r\n\r\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\r\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">FINAL THOUGHTS</strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Finish\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-199\" />My race may have been slowed down by the problems I had on the run, but I was never discouraged. As my former coach told me, Ironman races are all about damage control. That thought helped me get through this race. I was very pleased that I did not get the two most common problems that affect athletes in an Ironman: stomach problems and/or mechanical problems on the bike.\r\nI felt exhausted and drained but nevertheless very satisfied to have finished my 5th Ironman. Some may ask why I punish my body? I was not punishing it; just challenging it. When one is prepared, it is not a punishment. Plus an Ironman is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.\r\n\r\nI leave you with a quote by the author Viktor Frankl, MD, holocaust survivor and world famous author from his book Man\'s Search For Meaning, which was my dad\'s favorite:\r\n\"Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.\"\r\n\r\nThere are too many to name, but I want to thank everybody out there who followed me during this race and offered me encouragement. I’d also like to thank everyone else who has written to me and even just thought about me before, during and/or after the race.\r\n\r\nThis race was dedicated to my mother who I lost last year, to my father who I lost 11 years ago and to my uncle who, at 89yo, survived a very tough time recently being in the hospital for 30 days. All three of them have meant a lot to me during my life and have encouraged me to never give up.\r\n\r\nLastly, a big shout out to my brother Norman. No matter where I have raced, he has always followed me the entire race on the computer. I heard him cheering me on the whole way; he has never forgotten his little brother.\r\nThanks bro!\r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC<br>\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 5X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"col-md-4\" id=\"sidebar2\">\r\n\r\n<a class=\"youtube\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-qqF2d40Tw\"><img alt=\"2015 Ironman Brazil Finish\" title=\"2015 Ironman Brazil Finish\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-1.jpg\"></a>\r\n<strong><em>2015 Ironman Brazil Finish</em></strong>\r\n<br>\r\n<em><strong style=\"color: #3dbc5e;\">Click image above to view video</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"clear\">\r\n<a href=\"https://photos.app.goo.gl/l3vcnRmnAzjUIFjy1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2015 Cozumel<br>\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\n\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story&nbsp;\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>','Race Report 5th Ironman','','publish','open','closed','','race-report-5th-ironman','','','2020-06-30 17:48:36','2020-06-30 17:48:36','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=184',0,'post','',0),(185,8,'2019-06-07 09:02:48','2019-06-07 09:02:48','Ironman Brazil Logo','Ironman Brazil Logo','Ironman Brazil Logo','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-brazil-logo','','','2019-06-07 09:02:48','2019-06-07 09:02:48','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(186,8,'2019-06-07 09:03:44','2019-06-07 09:03:44','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-austria-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Austria Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"82\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-154\" /> \r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday June 29, 2014<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\nMy time was 13:32:36.  A new PR for me.\r\nFor the details, please read the story below.\r\nThank you\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong><br>\r\nIt started with a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt going via Dallas. There was 3 hour delay in Dallas so it took even longer. I thought that I had missed my train connection in Frankfurt. Fortunately I got through customs very quickly.  35 minutes from arriving at the game, I was not only able to get through customs but pick up my bags, take a bus to the train station, then re-book my ticket and make my train with 5 minutes to spare!  Of course being able to speak German helped out a lot with getting directions. Then a 3 hour train ride to Munich where I switched trains and then a four hour train ride to Klagenfurt, Austria.  The views from the train in southern Germany and Austria were spectacular.\r\nThe 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. I tried to make up with this naps during the day.  Sunday would come all too quickly. \r\nThe rest of the pre-event days were spent meeting everybody, seeing the triathlon expo and having a chance to swim in the lake and then take a van ride around part of the biking course. When my bike did arrive (I had it shipped), 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.\r\n\r\nSaturday we checked in at the race which included leaving your bike and all your 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 have left the number back in the hotel. 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 a thing done. Not an easy thing to do as it was one 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. 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 (not an easy thing to do 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. I asked again if he was sure about this since my van ride was about to leave. He turned over his badge which and it said race director.  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 my card told him to look me up. He said he would.\r\nAll’s well that ends well. Plus a good omen for the race.\r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong><br>\r\nI got up at my usual time of 3:30 am. Breakfast is at four am and we leave for the race at 4:45am. It was about 58 degrees (heading into the 70\'s) and very clear and no signs of rain. It has rained the last 2 days on and off so this was a good thing. Got to the transition area and prepped my bike for the last time. This is always a very exciting time with 3000 athletes plus spectators trying to stay calm. Since it was about a 500 meter walk to the water, we all took our wetsuits and changed over by the lake.\r\nAt the lake we were greeted by a rainbow over the lake.  It was very beautiful and again a good omen. In a short time, we were already go. The pros and another group of 800 people started 15 minutes early. These early starting non-pros for had signed up to start early. I missed this sign up and at first I was disappointed as I am a very strong swimmer. But Ken Glah, the former pro triathlete whose company I travel with, found out it was 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 (it gets very jammed up at the beginning of the swim).\r\nSo after many months of training, I was ready to start my fourth Ironman. I was dedicating this race to two people.\r\nOn my left arm I had head initials JP written. This was in memory of my friend Jeff Patterson. Dr Jeff started me off in the wonderful world Prolotherapy which helped save my back from surgery. He was my mentor and dear friend and died much too early only a few months ago at the age of 67.\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\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM</u></strong><br>\r\nEven with 800 starting early, there still was 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 answer save a little energy at the beginning. Once 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 first group of only about 150 people there was plenty of room. In 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!!).  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 see or hear nothing\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 left or right. You just had to stay with the pack. Either way, I excited 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\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bike-race2014.jpg\" alt=\"Bike Race2014\" width=\"382\" height=\"512\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-170\" />As one exits 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 so the street was heavily lined with spectators. It 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. At the beginning this route is mostly flat with lots of curves going around the lake. As we left 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. And in 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 or6 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. Going back was long downhill, so we went fast except for the towns where we had to make small turns which meant we had to slow down. 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. There were 100\'s of people lining the street and cheering us on along with a big loud speaker 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 loud speakers. Then 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. 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 a180 degree turn again (like at the beginning) so we hat to really slow down But this was 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 where there was an announcer I would hear \"and here is Peter from the United States\".  Always nice to hear to keep one going. My usual time is about 3hrs 25 mins for half of the ride but this time I did it in 3 hours 10 mins. 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 is where one can leave a bag that morning of anything they may want or need at that point. It is 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.  When I tossed the bottle away, it rolled to the feet of the 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 is yours. He just smiled at me as he reached for it.\r\nThen 8 miles into the second loop miles 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.\r\nAll in all, it went well on the second loop.  The crowds were less due to the rain but there were, still crowds out there. At 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. \r\nMy second loop time was a bit slower due to the rain.\r\n It was 3 hours in 25 minutes. All in all I felt strong for the run. This was a good thing.\r\nIn town near T2, the crowds were there cheering loudly.\r\n\r\nGot off my bike in and ran thru the transition area to rack my bike. It was good to be off the bike after 112 miles.  Got my running shoes on and started off to run a marathon.\r\n\r\nPS 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\r\n\r\n<p><strong><u>THE RUN</u></strong></p>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/running-smile.jpg\" alt=\"Running Smile\" width=\"335\" height=\"504\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-174\" />When one leaves transition area two (T2) in an Ironman, you cannot think marathon. You just say are running from here to there and play this mental games with yourself the whole way. It 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 therefore I would pass the finish line 4 times. In this area 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 end the first turn around about 4.5 miles out. I 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 the beginning of each loop, so although brief, it was a nice view. After 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 of these two areas.  At this point everything was good and I had no pain.  As we passed through the finish line area (middle of the figure eight), we headed out again along a canal. Then we ran under a small foot bridge and onto a small (in width) cobblestone street lined with houses. We ran along this for about 3/4 of a mile then into the town square. People were sitting in cafes and cheering us on. Lots and lots of people. 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 run back to the starting area. I got back to starting point again and got my special needs bag - some extra nutrition. On the second loop my stomach started to feel little funny.  This is something that is very common with Ironman triathletes. Mine only lasted about again 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 athlete 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\nI just kept telling myself to keep going.  One foot after another...just keep going... Part of the way it was shady so that helped a lot too. The sun stays up until 9 o’clock so it never went down while I was running. Mile 18, I got a second wind. Felt very upbeat and in a good place so I was able to pick up pace.\r\nAt that point 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 you normally he runs a lot faster but not today. He told me to try to stay with him and we could talk so the time with go faster. So 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 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 one has after racing for over 13 hours. There was a small archway as one entered into the city square. There was a small bell on a string that it was hanging from. If you rung 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 turn around, 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. The guy I was running with and I just kept talking. He was from Prague where I was going after the race so we were going 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 one comes with closer to the finish line, the noise level is incredible with cheering, cowbells and more. I then heard the announcer say:\r\n<strong>\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"</strong>\r\n\r\nThe feeling one has when you hear that never gets old.\r\nI was exhausted but very elated. The feeling I had is indescribable.\r\nAnd at 13 hrs. 32 minutes and 36 seconds I had a new personal best for me by 18 minutes\r\nMy friend I met on the run the finished right behind me. I then met his wife and three kids.\r\nAfter a few minutes of walking around it was off to the massage tent and get some food.\r\n\r\nPS I finished around 8:30 pm. At 9 pm the sky opened up and it rained hard for about an hour.\r\n I was very fortunate not to go through that.\r\n\r\nI want to make everybody who took the time and effort to watch the update that were 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.\r\nCollectively, I want to thank massage therapist, my acupuncturist and my chiropractor. You all helped get me through.  And wonderful office staff who always took a great interest in what I was doing and put up with my long workouts that made me late sometimes.\r\n\r\nThere a few individuals that need to be singled out individually.\r\n I want to thank my coach, Cherie Gruenfeld, as she pushed me hard and helped me a lot.\r\n\r\nAnd 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. \r\n\r\nI 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.\r\n\r\nAnd 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!\r\n\r\n<strong>Thank you all again for your well wishes and support.</strong>\r\n\r\n<h6>Peter A. Fields, MD DC<br>\r\nThe Athletic Doc®&nbsp;and 4X Ironman Triathlete</h6>\r\n\r\n','Race Report 4th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','153-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:03:44','2019-06-07 09:03:44','',153,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/153-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(187,8,'2019-06-07 09:06:24','2019-06-07 09:06:24','Ironman Brazil Swim 2','Ironman Brazil Swim 2','Ironman Brazil Swim 2','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-brazil-swim-2','','','2019-06-07 09:06:24','2019-06-07 09:06:24','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(188,8,'2019-06-07 09:06:53','2019-06-07 09:06:53','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"314\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" /> \r\nI woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:06:53','2019-06-07 09:06:53','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(189,8,'2019-06-17 08:11:58','2019-06-17 08:11:58','<div class=\"col-md-8\">\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\n\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">GETTING THERE</strong>\n\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY</strong>\n\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\n<div class=\"clear\"></div>\n<br>\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</strong>\n\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \n<div class=\"clear\"></div>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE: 112 Miles</strong>\n\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</strong>\n\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\n\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \n\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">FINAL THOUGHTS</strong>\n\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Finish\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-199\" />My race may have been slowed down by the problems I had on the run, but I was never discouraged. As my former coach told me, Ironman races are all about damage control. That thought helped me get through this race. I was very pleased that I did not get the two most common problems that affect athletes in an Ironman: stomach problems and/or mechanical problems on the bike.\nI felt exhausted and drained but nevertheless very satisfied to have finished my 5th Ironman. Some may ask why I punish my body? I was not punishing it; just challenging it. When one is prepared, it is not a punishment. Plus an Ironman is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.\n\nI leave you with a quote by the author Viktor Frankl, MD, holocaust survivor and world famous author from his book Man\'s Search For Meaning, which was my dad\'s favorite:\n\"Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.\"\n\nThere are too many to name, but I want to thank everybody out there who followed me during this race and offered me encouragement. I’d also like to thank everyone else who has written to me and even just thought about me before, during and/or after the race.\n\nThis race was dedicated to my mother who I lost last year, to my father who I lost 11 years ago and to my uncle who, at 89yo, survived a very tough time recently being in the hospital for 30 days. All three of them have meant a lot to me during my life and have encouraged me to never give up.\n\nLastly, a big shout out to my brother Norman. No matter where I have raced, he has always followed me the entire race on the computer. I heard him cheering me on the whole way; he has never forgotten his little brother.\nThanks bro!\n\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC<br>\nThe Athletic Doc® and 5X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\n</div>\n<div class','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-autosave-v1','','','2019-06-17 08:11:58','2019-06-17 08:11:58','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(190,8,'2019-06-07 09:16:06','2019-06-07 09:16:06','Ironman Brazil Swim','Ironman Brazil Swim','','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-brazil-swim','','','2019-06-07 09:16:11','2019-06-07 09:16:11','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(191,8,'2019-06-07 09:17:29','2019-06-07 09:17:29','Ironman Brazil Bike','Ironman Brazil Bike','','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-brazil-bike','','','2019-06-07 09:17:34','2019-06-07 09:17:34','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(192,8,'2019-06-07 09:17:53','2019-06-07 09:17:53','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"314\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" /> \r\nI woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</ul></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"275\" height=\"450\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />\r\nThis was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</ul></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"275\" height=\"516\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />\r\nSince it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:17:53','2019-06-07 09:17:53','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(193,8,'2019-06-07 09:18:36','2019-06-07 09:18:36','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"314\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" /> \r\nI woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"275\" height=\"450\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />\r\nThis was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"275\" height=\"516\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />\r\nSince it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:18:36','2019-06-07 09:18:36','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(194,8,'2019-06-07 09:20:12','2019-06-07 09:20:12','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"314\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" /> \r\nI woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"275\" height=\"450\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />\r\nThis was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />\r\nSince it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:20:12','2019-06-07 09:20:12','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(195,8,'2019-06-07 09:20:44','2019-06-07 09:20:44','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" /> \r\nI woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />\r\nThis was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />\r\nSince it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:20:44','2019-06-07 09:20:44','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(196,8,'2019-06-07 09:22:10','2019-06-07 09:22:10','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:22:10','2019-06-07 09:22:10','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(197,8,'2019-06-07 09:24:52','2019-06-07 09:24:52','Ironman Brazil Running','Ironman Brazil Running','','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-brazil-running','','','2019-06-07 09:24:57','2019-06-07 09:24:57','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(198,8,'2019-06-07 09:25:30','2019-06-07 09:25:30','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"275\" height=\"579\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\r\n\r\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\r\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \r\n\r\n\r\n','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:25:30','2019-06-07 09:25:30','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(199,8,'2019-06-07 09:26:12','2019-06-07 09:26:12','Ironman Brazil Finish','Ironman Brazil Finish','','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-brazil-finish','','','2019-06-07 09:26:16','2019-06-07 09:26:16','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(200,8,'2019-06-07 09:27:16','2019-06-07 09:27:16','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\r\n\r\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\r\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>FINAL THOUGHTS</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Finish\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-199\" />','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:27:16','2019-06-07 09:27:16','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(201,8,'2019-06-07 09:27:39','2019-06-07 09:27:39','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\r\n\r\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\r\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>FINAL THOUGHTS</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Finish\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-199\" />My race may have been slowed down by the problems I had on the run, but I was never discouraged. As my former coach told me, Ironman races are all about damage control. That thought helped me get through this race. I was very pleased that I did not get the two most common problems that affect athletes in an Ironman: stomach problems and/or mechanical problems on the bike.\r\nI felt exhausted and drained but nevertheless very satisfied to have finished my 5th Ironman. Some may ask why I punish my body? I was not punishing it; just challenging it. When one is prepared, it is not a punishment. Plus an Ironman is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:27:39','2019-06-07 09:27:39','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(202,8,'2019-06-07 09:42:07','2019-06-07 09:42:07','<h6>Fees</h6>\r\n\r\nFor your first visit:\r\nA complete Regenerative Orthopedics history and physical is done at that time. \r\nThis takes approximately 30-40 minutes.\r\nThen the treatment options are explained (prices below).\r\n<a href=\"https://www.carecredit.com/go/762HNB/bb3poscustacqbtnclk08132020/?dtc=Ds5X&promocode=CLT/\"><img width=\"275\" class=\"alignright\" style=\"max-width:100%;\" src=\"https://www.carecredit.com/sites/pc/image/carecredit_button_applynow_tile_v2.png\"/></a>\r\nInitial Regenerative Orthopedic Consultation: <strong>$300</strong>\r\n<h6>Prolotherapy Charges</h6>\r\nSmall Joint (Foot, hand, fingers, toes, ankle, elbow, TMJ ): <strong>$400</strong>\r\nMedium Joint (knee, hip, shoulder, ribs): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nLarge Joint (Groin, Neck, Mid Back or Low Back): <strong>$700</strong>\r\nPRP (in addition to the above joint charges): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nStem Cell Therapy: <strong>Please call for pricing</strong>\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\">  Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Payment Policy</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. When you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more.\r\n\r\nOnly you can decide what is fair and if it is worth the investment even if you instil pay out-of-pocket costs for your health care.\r\n\r\nWe will make every effort to instill the feeling that your time with us is worth it.\r\nWoman Paying\r\n\r\nAs a <strong>Fee for Service Office</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>. \r\nWe accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services.\r\nWe will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. <u><strong>We cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement.</strong></u>\r\n\r\nWe <u>do not subscribe to any insurance networks.</u> Insurance billing can be up to 40 percent of a medical office\'s overhead. It involves a lot of time and effort. We would rather put that time and effort into caring for our patients instead of billing insurance companies. It also helps us keep our prices reasonable.\r\n\r\nRemember that health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance carrier.\r\n\r\nIf so inclined, you can contact your insurance carrier and ask them if they cover an MD office visit (codes: 99203 or 4; 99213 or 4.) They will not tell you how much they cover - only whether they cover it or not. Most insurance companies cover MD\'s office visits. This is what we bill for.\r\n\r\nAll bills are issued under Dr Fields\' medical license (MD). Unfortunately, there is still no guarantee that insurance companies will reimburse you for your treatments even after they have said yes to complete or partial coverage.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>We cannot bill Medicare or Medi-cal since we are not a provider.</strong></u>\r\nPlease do not ask us to attempt this as it is not possible.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\">  Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Fees & Policies','','publish','open','closed','','fees-policies','','','2021-01-25 23:50:27','2021-01-25 23:50:27','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=202',0,'post','',0),(203,8,'2019-06-07 09:42:07','2019-06-07 09:42:07','<strong>Fees</strong>\r\n\r\nFor your first visit:\r\nA complete Regenerative Orthopedics history and physical is done at that time. \r\nThis takes approximately 30-40 minutes.\r\nThen the treatment options are explained (prices below).\r\n\r\nInitial Regenerative Orthopedic Consultation: <strong>$300</strong>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy Charges\r\nSmall Joint (Foot, hand, fingers, toes, ankle, elbow, TMJ ): <strong>$400</strong>\r\nMedium Joint (knee, hip, shoulder, ribs): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nLarge Joint (Groin, Neck, Mid Back or Low Back): <strong>$700</strong>\r\nPRP (in addition to the above joint charges): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nStem Cell Therapy: <strong>Please call for pricing</strong>\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Payment Policy</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. When you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more.\r\n\r\nOnly you can decide what is fair and if it is worth the investment even if you instil pay out-of-pocket costs for your health care.\r\n\r\nWe will make every effort to instill the feeling that your time with us is worth it.\r\nWoman Paying\r\n\r\nAs a <strong>Fee for Service Office</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>. \r\nWe accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services.\r\nWe will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. <u><strong>We cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement.</strong></u>\r\n\r\nWe <u>do not subscribe to any insurance networks.</u> Insurance billing can be up to 40 percent of a medical office\'s overhead. It involves a lot of time and effort. We would rather put that time and effort into caring for our patients instead of billing insurance companies. It also helps us keep our prices reasonable.\r\n\r\nRemember that health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance carrier.\r\n\r\nIf so inclined, you can contact your insurance carrier and ask them if they cover an MD office visit (codes: 99203 or 4; 99213 or 4.) They will not tell you how much they cover - only whether they cover it or not. Most insurance companies cover MD\'s office visits. This is what we bill for.\r\n\r\nAll bills are issued under Dr Fields\' medical license (MD). Unfortunately, there is still no guarantee that insurance companies will reimburse you for your treatments even after they have said yes to complete or partial coverage.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>We cannot bill Medicare or Medi-cal since we are not a provider.</strong></u>\r\nPlease do not ask us to attempt this as it is not possible.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Fees & Policies','','inherit','closed','closed','','202-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:42:07','2019-06-07 09:42:07','',202,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/202-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(204,8,'2019-06-07 09:51:24','2019-06-07 09:51:24','<strong>Fees</strong>\r\n\r\nFor your first visit:\r\nA complete Regenerative Orthopedics history and physical is done at that time. \r\nThis takes approximately 30-40 minutes.\r\nThen the treatment options are explained (prices below).\r\n\r\nInitial Regenerative Orthopedic Consultation: <strong>$300</strong>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy Charges\r\nSmall Joint (Foot, hand, fingers, toes, ankle, elbow, TMJ ): <strong>$400</strong>\r\nMedium Joint (knee, hip, shoulder, ribs): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nLarge Joint (Groin, Neck, Mid Back or Low Back): <strong>$700</strong>\r\nPRP (in addition to the above joint charges): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nStem Cell Therapy: <strong>Please call for pricing</strong>\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Payment Policy</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. When you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more.\r\n\r\nOnly you can decide what is fair and if it is worth the investment even if you instil pay out-of-pocket costs for your health care.\r\n\r\nWe will make every effort to instill the feeling that your time with us is worth it.\r\nWoman Paying\r\n\r\nAs a <strong>Fee for Service Office</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>. \r\nWe accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services.\r\nWe will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. <u><strong>We cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement.</strong></u>\r\n\r\nWe <u>do not subscribe to any insurance networks.</u> Insurance billing can be up to 40 percent of a medical office\'s overhead. It involves a lot of time and effort. We would rather put that time and effort into caring for our patients instead of billing insurance companies. It also helps us keep our prices reasonable.\r\n\r\nRemember that health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance carrier.\r\n\r\nIf so inclined, you can contact your insurance carrier and ask them if they cover an MD office visit (codes: 99203 or 4; 99213 or 4.) They will not tell you how much they cover - only whether they cover it or not. Most insurance companies cover MD\'s office visits. This is what we bill for.\r\n\r\nAll bills are issued under Dr Fields\' medical license (MD). Unfortunately, there is still no guarantee that insurance companies will reimburse you for your treatments even after they have said yes to complete or partial coverage.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>We cannot bill Medicare or Medi-cal since we are not a provider.</strong></u>\r\nPlease do not ask us to attempt this as it is not possible.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Fees & Policies','','inherit','closed','closed','','202-autosave-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:51:24','2019-06-07 09:51:24','',202,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/202-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(205,8,'2019-06-07 09:43:14','2019-06-07 09:43:14','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\r\n\r\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\r\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>FINAL THOUGHTS</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Finish\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-199\" />My race may have been slowed down by the problems I had on the run, but I was never discouraged. As my former coach told me, Ironman races are all about damage control. That thought helped me get through this race. I was very pleased that I did not get the two most common problems that affect athletes in an Ironman: stomach problems and/or mechanical problems on the bike.\r\nI felt exhausted and drained but nevertheless very satisfied to have finished my 5th Ironman. Some may ask why I punish my body? I was not punishing it; just challenging it. When one is prepared, it is not a punishment. Plus an Ironman is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.\r\n\r\nI leave you with a quote by the author Viktor Frankl, MD, holocaust survivor and world famous author from his book Man\'s Search For Meaning, which was my dad\'s favorite:\r\n\"Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.\"\r\n\r\nThere are too many to name, but I want to thank everybody out there who followed me during this race and offered me encouragement. I’d also like to thank everyone else who has written to me and even just thought about me before, during and/or after the race.\r\n\r\nThis race was dedicated to my mother who I lost last year, to my father who I lost 11 years ago and to my uncle who, at 89yo, survived a very tough time recently being in the hospital for 30 days. All three of them have meant a lot to me during my life and have encouraged me to never give up.','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:43:14','2019-06-07 09:43:14','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(206,8,'2019-06-07 09:44:31','2019-06-07 09:44:31','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-logo.png\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Logo\" width=\"220\" height=\"130\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-185\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday May 31, 2015<br>\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nIt is a 12 hour flight nonstop from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The flight left at 6:30 p.m. and went smoothly allowing me to get a good nights sleep. It is a four hour difference between Los Angeles and Brazil. After arriving at 11 a.m. in the morning, I waited about six hours and was able to connect on my 5 p.m. flight to Florianopolis.\r\nThe next four days were the usual getting settled in and resting. In addition I would meet many of the competitors that are staying at the guest hotel. The Saturday before the race one must get all ones gear together and leave it down at the transition area. In an Ironman triathlon, all your gear, including your bike, has to be in the transition area on the Saturday before the race. I also took a van tour of the bike course so I could become familiar with it. Sunday morning the only thing one brings down to the start are the things that you\'re going to swim with including your wetsuit. You are also allowed to bring down 2 bags with special needs for half way on the bike and half way through the run. Here you put any food or other gear that you might want during the race and they are placed at the appropriate half way marks.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim 2\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-187\" />I woke at my usual time of 3:30 a.m. This allows me plenty of time to have breakfast, stretch out and get all the final gear in place. And I then arrived at the transition area about 4:30 a.m. At this point it’s just about keeping one\'s nerves down, getting your tires pumped on your bike and making all final checks of your gear for the day. Then we headed down to the ocean. It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the starting point on the beach. The swim was in the ocean (Atlantic that is!). Everybody is trying to just keep their nerves down. Before heading down, I had someone take a picture of me. On my right arm I put the initials of my beloved mother, Yvette Simon Fields, who passed away last August. On my left arm I had the initials of my 89 year old uncle, Andre Jamar, who lives in Belgium and had just spent 30 days in the hospital and had recovered successfully. And on my stomach I had the initials of my dear father, Fred F. Fields, who I lost 11 years ago. All three of them would be in my heart during the race. This was very inspiring and encouraging for me.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-swim.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Swim\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-190\" />This was a beach start. All 2,000 athletes started at once (approximately 40 pros go off first). Being a very good swimmer, I get right behind the lead pack and go out strong. Even with that, there is always a surge at the beginning with everyone swimming into each other (like salmon spawning up stream!). After several hundred yards, the pack thinned out and I was able to get into my rhythm. I was wearing a wetsuit which irritated my neck and I had to stop several times to readjust it so I would not get a burn mark. In spite of this, I was feeling very good. It was a two loop swim. The first loop was a little longer than the second loop. After the first loop you exited the water, ran about 30 to 40 yards on the sand through the cheering crowds and were handed water by the race volunteers. Although a bit exhausting to run, I found this very encouraging with the crowd yelling and screaming. Then it was back in the water to do a second shorter loop. All along I felt very good. I exited the water and found out later I was only nine seconds behind the leader in my age group. So much for stretching my neck! I was feeling very good. You had to run about 300 to 400 yards to the transition area to get your bike. Right before you got to this area, they had wetsuit strippers there. These are basically volunteers to help you to get off your wetsuit. You peel it down to your waist and when you get there you lay on your back and they just pull it off your legs. This is very helpful as this is a hard part of the transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Then it was off to the change tent to put on my bike shoes, helmet and get going on the bike. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-bike.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Bike\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-191\" />Since it was in the low sixties and I was still wet, I wore a vest and arm warmers ( I get cold easy) as I exited the bike transition area. I later would get rid of all this gear as it went into the upper 60\'s and mid 70\'s. The area right around this transition area, known as T1, is crowded with people yelling and cheering. This is always very encouraging. Then it was on to do the bike ride, which would be two loops of the course. This event turned out to be more of an urban event than the other Ironman Triathlons I had done. That meant we were riding amongst traffic a lot. We did have one lane blocked off just for us but a lot of the time there were cars going by. There was also a total of about four thousand four hundred feet of climbing. But the hills were pretty evenly spread out, so nothing was all at once. Plus we did have some very nice views of the ocean and bays as Florianopolis is an island. I felt very strong on the bike. At one point one of my age group competitors who had seen me in the transition area came up to me on the bike and asked me if I was going to go to Hawaii (the World Championships, where you have to qualify). I laughed and said no, but thanks for the encouragement (going to Hawaii meant that I would finish in the top one or two in my age group which I certainly do not do). Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to hear this as he thought I was biking very well. After the first loop, you ended up back in town with the crowds cheering and yelling. Then it was back out for the second loop. Again, I was feeling very strong. I did stop at special needs to pick up my water bottle with my energy drink in it and some other food. All along I felt very strong and was racing well. I found out later that when I got off the bike I was in 7th place in my age group. This is a big improvement for me as usually the bike is my weakest link and I fall back many places. Then it was into the change tent to change into my running shoes. This time I did not need sunglasses as it had partially clouded over and the sun was not brightly shining. Since it was around 3pm and the sun would set around 5:30pm (it is almost wintertime in the southern hemisphere), this was helpful as after that time you have to put the sunglasses on your hat or somewhere else as you don\'t need them because it gets dark outside. This was also very good as that would mean it would not get too hot and one would not get sunburned.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-running.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Running\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-197\" />As we started to run out of the transition area, there were lots of crowds. They would eventually dissipate and you would just be running with the other triathletes. After only a mile, my feet started to bother me. I had to stop and readjust my shoes several times. I even put on little toe gel caps that help protect your toes. After several miles I knew that this was going to be a tough day as somehow I was having pains in my feet which I had never experienced before. At about mile two and a half miles, there was an extremely steep hill that most people had to walk up. On the way back this hill was so steep that you also had to walk down. It was not that long, so it wasn\'t that bad. The first loop was out and back. It was 6.5 mile each way, so when done this is the first 13 miles. I tried to put the pain in my feet out of my mind and keep going. It was slowing me down, but I just kept moving forward. I also kept smiling as all-in-all I was just happy to be out there competing. Plus smiling makes me feel good on the inside. In the next few miles, I had to stop several more times to readjust my shoes. By the end of the first loop, I knew this was not going to be an easy day. For the next 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), I pushed myself very hard to stay in the game. I thought of my mother, my father and my uncle whose names I had written on my body. They’ve all had tough struggles in their lives and just kept going, so I did too. Their strength kept me going through this very tough time. Of course now it was after 6:30pm and it was dark. I had now completed 13 miles and knew and if I could just get past the next 6.2 mile (10 kilometer) segment, I would be able to finish the race. I pushed hard and kept my focus. After getting thru this segment, I knew I was good to go and had only one more loop to the finish line.\r\n\r\nI had to walk and run at times due to the pain I was having in my feet, but you just put it out of your mind and keep going. Finally, as I rounded the corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done it. This was my 5th Ironman and probably the toughest one, at least on the run. Ironman races are all about staying in the game and I had conquered this one. As I crossed the finish line and they said:\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman”,\r\nI knew it was all worthwhile. \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong><u>FINAL THOUGHTS</u></strong>\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Brazil Finish\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-199\" />My race may have been slowed down by the problems I had on the run, but I was never discouraged. As my former coach told me, Ironman races are all about damage control. That thought helped me get through this race. I was very pleased that I did not get the two most common problems that affect athletes in an Ironman: stomach problems and/or mechanical problems on the bike.\r\nI felt exhausted and drained but nevertheless very satisfied to have finished my 5th Ironman. Some may ask why I punish my body? I was not punishing it; just challenging it. When one is prepared, it is not a punishment. Plus an Ironman is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.\r\n\r\nI leave you with a quote by the author Viktor Frankl, MD, holocaust survivor and world famous author from his book Man\'s Search For Meaning, which was my dad\'s favorite:\r\n\"Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.\"\r\n\r\nThere are too many to name, but I want to thank everybody out there who followed me during this race and offered me encouragement. I’d also like to thank everyone else who has written to me and even just thought about me before, during and/or after the race.\r\n\r\nThis race was dedicated to my mother who I lost last year, to my father who I lost 11 years ago and to my uncle who, at 89yo, survived a very tough time recently being in the hospital for 30 days. All three of them have meant a lot to me during my life and have encouraged me to never give up.\r\n\r\nLastly, a big shout out to my brother Norman. No matter where I have raced, he has always followed me the entire race on the computer. I heard him cheering me on the whole way; he has never forgotten his little brother.\r\nThanks bro!\r\n\r\n<h6>Peter A. Fields, MD DC<br>\r\nThe Athletic Doc® and 5X Ironman Triathlete</h6>','Race Report 5th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','184-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:44:31','2019-06-07 09:44:31','',184,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/184-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(207,8,'2019-06-07 09:48:41','2019-06-07 09:48:41','<h2>Common Questions for Services at OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup></h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4393\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4393 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Prolotherapy-copy-2-500x500.png\" alt=\"Prolotherapy Copy 2\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <em><strong> Non-Surgical Services at OrthoRegen for Joint Pain</strong></em>[/caption]\r\n<h3><strong>What Is the Payment Policy for Service?</strong></h3>\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. And we are so happy you have chosen to look into the services offered at OrthoRegen.<sup>® </sup>\r\n\r\nSince the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. When you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness, and more.\r\n\r\nOnly you can decide what is fair and if it is worth the investment even if you pay out-of-pocket costs for your health care.\r\n\r\nWe will make every effort to instill the feeling that your time with us is worth it.\r\n<h3>Is OrthoRegen<sup>® </sup>a Fee for Service Office?</h3>\r\nYes! And as a <strong>Fee for Service Office,</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>.\r\n\r\n<em>We accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services.</em>\r\n<h4>What Should I Expect at the First Visit?</h4>\r\nDuring your first visit to OrthoRegen,<sup>® </sup>a complete Regenerative Orthopedics history and physical is done. This takes approximately 30-40 minutes. Your regenerative medicine expert will then recommend the best treatment option according to your particular needs and case.\r\n<h4>The Regenerative Orthopedic treatment options are explained below with current fees:</h4>\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"586\"]<a class=\"enhancr_card_5084827434\" href=\"https://www.carecredit.com/go/762HNB/bb3poscustacqbtnclk08132020/?dtc=Ds5X&amp;promocode=CLT/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img class=\"ydpb17459af\" src=\"https://www.carecredit.com/sites/pc/image/carecredit_button_applynow_tile_v2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"586\" height=\"434\" data-inlineimagemanipulating=\"true\" data-id=\"1624650312930\" /></a> <em>We accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services at OrthoRegen.</em>[/caption]\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>What Are the Regenerative Orthopedics Fees?</h3>\r\nInitial Regenerative Orthopedic Consultation: $550\r\n<h4>Prolotherapy Charges:</h4>\r\nSmall Joint (Foot, hand, fingers, toes, ankle, elbow, TMJ): $500\r\nMedium Joint (Knee, hip, shoulder, ribs): $600\r\nLarge Joint (Groin, neck, mid-back, or low back): $1600\r\n<h4></h4>\r\n<h4></h4>\r\n<h4></h4>\r\n<h4></h4>\r\n<h4></h4>\r\n<h4><strong>Platelet Rich Plasma:</strong></h4>\r\n<strong> </strong>$550 Plus, the above joint charges\r\n<h4>Stem Cell Therapy:</h4>\r\nPlease call for pricing\r\n<h3>What Is the Insurance Policy at OrthoRegen<sup>® </sup>for Services?</h3>\r\nWe will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. As noted above, we are a <strong>Fee for Service Office. And as such,</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>.\r\n\r\nSince <strong>we do not subscribe to any insurance networks</strong>, <strong>we</strong><u><strong> cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement.</strong></u>\r\n\r\nInsurance billing can be up to 40 percent of a medical office’s overhead. It involves a lot of time and effort. We would rather put that time and effort into caring for our patients instead of billing insurance companies. It also helps us keep our prices reasonable.\r\n<h4>Remember that health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance carrier.</h4>\r\nIf so inclined, you can contact your insurance carrier and ask them if they cover an MD office visit (codes: 99203 or 4; 99213 or 4.) They will not tell you how much they cover – only whether they cover it or not. Most insurance companies cover MD’s office visits. This is what we bill for.\r\n\r\nAll bills are issued under Dr. Fields’ medical license (MD). Unfortunately, there is still no guarantee that insurance companies will reimburse you for your treatments even after they have said yes to complete or partial coverage.\r\n<h3><u><strong>Are You a Medicare of Medi-cal Provider?</strong></u></h3>\r\n<u>No. And since we are not a Medicare or Medi-cal provider, <strong>we cannot bill Medicare or Medi-cal.</strong></u>\r\nPlease do not ask us to attempt this, as it is not possible.\r\n<h3><u><strong>Are Medical Records or MRI’s/X-rays Necessary?</strong></u></h3>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed [phone] to the office prior to your visit. The report of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRIs or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n<h3><u><strong>How Long Is Each Visit?</strong></u></h3>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n<h3><u><strong>Can I Receive Treatment at the Initial Visit?</strong></u></h3>\r\nIf after your history and examination it is determined that you are a good candidate for Regenerative Orthopedics treatments, then after reviewing the recommendations with your clinician, you can receive treatment on your first visit.\r\n\r\nWe are excited that you are looking into this non-surgical alternative. Are you ready to get back to all the things you loved doing before pain changed your life? We are here to help you get your life back. Call us soon!\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','publish','open','closed','','common-questions-for-services-at-orthoregen','','','2023-08-07 03:44:39','2023-08-07 03:44:39','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=207',0,'post','',0),(208,8,'2019-06-07 09:47:22','2019-06-07 09:47:22','<h2 class=\"text-center\">Please fill out the form below for your inquiries!<h2>','Contact','','inherit','closed','closed','','29-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:47:22','2019-06-07 09:47:22','',29,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/29-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(209,8,'2019-06-07 09:48:41','2019-06-07 09:48:41','<u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:48:41','2019-06-07 09:48:41','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(210,8,'2019-06-07 11:18:14','2019-06-07 11:18:14','<p>&nbsp; </p>\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\n\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\n\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\n\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\n\n<p class=\"text-center\"><u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.</p>\n\n  <a class=\"secondaryButton bglight\" href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-autosave-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:18:14','2019-06-07 11:18:14','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(211,8,'2019-06-07 09:50:38','2019-06-07 09:50:38','<h2 class=\"text-center\">Please fill out the form below for your inquiries!<h2>\r\n\r\n[contact-form-7 id=\"4\" title=\"Contact form 1\"]','Contact','','inherit','closed','closed','','29-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:50:38','2019-06-07 09:50:38','',29,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/29-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(213,8,'2019-06-07 09:54:45','2019-06-07 09:54:45','<h3>Why Choose OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong>?</h3>\r\nAt OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong>, we want to help you achieve your goals of optimal health and sustained wellness. We will do so using the most effective, least invasive path. After all, this is your health that we are talking about.\r\n<h4><strong>The Future of Your Health in This Changing World</strong></h4>\r\nInvesting in your health is now more important than ever. Most of us are looking for ways to keep our immune system strong so we don\'t get sick. It is a new world out there! And we all want to do everything we can to avoid the hospital!  Since the future of health care is changing, you must know what choices are available to you.\r\n<h3>OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong> Is Exclusively a Regenerative Orthopedics Medical Office</h3>\r\nThe medical office of OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong> offers Regenerative Orthopedics exclusively. We don\'t do surgery. And we don\'t use anesthesia. Nor do we give out a bunch of medications. Plus, we don\'t just dabble in regenerative medicine or do a procedure once in a while. That\'s all we do. And we have been offering regenerative medicine options for many, many years. So that means your practitioners are very experienced.\r\n\r\nWith that in mind, our goal is to ensure that you will have an exceptional experience throughout your entire process. <strong>We offer safe, expedient, and effective treatments to resolve many painful conditions without the need for surgery.</strong> And when more advanced treatment is needed, such as in cases of very degenerated joints, OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong> offers the state-of-the-art Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy. What does that mean? The Gold Standard refers to four different types of regenerative therapies. That\'s four! Most clinics use just one.\r\n\r\nAnd that\'s why many Los Angeles residents choose us as their regenerative medicine alternative to surgery and joint replacement. With all of that regenerative capability, in most cases, we can resolve the majority of painful musculoskeletal conditions and ultimately enhance the quality of your life and get you back to the activities you love.\r\n<h4><em>If You Are An Athlete with an Injury, Peter A. Fields, MD, DC Understands, Because He Is An Athlete Too</em></h4>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4550\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4550 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Why-Choose-OrthoRegen-copy-500x500.png\" alt=\"Why Choose OrthoRegen®\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" /> <em>                             <strong>Why Choose OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup>: Our Philosophy</strong></em>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs an athlete himself, Peter A. Fields, MD, DC, also understands how important it is to stay in the game.  That, along with his extensive expertise, ensures a higher level of ability and understanding as a regenerative medicine physician because his experience encompasses a much broader knowledge base.\r\n<h3>Peter A. Fields, MD, DC is Dual Degreed as Both a Medical Doctor <strong>and</strong> a Chiropractor</h3>\r\nAs a medical doctor and one of the leaders in regenerative medicine, Peter A. Fields, MD, DC, has years of experience in regenerative therapies. Therefore, he can seek out the best solution, recommend, and perform the optimal type of regenerative therapy that is right for you. And that means you get the treatment that\'s right for you and the best possible therapy to repair your joint.  And all of these regenerative therapies are available right in our clinic.\r\n\r\nPlus, Peter A. Fields, MD, DC, is dual degreed as both a<em> medical doctor <strong>and</strong> a chiropractor.</em> As a chiropractor, he understands the ins and out of every joint. That helps ensure that you won\'t need all of the imaging that many physicians order due to their lack of experience locating the problem via manual examination. Sure, if further testing is deemed necessary, it can be prescribed. But a chiropractor\'s familiarity with the joints and possible referral pain patterns makes imaging less necessary.\r\n\r\nOrthoRegen<strong><sup>® </sup></strong>has provided hope for patients from all over who are trying to avoid joint surgery. Even if surgery has already been done, Regenerative Orthopedics can provide pain relief. We have many <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/articles/regenerative-orthopedics/\">articles</a> on this website that discuss the various conditions you may face and how Regenerative Orthopedics can help. We welcome you to <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/articles/regenerative-orthopedics/\">search</a> through them to learn more about our treatments, research, and how we achieve outstanding patient results because of our unique approach. If you are looking for the top pain clinic in the Los Angeles area to actually resolve your pain and not just temporarily cover up the symptoms, let’s talk...<strong>Together, we can turn your case around!</strong>\r\n<h3>Regenerative Orthopedics Is Your Non-Surgical Option When You Injure Yourself?</h3>\r\nWe are thrilled to enable people to live fulfilling and active lives by resolving their joint pain and injury through comprehensive Regenerative Orthopedics. Why choose surgery when there is an alternative?\r\n\r\n<strong>Remember, once surgery is done, it can never be undone.</strong>\r\n\r\nAt OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong>, our team is dedicated to providing highly effective, individualized treatment plans that relieve pain and help you return to sports, work, and activities quickly and safely.\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/los-angeles-prolotherapy/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Prolotherapy doctor</a> and <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/los-angeles-prp/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PRP Doctor</a> and the founder of OrthoRegen<strong><sup>®</sup></strong>.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','OrthoRegen®: Our Philosophy','','publish','open','closed','','orthoregen-our-philosophy','','','2021-03-12 03:48:44','2021-03-12 03:48:44','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=213',0,'post','',0),(214,8,'2019-06-07 09:54:45','2019-06-07 09:54:45','<strong>The Future of Your Health – Your Best Investment</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. Some of the treatments out there promoted by conventional medicine are doing their job- that is getting people better. But some can actually make you worse, or affect different parts of the body in a negative way. What good is it if it cures your specific ailment only to give you a different one.\r\n\r\nWhen you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more. There is an underlying cause for each of your symptoms and that will take time and effort on our part and yours to find out what that may be. For this reason, more and more people are starting to get concerned about and involved in, their own health care. Just treating the symptoms will not make the problem go away; one must get to the cause of the problem and fix that. This approach is what Integrative/Holistic medicine is all about.\r\n\r\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the key factors influencing an individual\'s state of health have not changed significantly over the past 20 years. Heredity accounts for 18% and environment is 19%. Everyday lifestyle choices are 53%. The decisions people make about their life and habits are therefore by far the largest factor in determining their state of wellness.\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy doctor<a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"></a> and <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">PRP Doctor</a> and the founder of OrthoRegen.\r\n\r\nAt OrthoRegen we want to help you to achieve your goals of optimal health and sustained wellness. We will do so using the most effective, least invasive path. Only you can decide what is fair and worth this investment when it comes to out-of-pocket costs for your health care. We will make every effort to instill the feeling that what you spend was worth it. After all, this is your health that we are talking about.\r\n\r\n <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today! </a>','Our Philosophy','','inherit','closed','closed','','213-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:54:45','2019-06-07 09:54:45','',213,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/213-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(215,8,'2019-06-07 09:55:35','2019-06-07 09:55:35','<strong>The Future of Your Health – Your Best Investment</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. Some of the treatments out there promoted by conventional medicine are doing their job- that is getting people better. But some can actually make you worse, or affect different parts of the body in a negative way. What good is it if it cures your specific ailment only to give you a different one.\r\n\r\nWhen you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more. There is an underlying cause for each of your symptoms and that will take time and effort on our part and yours to find out what that may be. For this reason, more and more people are starting to get concerned about and involved in, their own health care. Just treating the symptoms will not make the problem go away; one must get to the cause of the problem and fix that. This approach is what Integrative/Holistic medicine is all about.\r\n\r\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the key factors influencing an individual\'s state of health have not changed significantly over the past 20 years. Heredity accounts for 18% and environment is 19%. Everyday lifestyle choices are 53%. The decisions people make about their life and habits are therefore by far the largest factor in determining their state of wellness.\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Prolotherapy doctor</a> and <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">PRP Doctor</a> and the founder of OrthoRegen.\r\n\r\nAt OrthoRegen we want to help you to achieve your goals of optimal health and sustained wellness. We will do so using the most effective, least invasive path. Only you can decide what is fair and worth this investment when it comes to out-of-pocket costs for your health care. We will make every effort to instill the feeling that what you spend was worth it. After all, this is your health that we are talking about.\r\n\r\n <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today! </a>','Our Philosophy','','inherit','closed','closed','','213-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 09:55:35','2019-06-07 09:55:35','',213,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/213-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(216,8,'2019-06-07 10:06:00','2019-06-07 10:06:00','<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-1685 size-medium\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stem-Cell-Doctor-Peter-Fields-MD-DC-315x500.jpg\" alt=\"Stem Cell Doctor Peter Fields Md Dc\" width=\"315\" height=\"500\" />\r\n<h4>Peter A. Fields, MD, DC, The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup></h4>\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD, DC, <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/the-athletic-doc/about-the-athletic-doc/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup></a>, is a world-renowned expert in the field of Regenerative Orthopedics (non-surgical joint and spine repair). <strong>He is one of a handful of physicians in the nation that is both a Medical Physician and a Chiropractor.</strong> This combination of degrees gives Dr. Fields a broad area of knowledge and expertise that benefits his patients.\r\n<h4>Director of OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup></h4>\r\nDr. Fields is the Director of <a href=\"https://orthoregen.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup></a> in Santa Monica, CA. which is one of the largest practices in the world dedicated solely to Regenerative Orthopedics. Athletes and non-athletes alike come from around the US and the world to receive treatment, because Dr. Fields helps them to avoid unnecessary joint surgeries. He is a leading expert in using <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/regenerative-techniques/stem-cell-treatment/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stem Cell Therapy</a> to help people avoid joint replacement.\r\n<h4>Regenerative Medicine Expert</h4>\r\nDr. Fields has appeared on national TV as a Regenerative Medicine Expert as well as several TV and radio stations in the Los Angeles area. Plus, he writes a column on Orthopedic/Sports Medicine for a <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/category/articles/magazine-column/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">national magazine</a> as well as lecturing at various conferences around the world on these techniques.\r\n<h4>Hackett-Hemwall Foundation Instructor</h4>\r\nIn addition, Dr. Fields is a Clinical Instructor with the <a href=\"https://hhpfoundation.org/\">Hackett-Hemwall Foundation</a>, the largest teaching organization for Prolotherapy. And Dr. Fields has volunteered his time for two weeks nine different times on their medical trips to Honduras. There they not only treat the indigenous people for joint and spine problems but also teach 75 physicians from all over the world Prolotherapy. Also, Dr. Fields was the director of one of only three clinics in Honduras.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n<h4>Regenerative Orthopedics Doctor</h4>\r\nDr. Fields is a leading expert in the field of Regenerative Orthopedics, which includes Stem Cell Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Prolotherapy. All of these treatments are natural non-surgical methods of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. With Regenerative Orthopedics, the weakened areas are injected with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n<h4>The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup></h4>\r\nDr. Fields is a very active and competitive triathlete, having completed eleven full <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/the-athletic-doc/race-report-9th-ironman/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ironman Triathlons</a> as well as numerous (half) Ironman Triathlons and many other triathlons. The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> has had his back and shoulder treated by these techniques and avoided surgery. In other words, this doc walks his talk!\r\n<div id=\"centrevideo\" class=\"text-center\">[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=\"JyzbZT3aZ9o\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" anchor=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Interview-with-Dr.-Fields.jpg\" alt=\"Interview with Dr. Fields about Prolotherapy and PRP\"]\r\n<strong>Interview with Dr. Fields about Prolotherapy and PRP</strong></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Bio: Dr. Fields','','publish','open','closed','','dr-fields-bio','','','2022-01-06 00:59:38','2022-01-06 00:59:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=216',0,'post','',0),(217,8,'2019-06-07 10:03:28','2019-06-07 10:03:28','<div class=\"col-md-8\">\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">PROLOGUE</strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY</strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE: 112 Miles</strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n\r\nAs I got to the back of the island again, the wind picked up and was close to 30 miles an hour. It was getting pretty tough and you just hung in there. Unfortunately this meant that you were down on your triathlon riding bars ( the extended bars you put your forearms on so you can just about lie flat while riding) all the time so as not to let the wind hit you in the chest. It put a tremendous strain on my neck, which I found out later that everybody had the same. You just kept going and going. During this loop, I also stopped at the special needs station at mile 56. This is where you can pick up your nutritional supplies for the second half of the race so you do not need to carry all of them at once. Again as I looped through town the crowds were cheering and it was very nice to get words of encouragement.\r\n\r\nFor the third loop the temperature has risen towards the upper 80\'s and low 90\'s and the winds really were kicking in. Now they were close to 40 miles an hour. It was really brutal. I had ridden this course three times in the past but this time the winds were the strongest . But somehow I kept going and going and managed to endure it. As I made the last turn to head the 9 miles back to town I knew that I had completed this part. Slightly slower than I expected but with the wind it was a slower time for everyone. \r\n\r\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_263\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-run-160.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Run 160\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-263\" /><strong> Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run</strong>[/caption]\r\nAs I came into town again the crowds were cheering and yelling loudly. I handed off my bike to one of the volunteers there and quickly grabbed my transition bag and ran into the tent. Off with the biking shoes, on with the running shoes, throw some water over myself to help cool me down, put on my running hat, grab some nutrition, go to the bathroom and I was out the door.\r\n\r\nOf course when you transition out of this tent there are thousands of people out there yelling and screaming. The sun was still up so it was still pretty hot with it being in the 90s, But I felt pretty good. For about the first four point 4.4 miles, which is the length of the course (you do this back and forth 3 times) I was a little tight and not so fluid in my running. Along the way of course there are people cheering for about a mile and a half as you get outside of town and then sporadically there were people at hotels who would come out along the road to cheer us on. When I hit the turn around I felt really good and for the next 8.8 miles my legs and body felt really strong. As I got back to town and finished the first 8.8 mile loop the sun was going down which was a blessing because it had been very hot outside.\r\n\r\nThe next 8.8 loop I felt good but the energy was starting to be drained. The bike had taken a tremendous toll, not only on me but on other runners too. But I persevered and kept going. The best thing was my hamstring was not bothering me which had slowed me down during my last two Ironman races. And in May 2015, I had raced Ironman Brazil, where I had a lot of feet problems. None of this came around this time.\r\n\r\nI saw many people out there that I knew from the Los Angeles area or other races. The camaraderie amongst the athletes is tremendous and it\'s something that we all rely on and count on. As I came into town finishing the second loop I knew I only had one more loop to go. I was tired and drained having been racing for almost 12 hrs., but just kept going. Of course along the way I took lots of nutrition and keep myself as hydrated as much as possible. There was no rain this year, which was also nice since the prior previous time I had done this race we were running through knee high puddles.\r\n\r\nAfter leaving town and getting to the final around, I knew only had 4.4 miles left to go and realized that it was in the bag for me. As I came back into town and saw the crowds again, I felt the exhilarating feeling that one can only feel when finishing an Ironman. At this point I only had about a mile to go and knew I have finally done it. That is not only finish my 6th Ironman but my second one in six months . This was a challenge that I set for myself. Like my parents had always told me, set your goals and go for it.\r\nNever say never.\r\n\r\nThe final 100 meters are unbelievable feeling. All ones aches and pains fade away. As I approached the finish line, which is slightly elevated and bathed in lights, I heard the announcer say for the sixth time,\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman\".\r\nIt never gets old.\r\nI finally knew that I had completed my conquest of doing two Ironman races in one year.\r\n\r\nOf course the whole way during the race, I never forgot about my parents. I had my mom’s initials written on my left arm and on my right arm I had my dad\'s initials. Both of these people were so special in my life and I have never forgotten them for even one day since each of them passed. Whenever it got tough, I would place my hand on either forearm and feel their presence within me and hear their words of encouragement telling me never to give up. I know they would have been as proud of me as I am of them.\r\n\r\nI want to thank everybody who sent me good wishes, those who kept me in their thoughts and those who followed me on the internet. All your thoughts and wishes kept me strong the whole race.\r\nThere were a few very special people that never stopped thinking about me the whole race. You know who you are and words cannot say thank you enough. \r\n\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 6X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"col-md-4\" id=\"sidebar2\">\r\n<img alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico\" title=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-brazil-finish-1.jpg\" style=\"width: 204px; height: 345px;\">\r\nDr. Fields at the finish line\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/mMnjj9ioLVRkh56Q9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2015 Cozumel<br>\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story&nbsp;\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>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','publish','open','closed','','race-report-6th-ironman','','','2020-06-30 17:53:16','2020-06-30 17:53:16','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=217',0,'post','',0),(219,8,'2019-06-07 10:03:28','2019-06-07 10:03:28','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo-200x126.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"200\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-218\" />','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:03:28','2019-06-07 10:03:28','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(220,8,'2019-06-07 10:05:14','2019-06-07 10:05:14','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-218\" />','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:05:14','2019-06-07 10:05:14','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(221,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 10:05:49',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','221','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=221',16,'nav_menu_item','',0),(222,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 10:05:49',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','222','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=222',15,'nav_menu_item','',0),(223,8,'2019-06-07 10:06:00','2019-06-07 10:06:00','<h6>Peter A. Fields, MD, DC, The Athletic Doc®</h6>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD, DC, <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Athletic Doc®</a>, is a world-renowned expert in the field of Regenerative Orthopedics (non-surgical joint and spine repair). <strong>He is one of a handful of physicians in the nation that is both a Medical Physician and Chiropractor.</strong> This combination of degrees gives Dr. Fields a broad area of knowledge and expertise that benefits his patients.\r\n\r\n<h6>Director of OrthoRegen</h6>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields is the Director of <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a> in Santa Monica, CA. which is one of the largest practices in the world dedicated solely to Regenerative Orthopedics. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and even professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or full surgery. He is a leading expert in using <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Cellular Regeneration</a> (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to help people avoid full joint replacement.\r\n\r\n<h6>Regenerative Medicine Expert</h6> \r\n\r\nDr. Fields has appeared on national TV as a Regenerative Medicine Expert as well as several TV and radio stations in the Los Angeles area. He writes a column on Orthopedic/Sports Medicine for a <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">national magazine</a> as well as lecturing at various conferences around the world on these techniques.\r\n\r\n<h6>Hackett-Hemwall Foundation Instructor</h6> \r\n\r\nIn addition, Dr. Fields is a Clinical Instructor with the Hackett-Hemwall Foundation, the largest teaching organization for Prolotherapy. Dr. Fields has volunteered his time for two weeks nine different times on their medical trip to Honduras. There they not only treat the indigenous people for joint and spine problems but also teach 75 physicians from all over the world Prolotherapy. Dr. Fields was the director of one of only three clinics in Honduras.\r\n\r\n<h6>Prolotherapy Doctor</h6>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields is the leading expert in the field or <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Prolotherapy treatment</a>, Prolotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. With Prolotherapy treatment, the weakened areas are injected with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h6>The Athletic Doc®</h6>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields is a very active and competitive triathlete, having completed nine full <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Ironman Triathlons</a> as well as nine 70.3 (half) Ironman Triathlons and over 40 other triathlons. The Athletic Doc® has had his back and shoulder treated by these techniques and avoided surgery. In other words, this doc walks his talk!\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a> ','Bio: Dr. Fields','','inherit','closed','closed','','216-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:06:00','2019-06-07 10:06:00','',216,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/216-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(224,8,'2019-06-07 10:07:00','2019-06-07 10:07:00','Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo','Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo','','inherit','open','closed','','ironman-cozumel-mexico-2015-logo','','','2019-06-07 10:10:06','2019-06-07 10:10:06','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(225,8,'2019-06-17 08:25:31','2019-06-17 08:25:31',',div class=\"col-md-8\">\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\n\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">PROLOGUE</strong>\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\n\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<strong class=\"subhead\">RACE DAY</strong>\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</strong>\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\n\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE BIKE: 112 Miles</strong>\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\n\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\n\nAs I got to the back of the island again, the wind picked up and was close to 30 miles an hour. It was getting pretty tough and you just hung in there. Unfortunately this meant that you were down on your triathlon riding bars ( the extended bars you put your forearms on so you can just about lie flat while riding) all the time so as not to let the wind hit you in the chest. It put a tremendous strain on my neck, which I found out later that everybody had the same. You just kept going and going. During this loop, I also stopped at the special needs station at mile 56. This is where you can pick up your nutritional supplies for the second half of the race so you do not need to carry all of them at once. Again as I looped through town the crowds were cheering and it was very nice to get words of encouragement.\n\nFor the third loop the temperature has risen towards the upper 80\'s and low 90\'s and the winds really were kicking in. Now they were close to 40 miles an hour. It was really brutal. I had ridden this course three times in the past but this time the winds were the strongest . But somehow I kept going and going and managed to endure it. As I made the last turn to head the 9 miles back to town I knew that I had completed this part. Slightly slower than I expected but with the wind it was a slower time for everyone. \n\n<strong class=\"subhead\">THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</strong>\n[caption id=\"attachment_263\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-run-160.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Run 160\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-263\" /><strong> Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run</strong>[/caption]\nAs I came into town again the crowds were cheering and yelling loudly. I handed off my bike to one of the volunteers there and quickly grabbed my transition bag and ran into the tent. Off with the biking shoes, on with the running shoes, throw some water over myself to help cool me down, put on my running hat, grab some nutrition, go to the bathroom and I was out the door.\n\nOf course when you transition out of this tent there are thousands of people out there yelling and screaming. The sun was still up so it was still pretty hot with it being in the 90s, But I felt pretty good. For about the first four point 4.4 miles, which is the length of the course (you do this back and forth 3 times) I was a little tight and not so fluid in my running. Along the way of course there are people cheering for about a mile and a half as you get outside of town and then sporadically there were people at hotels who would come out along the road to cheer us on. When I hit the turn around I felt really good and for the next 8.8 miles my legs and body felt really strong. As I got back to town and finished the first 8.8 mile loop the sun was going down which was a blessing because it had been very hot outside.\n\nThe next 8.8 loop I felt good but the energy was starting to be drained. The bike had taken a tremendous toll, not only on me but on other runners too. But I persevered and kept going. The best thing was my hamstring was not bothering me which had slowed me down during my last two Ironman races. And in May 2015, I had raced Ironman Brazil, where I had a lot of feet problems. None of this came around this time.\n\nI saw many people out there that I knew from the Los Angeles area or other races. The camaraderie amongst the athletes is tremendous and it\'s something that we all rely on and count on. As I came into town finishing the second loop I knew I only had one more loop to go. I was tired and drained having been racing for almost 12 hrs., but just kept going. Of course along the way I took lots of nutrition and keep myself as hydrated as much as possible. There was no rain this year, which was also nice since the prior previous time I had done this race we were running through knee high puddles.\n\nAfter leaving town and getting to the final around, I knew only had 4.4 miles left to go and realized that it was in the bag for me. As I came back into town and saw the crowds again, I felt the exhilarating feeling that one can only feel when finishing an Ironman. At this point I only had about a mile to go and knew I have finally done it. That is not only finish my 6th Ironman but my second one in six months . This was a challenge that I set for myself. Like my parents had always told me, set your goals and go for it.\nNever say never.\n\nThe final 100 meters are unbelievable feeling. All ones aches and pains fade away. As I approached the finish line, which is slightly elevated and bathed in lights, I heard the announcer say for the sixth time,\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman\".\nIt never gets old.\nI finally knew that I had completed my conquest of doing two Ironman races in one year.\n\nOf course the whole way during the race, I never forgot about my parents. I had my mom’s initials written on my left arm and on my right arm I had my dad\'s initials. Both of these people were so special in my life and I have never forgotten them for even one day since each of them passed. Whenever it got tough, I would place my hand on either forearm and feel their presence within me and hear their words of encouragement telling me never to give up. I know they would have been as proud of me as I am of them.\n\nI want to thank everybody who sent me good wishes, those who kept me in their thoughts and those who followed me on the internet. All your thoughts and wishes kept me strong the whole race.\nThere were a few very special people that never stopped thinking about me the whole race. You know who you are and words cannot say thank you enough. \n\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\nThe Athletic Doc® and 6X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\n</div>\n<div class=\"col-md-4\" id=\"sidebar2\">\n\n</div>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-autosave-v1','','','2019-06-17 08:25:31','2019-06-17 08:25:31','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(226,8,'2019-06-07 10:07:12','2019-06-07 10:07:12','[caption id=\"attachment_224\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"250\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"size-full wp-image-224\" /> Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo[/caption]','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:07:12','2019-06-07 10:07:12','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(227,8,'2019-06-07 10:10:08','2019-06-07 10:10:08','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:10:08','2019-06-07 10:10:08','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(228,8,'2019-06-07 10:10:42','2019-06-07 10:10:42','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6>Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:10:42','2019-06-07 10:10:42','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(229,8,'2019-06-07 10:35:48','2019-06-07 10:35:48','<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1685\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stem-Cell-Doctor-Peter-Fields-MD-DC.jpg\" alt=\"Stem Cell Doctor Peter Fields Md Dc\" width=\"218\" height=\"350\" />\r\n<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup>. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"https://orthoregen.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields Help You With:</h4>\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Chronic Conditions like…</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n 	<li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n 	<li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n 	<li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n 	<li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n 	<li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n 	<li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n 	<li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n 	<li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n 	<li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n 	<li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n 	<li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n 	<li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n 	<li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n 	<li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Whiplash</li>\r\n 	<li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n 	<li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n 	<li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n 	<li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n 	<li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n 	<li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n 	<li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n 	<li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n 	<li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n 	<li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Foot Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n 	<li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n 	<li>Finger pain</li>\r\n 	<li>See a complete list of Hand Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\nCall <a href=\"tel:+[phone_raw]\">[phone]</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Prolotherapy Doctor','','publish','open','closed','','prolotherapy-doctor','','','2020-06-30 17:07:16','2020-06-30 17:07:16','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=229',0,'post','',0),(230,8,'2019-06-07 10:14:55','2019-06-07 10:14:55','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6>Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:14:55','2019-06-07 10:14:55','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(231,8,'2019-06-07 10:17:44','2019-06-07 10:17:44','Cozumel 2015 Initials 115','Cozumel 2015 Initials 115','Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms','inherit','open','closed','','cozumel-2015-initials-115','','','2019-06-07 10:17:58','2019-06-07 10:17:58','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(232,8,'2019-06-07 10:18:36','2019-06-07 10:18:36','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6>Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]\r\n<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:18:36','2019-06-07 10:18:36','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(233,8,'2019-06-07 10:19:29','2019-06-07 10:19:29','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6>Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:19:29','2019-06-07 10:19:29','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(234,8,'2019-06-07 10:20:25','2019-06-07 10:20:25','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:20:25','2019-06-07 10:20:25','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(235,8,'2019-06-07 10:20:45','2019-06-07 10:20:45','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:20:45','2019-06-07 10:20:45','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(236,8,'2019-06-07 10:21:31','2019-06-07 10:21:31','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:21:31','2019-06-07 10:21:31','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(237,8,'2019-06-07 10:22:39','2019-06-07 10:22:39','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n\r\n<p><strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. </p>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:22:39','2019-06-07 10:22:39','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(238,8,'2019-06-07 10:24:06','2019-06-07 10:24:06','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:24:06','2019-06-07 10:24:06','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(239,8,'2019-06-07 10:24:23','2019-06-07 10:24:23','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:24:23','2019-06-07 10:24:23','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(240,8,'2019-06-07 10:24:42','2019-06-07 10:24:42','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:24:42','2019-06-07 10:24:42','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(241,8,'2019-06-07 10:25:20','2019-06-07 10:25:20','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:25:20','2019-06-07 10:25:20','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(243,8,'2019-06-07 10:27:19','2019-06-07 10:27:19','Cozumel 2015 Swim 275','Cozumel 2015 Swim 275','Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim','inherit','open','closed','','cozumel-2015-swim-275','','','2019-06-07 10:27:46','2019-06-07 10:27:46','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(244,8,'2019-06-07 10:29:06','2019-06-07 10:29:06','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"275\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:29:06','2019-06-07 10:29:06','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(245,8,'2019-06-07 10:29:48','2019-06-07 10:29:48','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:29:48','2019-06-07 10:29:48','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(246,8,'2019-06-07 10:30:10','2019-06-07 10:30:10','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point. ','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:30:10','2019-06-07 10:30:10','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(247,8,'2019-06-07 10:33:07','2019-06-07 10:33:07','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:33:07','2019-06-07 10:33:07','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(248,8,'2019-06-07 10:34:31','2019-06-07 10:34:31','Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275','Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275','Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride','inherit','open','closed','','cozumel-2015-bike-2-275','','','2019-06-07 10:34:47','2019-06-07 10:34:47','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(249,8,'2019-06-07 10:35:23','2019-06-07 10:35:23','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:35:23','2019-06-07 10:35:23','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(250,8,'2019-06-07 10:35:48','2019-06-07 10:35:48','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n    <strong><li>Chronic Conditions like…</li></strong>\r\n        <ul>\r\n<li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:35:48','2019-06-07 10:35:48','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(251,8,'2019-06-19 05:20:23','2019-06-19 05:20:23','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stem-Cell-Doctor-Peter-Fields-MD-DC.jpg\" alt=\"Stem Cell Doctor Peter Fields Md Dc\" width=\"218\" height=\"350\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1685\" /><h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\n\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\n\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\n\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\n\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\n\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\n\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\n\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"https://orthoregen.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" >OrthoRegen</a>\n\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\n\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\n\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\n\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\n\n<ul><li><strong>Chronic Conditions like…</strong></li>\n<ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\n</ul>\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\n</ul>\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\n\nCall <a href=\"tel:310-455-8242\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" >310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" >contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\n\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\">  Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-autosave-v1','','','2019-06-19 05:20:23','2019-06-19 05:20:23','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(252,8,'2019-06-07 10:36:09','2019-06-07 10:36:09','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:36:09','2019-06-07 10:36:09','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(253,8,'2019-06-07 10:36:32','2019-06-07 10:36:32','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n    <strong><li>Chronic Conditions like…</li></strong>\r\n        <ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:36:32','2019-06-07 10:36:32','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(254,8,'2019-06-07 10:36:35','2019-06-07 10:36:35','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]I ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:36:35','2019-06-07 10:36:35','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(255,8,'2019-06-07 10:37:17','2019-06-07 10:37:17','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"275\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"275\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:37:17','2019-06-07 10:37:17','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(256,8,'2019-06-07 10:37:19','2019-06-07 10:37:19','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul><strong><li>Chronic Conditions like…</li></strong>\r\n        <ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:37:19','2019-06-07 10:37:19','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(257,8,'2019-06-07 10:37:39','2019-06-07 10:37:39','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:37:39','2019-06-07 10:37:39','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(258,8,'2019-06-07 10:38:05','2019-06-07 10:38:05','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul><strong><li>Chronic Conditions like…</li></strong>\r\n<ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:38:05','2019-06-07 10:38:05','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(259,8,'2019-06-07 10:38:42','2019-06-07 10:38:42','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul><strong><li>Chronic Conditions like…</strong></li>\r\n<ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:38:42','2019-06-07 10:38:42','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(260,8,'2019-06-07 10:39:30','2019-06-07 10:39:30','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul><li><strong>Chronic Conditions like…</strong></li>\r\n<ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:39:30','2019-06-07 10:39:30','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(261,8,'2019-06-07 10:39:34','2019-06-07 10:39:34','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n\r\nAs I got to the back of the island again, the wind picked up and was close to 30 miles an hour. It was getting pretty tough and you just hung in there. Unfortunately this meant that you were down on your triathlon riding bars ( the extended bars you put your forearms on so you can just about lie flat while riding) all the time so as not to let the wind hit you in the chest. It put a tremendous strain on my neck, which I found out later that everybody had the same. You just kept going and going. During this loop, I also stopped at the special needs station at mile 56. This is where you can pick up your nutritional supplies for the second half of the race so you do not need to carry all of them at once. Again as I looped through town the crowds were cheering and it was very nice to get words of encouragement.\r\n\r\nFor the third loop the temperature has risen towards the upper 80\'s and low 90\'s and the winds really were kicking in. Now they were close to 40 miles an hour. It was really brutal. I had ridden this course three times in the past but this time the winds were the strongest . But somehow I kept going and going and managed to endure it. As I made the last turn to head the 9 miles back to town I knew that I had completed this part. Slightly slower than I expected but with the wind it was a slower time for everyone. \r\n','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:39:34','2019-06-07 10:39:34','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(262,8,'2019-06-07 10:40:56','2019-06-07 10:40:56','<h4>Prolotherapy Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Los Angeles Prolotherapy Doctor and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Cellular Regeneration (aka Cellular Prolotherapy) treatments to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world; from non-athletes to weekend warriors to competitive athletes and professional athletes. Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or conventional fully invasive surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Prolotherapy Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Prolotherapy Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields offers prolotherapy treatments to relieve pain by treating the underlying conditions. He stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal and repair by encouraging the growth of new tendon fibers and ligaments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy treatment is a natural non-surgical method of assisting the body to heal weakened or injured joints, tendons and ligaments. A Prolotherapy Doctor injects the weakened areas with a solution that stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissues. As the ligaments and tendons grow stronger and vibrant, the motion is restored and the pain is alleviated.\r\n\r\n<h4>How Prolotherapy Treatment Works</h4>\r\n\r\nOur Prolotherapy treatment is an innovative treatment that stimulates the immune system to repair damaged tissue. ”Prolo” comes from the word “proliferate.” Prolotherapy then describes the therapy which utilizes proliferation of fibroblastic cells that grow the ligaments and tendons. By proliferation of the fibroblasts, new, strong, collagen tissue is formed. This new tissue is what is needed to repair ligament and tendon sprains and injuries. Receive treatment from our Prolotherapy Doctor for your injuries with comprehensive Prolotherapy Treatment at <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OrthoRegen</a>\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Treatment by a Prolotherapy Doctor safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen ( Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can Dr. Fields  Help You With:</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating his patients with hundreds of different injuries, conditions, and complaints, including:\r\n\r\n<ul><li><strong>Chronic Conditions like…</strong></li>\r\n<ul><li>Arthritis Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Sciatica Pain</li>\r\n        <li>Pinched Nerves</li>\r\n        <li>Athletic Injuries</li>\r\n        <li>Tension Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n       <li>Herniated Discs</li>\r\n        <li>Degenerative Discs</li>\r\n        <li>TMJ syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Weak Joints</li>\r\n        <li>Sore Muscles</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>ACL Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Runners\' Knee</li>\r\n        <li>Radial Meniscus Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Torn Labrum</li>\r\n        <li>Acetabular labrum Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Neck Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Whiplash</li>\r\n       <li>TMJ Syndrome</li>\r\n        <li>Migraine Headaches</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Neck Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Labral Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Rotator Cuff Tear</li>\r\n        <li>Swimmers Shoulder</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Herniated discs</li>\r\n        <li>Sacroiliac injury</li>\r\n        <li>Lower back pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Tendonitis</li>\r\n        <li>Tennis elbow</li>\r\n        <li>Golfers elbow</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Foot and Ankle Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n        <ul><li>Achilles tendinopathy</li>\r\n        <li>Ankle Sprains</li>\r\n        <li>Plantar Fasciitis</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Foot  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Hand Injuries:</strong></li>\r\n       <ul><li>Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n        <li>Overuse injury</li>\r\n        <li>Finger pain</li>\r\n        <li>See a complete list of Hand  Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.</li></ul>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Prolotherapy Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Prolotherapy Doctor to see if Prolotherapy treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today! </a>','Prolotherapy Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','229-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:40:56','2019-06-07 10:40:56','',229,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/229-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(263,8,'2019-06-07 10:41:28','2019-06-07 10:41:28','Cozumel 2015 Run 160','Cozumel 2015 Run 160','Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run','inherit','open','closed','','cozumel-2015-run-160','','','2019-06-07 10:41:33','2019-06-07 10:41:33','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-run-160.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(264,8,'2019-06-07 10:42:55','2019-06-07 10:42:55','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n\r\nAs I got to the back of the island again, the wind picked up and was close to 30 miles an hour. It was getting pretty tough and you just hung in there. Unfortunately this meant that you were down on your triathlon riding bars ( the extended bars you put your forearms on so you can just about lie flat while riding) all the time so as not to let the wind hit you in the chest. It put a tremendous strain on my neck, which I found out later that everybody had the same. You just kept going and going. During this loop, I also stopped at the special needs station at mile 56. This is where you can pick up your nutritional supplies for the second half of the race so you do not need to carry all of them at once. Again as I looped through town the crowds were cheering and it was very nice to get words of encouragement.\r\n\r\nFor the third loop the temperature has risen towards the upper 80\'s and low 90\'s and the winds really were kicking in. Now they were close to 40 miles an hour. It was really brutal. I had ridden this course three times in the past but this time the winds were the strongest . But somehow I kept going and going and managed to endure it. As I made the last turn to head the 9 miles back to town I knew that I had completed this part. Slightly slower than I expected but with the wind it was a slower time for everyone. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_263\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-run-160.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Run 160\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-263\" /><strong> Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run</strong>[/caption]\r\nAs I came into town again the crowds were cheering and yelling loudly. I handed off my bike to one of the volunteers there and quickly grabbed my transition bag and ran into the tent. Off with the biking shoes, on with the running shoes, throw some water over myself to help cool me down, put on my running hat, grab some nutrition, go to the bathroom and I was out the door.\r\n\r\nOf course when you transition out of this tent there are thousands of people out there yelling and screaming. The sun was still up so it was still pretty hot with it being in the 90s, But I felt pretty good. For about the first four point 4.4 miles, which is the length of the course (you do this back and forth 3 times) I was a little tight and not so fluid in my running. Along the way of course there are people cheering for about a mile and a half as you get outside of town and then sporadically there were people at hotels who would come out along the road to cheer us on. When I hit the turn around I felt really good and for the next 8.8 miles my legs and body felt really strong. As I got back to town and finished the first 8.8 mile loop the sun was going down which was a blessing because it had been very hot outside.\r\n\r\nThe next 8.8 loop I felt good but the energy was starting to be drained. The bike had taken a tremendous toll, not only on me but on other runners too. But I persevered and kept going. The best thing was my hamstring was not bothering me which had slowed me down during my last two Ironman races. And in May 2015, I had raced Ironman Brazil, where I had a lot of feet problems. None of this came around this time.\r\n\r\nI saw many people out there that I knew from the Los Angeles area or other races. The camaraderie amongst the athletes is tremendous and it\'s something that we all rely on and count on. As I came into town finishing the second loop I knew I only had one more loop to go. I was tired and drained having been racing for almost 12 hrs., but just kept going. Of course along the way I took lots of nutrition and keep myself as hydrated as much as possible. There was no rain this year, which was also nice since the prior previous time I had done this race we were running through knee high puddles.\r\n\r\nAfter leaving town and getting to the final around, I knew only had 4.4 miles left to go and realized that it was in the bag for me. As I came back into town and saw the crowds again, I felt the exhilarating feeling that one can only feel when finishing an Ironman. At this point I only had about a mile to go and knew I have finally done it. That is not only finish my 6th Ironman but my second one in six months . This was a challenge that I set for myself. Like my parents had always told me, set your goals and go for it.\r\nNever say never.\r\n\r\nThe final 100 meters are unbelievable feeling. All ones aches and pains fade away. As I approached the finish line, which is slightly elevated and bathed in lights, I heard the announcer say for the sixth time,\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman\".\r\nIt never gets old.\r\nI finally knew that I had completed my conquest of doing two Ironman races in one year.\r\n\r\nOf course the whole way during the race, I never forgot about my parents. I had my mom’s initials written on my left arm and on my right arm I had my dad\'s initials. Both of these people were so special in my life and I have never forgotten them for even one day since each of them passed. Whenever it got tough, I would place my hand on either forearm and feel their presence within me and hear their words of encouragement telling me never to give up. I know they would have been as proud of me as I am of them.\r\n\r\nI want to thank everybody who sent me good wishes, those who kept me in their thoughts and those who followed me on the internet. All your thoughts and wishes kept me strong the whole race.\r\nThere were a few very special people that never stopped thinking about me the whole race. You know who you are and words cannot say thank you enough. \r\n','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:42:55','2019-06-07 10:42:55','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(265,8,'2019-06-07 10:43:24','2019-06-07 10:43:24','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ironman-Cozumel-Mexico-2015-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Cozumel Mexico 2015 Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"126\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-224\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday November 29, 2015\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>PROLOGUE</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"115\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-initials-115.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Initials 115\" width=\"115\" height=\"241\" class=\"size-full wp-image-231\" /><strong> Dr. Fields with his parents initials written on his forearms</strong>[/caption]<strong>Never say never</strong>\r\nMy parents taught me to never to give up no matter how difficult it may seem.\r\nThis, and all my races, are dedicated to their memory.\r\n\r\nThirteen years ago three different neurosurgeons told me that if I did not have surgery on my low back, exercise would no longer be an option in my life.\r\nThen I found out about the wonderful world of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine. Sunday November 29th, 2015, I finished not only my 2nd Ironman race in 2015, but my sixth Ironman race overall.\r\n<strong><em>Regenerate First; Surgery Last!</em></strong>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY</u></strong>\r\nThe day started off like any other Ironman competition day. I woke up about 3:30 in the morning so that I could have enough time to have breakfast and get everything ready before I went down to the transition area around 5 o\'clock a.m. After getting everything settled at the transition area where my bike was, I then boarded a bus that took me approximately 2.4 miles down to where the swim started. This is because this race is a point-to-point race. That means you start at one point and end at another point on the swim. The same is for the bike. So after getting down to the swim start I put on my very thin and tight speedsuit (a suit similar to what they wear in the Olympics) over my racing suit. Wetsuits are not allowed in this race due to the temperature of the water. I then went to get in the appropriate corral for the start. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_243\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-swim-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Swim 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-243\" /> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim[/caption]The start was being done in waves this year so to avoid the cluster of over 2500 competitors starting all at once.I seeded myself in the second corral, which is for competitors swimming between 1 hour and 1 hour 10 minutes. Most people told me that I should seed myself faster but I was very true to my time knowing I would finish between 1 hour and 1 hour 6 minutes. Due to the small size of the pier that we to go off of, they only let about five to seven competitors in at a time. This made for a very easy start since you did not have to swim over a lot of people. As soon as I got into my stride, which only takes me about 5 minutes or so, I started passing people. And ended up passing probably 50 people, which meant that a lot of people had seeded themselves faster than they actually were. The water was very warm at about 82 degrees and very clear. You could see the frogmen/lifeguards and photographers down below and also many colorful fish along the way. Halfway through the swim I looked at my Garmin watch, which I wear on my left wrist, and noticed it was glowing slightly green. I figured some water had leaked into it. I was going to stop and take a look but then realized that I was in the middle of the ocean and there was nothing I could do about it anyway!\r\n\r\nI swam very well and passed over 50 people, which was a lot as not many had started before me. As I made my way towards the finish and made the final turn two headed towards the pier I really picked up my strokes. My final time was about 1 hour and 4 minutes, which was good enough to make me first in my age group in the swim. As I climbed out of the water and looked down a my Garmin, I realized that the whole front face had somehow become detached and I was actually looking at the circuit board. Well, at that point, I knew the watch was useless. I ran through the shower and then grabbed my transition bag and into the transition area. I quickly dried off and stripped off my speed suit. Underneath this I had my tri suit so just I had to put on my socks, shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion and grab some nutrition to carry on the bike and I was off to find my bike. I also left behind my Garmin watch, which was useless at this point.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_248\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-bike-2-275.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Bike 2 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-248\" /> Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride[/caption]\r\nI ran as quick as I could with my bike shoes on to my bike. You could carry them but then you end up getting gravel on your feet. I took the bike off the rack and ran towards the exit. You\'re not allowed to get on your bike until you leave the transition area. Immediately upon exiting, the transition area, I mounted my bike and took off to start the 112 mile ride.\r\n\r\nI had my power meet on the bike, which in addition to power, would provide me with my heart rate and speed which are essential when riding long distance. The roads were dry and the sun was shining bright and the temperature was in the low eighties. I felt pretty good on the first lap. As you head towards the back of the island the winds pick up. For this approximately 15 mile stretch the winds were about 20 miles an hour blowing on shore. It was tough but not that bad. As you turn towards town to end your first loop the winds were pushing you forward. This was a much needed relief. As you get to town, there were hundreds, if not more, people yelling and cheering. It was very exciting and invigorating. For lap two you again go by some of the hotels and there were people out there cheering.\r\n\r\nAs I got to the back of the island again, the wind picked up and was close to 30 miles an hour. It was getting pretty tough and you just hung in there. Unfortunately this meant that you were down on your triathlon riding bars ( the extended bars you put your forearms on so you can just about lie flat while riding) all the time so as not to let the wind hit you in the chest. It put a tremendous strain on my neck, which I found out later that everybody had the same. You just kept going and going. During this loop, I also stopped at the special needs station at mile 56. This is where you can pick up your nutritional supplies for the second half of the race so you do not need to carry all of them at once. Again as I looped through town the crowds were cheering and it was very nice to get words of encouragement.\r\n\r\nFor the third loop the temperature has risen towards the upper 80\'s and low 90\'s and the winds really were kicking in. Now they were close to 40 miles an hour. It was really brutal. I had ridden this course three times in the past but this time the winds were the strongest . But somehow I kept going and going and managed to endure it. As I made the last turn to head the 9 miles back to town I knew that I had completed this part. Slightly slower than I expected but with the wind it was a slower time for everyone. \r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_263\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cozumel-2015-run-160.jpg\" alt=\"Cozumel 2015 Run 160\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-263\" /><strong> Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run</strong>[/caption]\r\nAs I came into town again the crowds were cheering and yelling loudly. I handed off my bike to one of the volunteers there and quickly grabbed my transition bag and ran into the tent. Off with the biking shoes, on with the running shoes, throw some water over myself to help cool me down, put on my running hat, grab some nutrition, go to the bathroom and I was out the door.\r\n\r\nOf course when you transition out of this tent there are thousands of people out there yelling and screaming. The sun was still up so it was still pretty hot with it being in the 90s, But I felt pretty good. For about the first four point 4.4 miles, which is the length of the course (you do this back and forth 3 times) I was a little tight and not so fluid in my running. Along the way of course there are people cheering for about a mile and a half as you get outside of town and then sporadically there were people at hotels who would come out along the road to cheer us on. When I hit the turn around I felt really good and for the next 8.8 miles my legs and body felt really strong. As I got back to town and finished the first 8.8 mile loop the sun was going down which was a blessing because it had been very hot outside.\r\n\r\nThe next 8.8 loop I felt good but the energy was starting to be drained. The bike had taken a tremendous toll, not only on me but on other runners too. But I persevered and kept going. The best thing was my hamstring was not bothering me which had slowed me down during my last two Ironman races. And in May 2015, I had raced Ironman Brazil, where I had a lot of feet problems. None of this came around this time.\r\n\r\nI saw many people out there that I knew from the Los Angeles area or other races. The camaraderie amongst the athletes is tremendous and it\'s something that we all rely on and count on. As I came into town finishing the second loop I knew I only had one more loop to go. I was tired and drained having been racing for almost 12 hrs., but just kept going. Of course along the way I took lots of nutrition and keep myself as hydrated as much as possible. There was no rain this year, which was also nice since the prior previous time I had done this race we were running through knee high puddles.\r\n\r\nAfter leaving town and getting to the final around, I knew only had 4.4 miles left to go and realized that it was in the bag for me. As I came back into town and saw the crowds again, I felt the exhilarating feeling that one can only feel when finishing an Ironman. At this point I only had about a mile to go and knew I have finally done it. That is not only finish my 6th Ironman but my second one in six months . This was a challenge that I set for myself. Like my parents had always told me, set your goals and go for it.\r\nNever say never.\r\n\r\nThe final 100 meters are unbelievable feeling. All ones aches and pains fade away. As I approached the finish line, which is slightly elevated and bathed in lights, I heard the announcer say for the sixth time,\r\n\"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman\".\r\nIt never gets old.\r\nI finally knew that I had completed my conquest of doing two Ironman races in one year.\r\n\r\nOf course the whole way during the race, I never forgot about my parents. I had my mom’s initials written on my left arm and on my right arm I had my dad\'s initials. Both of these people were so special in my life and I have never forgotten them for even one day since each of them passed. Whenever it got tough, I would place my hand on either forearm and feel their presence within me and hear their words of encouragement telling me never to give up. I know they would have been as proud of me as I am of them.\r\n\r\nI want to thank everybody who sent me good wishes, those who kept me in their thoughts and those who followed me on the internet. All your thoughts and wishes kept me strong the whole race.\r\nThere were a few very special people that never stopped thinking about me the whole race. You know who you are and words cannot say thank you enough. \r\n\r\n<h6>Peter A. Fields, MD DC\r\nThe Athletic Doc® and 6X Ironman Triathlete</h6>','Race Report 6th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 10:43:24','2019-06-07 10:43:24','',217,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/217-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(266,8,'2019-06-07 10:53:18','2019-06-07 10:53:18','<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-1685 size-medium\" title=\"prp los angeles\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stem-Cell-Doctor-Peter-Fields-MD-DC-315x500.jpg\" alt=\"Stem Cell Doctor Peter Fields Md Dc\" width=\"315\" height=\"500\" />\r\n<h4>PRP Doctor</h4>\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a PRP Doctor in the Los Angeles area and the founder of OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup>. PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma and Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using PRP to resolve painful joint conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid joint replacement. People come from all over the US and even the world because Dr. Fields helps them to avoid unnecessary surgeries.\r\n<h4>What is a PRP Doctor?</h4>\r\nA PRP doctor provides regenerative orthopedics, which means that non-surgical alternative therapies that regenerate the joint and spine are offered. PRP doctors like Dr. Fields use Platelet Rich Plasma Injections (and other regenerative treatments) that help accelerate the normal healing process. And Dr.Fields is passionate about helping his clients eliminate pain for optimal long-term results, with the use of PRP Regenerative Treatments.\r\n<h4>What Does PRP Los Angeles Stand For?</h4>\r\nPRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma.  And OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup> is located near Los Angeles. The Plasma portion in the name Platelet Rich Plasma refers to the fluid portion of blood which contains cellular components such as platelets, white blood cells, and red cells. Plus, the Harvest method that Dr. Fields uses concentrates the platelets 7-10 times of what is generally found in the blood. Other systems concentrate them, but to a lesser extent.\r\n<h4>What is PRP Treatment?</h4>\r\nPRP treatment, as used in Regenerative Orthopedics, is a non-surgical healing treatment for healing soft tissue performed by a PRP Doctor. And Dr. Fields makes precise injections of your own concentrated blood (PRP) into the affected areas to promote healing of musculoskeletal problems. Not only that, but blood platelets also contain potent growth factors necessary to get your tissue repair active and boost regeneration at the injury site.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n<h4>Is PRP Treatment Safe?</h4>\r\nPRP treatment is an extremely safe procedure. Plus, the risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. Also, the risks are often less than taking Ibuprofen (Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. But Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities thoroughly with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\n\r\n<strong>What Does a PRP Doctor Treat?</strong>\r\n\r\nWeakened torn or damaged ligaments, tendons, muscle tears, menisci or labrums are the most common soft tissue structures that Dr. Fields treats. And PRP has been effective in treating arthritis too. However, when arthritis is more severe, Dr. Fields and his team have fount that Stem Cell Therapy provides better results.\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating chronic pain and sports injuries and just some of them include:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong> ACL, MCL LCL, Meniscus, Arthritis, Kneecap Instability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Elbow Injuries:</strong> Tennis Elbow, Medial Epicondylitis, Tendonitis</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Shoulder Injuries:</strong> Rotator Cuff Tears, Labrum Tears, Tendonitis</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Back Injuries:</strong> Arthritis, Facet Joints, Sacro-Iliac dysfunction</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Hip Injuries:</strong> Tendonitis, Bursitis, Labrum</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Foot/Ankle Injuries:</strong> Ankle Sprains, Arthritis, Achilles Dysfunction, Tendonitis</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Hand/Wrist/ Injuries:</strong> Finger/Joint Tendonitis, Ligament Tears, Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for PRP Treatment?</h4>\r\nDo you have a sports injury or a painful joint? Don\'t put up with it any longer. Call <a href=\"tel:+[phone_raw]\">[phone]</a> today for a free phone consultation with our Regenerative Orthopedic and PRP Los Angeles Doctor to see if PRP can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’. And we would be more than happy to help you get back to the activities you love and to resume your normal lifestyle. <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Contact Dr. Fields\' office</a> to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','PRP Doctor in the Los Angeles Area','','publish','open','closed','','prp-los-angeles-doctor','','','2020-07-12 00:09:03','2020-07-12 00:09:03','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=266',0,'post','',0),(273,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 10:51:14','','The Athletic Doc','','publish','closed','closed','','the-athletic-doc','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=273',9,'nav_menu_item','',0),(277,8,'2019-06-07 11:00:48','2019-06-07 11:00:48','<h4>PRP Doctor</h4>\n\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a PRP Doctor in Los Angeles and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using (PRP) Platelet Rich Plasma therapy to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world. Dr. Fields help people avoid unnecessary orthopedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or full surgery.\n\n<h4>What is a PRP Doctor?</h4>\n\nA PRP Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. PRP Doctors like Dr. Fields use Platelet Rich Plasma Injections that help accelerate the normal healing process. Dr.Fields is passionate about helping his clients eliminate pain for optimal long-term results, with the use of PRP Regenerative Treatments.\n\n<h4>What Does PRP stand for?</h4>\n\nPRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. Plasma is the fluid portion of blood which contains cellular components such as platelets, white blood cells, and red cells. The Harvest method that Dr. Fields uses concentrates the platelets 7-10 times of what is generally found in blood. Other systems concentrate them, but to a lesser extent.\n\n<h4>What is PRP Treatment?</h4>\n\nPRP treatment, as used in regenerative orthopedics, is a non-surgical healing treatment for healing soft tissue performed by a PRP Doctor. Dr. Fields makes precise injections of your own concentrated blood (PRP) into the affected areas to promote healing of musculoskeletal problems. Blood platelets contain potent growth factors necessary to begin tissue repair and regeneration at the injury site.\n\n<h4>Is PRP Treatment Safe?</h4>\n\nPRP treatment is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen (Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities thoroughly with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\nWhat Does a PRP Doctor Treat?\n\nWeakened torn or damaged ligaments, tendons, muscle tears, menisci or labrums are the most common soft tissue structures that Dr. Fields treats. PRP has also been effective in treating arthritis, though more severe cases get better results with Dr. Fields’ Stem Cell treatments.\n\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating chronic pain and sports injuries including:\n\n    Knee Injuries: ACL, MCL LCL, Meniscus, Arthritis, Kneecap Instability\n    See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here\n    Elbow Injuries: Tennis Elbow, Medial Epicondylitis,Tendonitis\n    See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\n    Shoulder Injuries: Rotator Cuff Tears, Labrum Tears, Tenositis\n    See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\n    Back Injuries: Arthritis, Facet Joints, Sacro-Iliac dysfunction\n    See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\n    Hip Injuries: Tenositis, Bursitis,Labrum\n    See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\n    Foot/Ankle Injuries: Ankle Sprains, Arthritis, Achilles Dysfunction, Tendonitis\n    See a complete list of Foot/Ankle Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\n    Hand/Wrist/ Injuries: Finger/Joint Tendinitis, Ligament Tears, Arthritis, Carpal tunnel\n    See a complete list of Hand/Wrist Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\n\nAre You A Candidate for PRP Treatment?\n\nCall 310-455-8242 today for a free phone consultation with Dr. Fields our PRP Doctor to see if PRP treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also contact the OrthoRegen\'s office to set up an in-person consultation.\n\n  Schedule Your Appointment Today! ','PRP Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','266-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:00:48','2019-06-07 11:00:48','',266,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/266-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(280,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 11:02:31',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','280','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=280',4,'nav_menu_item','',0),(283,8,'2022-12-02 06:01:38','2019-06-07 11:02:31',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','283','','','2022-12-02 06:01:38','2022-12-02 06:01:38','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=283',6,'nav_menu_item','',0),(288,8,'2019-06-07 11:08:25','2019-06-07 11:08:25','Mother Child Reading','Mother Child Reading','','inherit','open','closed','','mother-child-reading','','','2019-06-07 11:08:29','2019-06-07 11:08:29','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(289,8,'2019-06-07 11:08:37','2019-06-07 11:08:37','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" />\r\n<u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:08:37','2019-06-07 11:08:37','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(290,8,'2019-06-07 11:09:07','2019-06-07 11:09:07','<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:09:07','2019-06-07 11:09:07','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(291,8,'2019-06-07 11:10:07','2019-06-07 11:10:07','<h4>PRP Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a PRP Doctor in Los Angeles and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using (PRP) Platelet Rich Plasma therapy to resolve painful conditions and sports injuries to help people avoid full joint replacement. He treats patients from around the US and the world. Dr. Fields help people avoid unnecessary orthopedic surgeries whether arthroscopic or full surgery.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a PRP Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA PRP Doctor provides regenerative orthopedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. PRP Doctors like Dr. Fields use Platelet Rich Plasma Injections that help accelerate the normal healing process. Dr.Fields is passionate about helping his clients eliminate pain for optimal long-term results, with the use of PRP Regenerative Treatments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Does PRP stand for?</h4>\r\n\r\nPRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. Plasma is the fluid portion of blood which contains cellular components such as platelets, white blood cells, and red cells. The Harvest method that Dr. Fields uses concentrates the platelets 7-10 times of what is generally found in blood. Other systems concentrate them, but to a lesser extent.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is PRP Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nPRP treatment, as used in regenerative orthopedics, is a non-surgical healing treatment for healing soft tissue performed by a PRP Doctor. Dr. Fields makes precise injections of your own concentrated blood (PRP) into the affected areas to promote healing of musculoskeletal problems. Blood platelets contain potent growth factors necessary to begin tissue repair and regeneration at the injury site.\r\n\r\n<h4>Is PRP Treatment Safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nPRP treatment is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen (Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. Dr. Fields will discuss these possibilities thoroughly with patients during the pre-treatment consultation.\r\nWhat Does a PRP Doctor Treat?\r\n\r\nWeakened torn or damaged ligaments, tendons, muscle tears, menisci or labrums are the most common soft tissue structures that Dr. Fields treats. PRP has also been effective in treating arthritis, though more severe cases get better results with Dr. Fields’ Stem Cell treatments.\r\n\r\nDr. Fields has had great success in treating chronic pain and sports injuries including:\r\n<ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Knee Injuries:</strong> ACL, MCL LCL, Meniscus, Arthritis, Kneecap Instability</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Knee Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here\r\n    <li><strong>Elbow Injuries: Tennis Elbow, Medial Epicondylitis,Tendonitis</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Elbow Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\r\n    <li><strong>Shoulder Injuries: Rotator Cuff Tears, Labrum Tears, Tenositis</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Shoulder Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\r\n    <li><strong>Back Injuries: Arthritis, Facet Joints, Sacro-Iliac dysfunction</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Back Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\r\n    <li><strong>Hip Injuries: Tenositis, Bursitis,Labrum</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Hip Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\r\n    <li><strong>Foot/Ankle Injuries: Ankle Sprains, Arthritis, Achilles Dysfunction, Tendonitis</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Foot/Ankle Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\r\n    <li><strong>Hand/Wrist/ Injuries: Finger/Joint Tendinitis, Ligament Tears, Arthritis, Carpal tunnel</li>\r\n    See a complete list of Hand/Wrist Injuries Treated with Prolotherapy here.\r\n\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for PRP Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nCall <a href=\"#\">310-455-8242</a> today for a free phone consultation with Dr. Fields our PRP Doctor to see if PRP treatment can get you pain-free and ‘back in the game’ or help you resume your normal lifestyle. You can also <a href=\"#\">contact the OrthoRegen\'s office </a>to set up an in-person consultation.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a> ','PRP Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','266-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:10:07','2019-06-07 11:10:07','',266,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/266-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(292,8,'2019-06-07 11:19:41','2019-06-07 11:19:41','<h2>Stem Cell Doctor in the Los Angeles Area</h2>\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is a Stem Cell Doctor in Los Angeles and the founder of OrthoRegen<sup>®</sup>. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Stem Cell Treatments for joint and spine regeneration. With the different forms of Regenerative Orthopedics, Dr. Fields helps people avoid unnecessary orthopedic surgeries. That includes arthroscopic procedures and more extensive surgeries. Dr. Fields is passionate about helping his clients by eliminating their joint pain. Many patients enjoy the increased function and optimal long-term results with the use of Stem Cell Regenerative Treatments.\r\n<h3>What is a Stem Cell Doctor?</h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2337\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"315\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2337\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stem-Cell-Doctor-Peter-Fields-MD-DC-1-315x500.jpg\" alt=\"Stem Cell Doctor Peter Fields Md Dc\" width=\"315\" height=\"500\" /> <strong>     Stem Cell Doctor Peter Fields, MD, DC</strong>[/caption]\r\n\r\nA Stem Cell Doctor like Peter A. Fields, MD, DC, provides Regenerative Orthopedics solutions like Stem Cell Therapy, PRP, and Prolotherapy for painful joint conditions. And all of these techniques are non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. When Stem Cell Therapy is recommended, Dr. Fields utilizes the Gold Standard in Stem Cell therapy.\r\n\r\nWhat makes it the Gold Standard? At OrthoRegen, we use 4 different regenerative techniques to provide the greatest outcomes to regenerate the injured soft tissue. <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/articles/regenerative-orthopedics/stem-cell-therapy-at-orthoregen-why-we-are-different/\">Click here to find out more about the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy.</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Regenerative medicine is growing in popularity in the medical world as an alternative to invasive orthopedic surgeries, including joint replacement.</strong> The remarkable thing about Stem Cells is that when you inject them into a specific area of the body, they know what kinds of cells your body needs – for example, cartilage cells or meniscus cells.\r\n<h3>What Conditions Can a Stem Cell Therapy Help?</h3>\r\nDr. Fields treats weakened, torn, or damaged ligaments. So if you are suffering from tendon tears, ligament tears, worn-out cartilage, a torn meniscus, or injured labrum...Regenerative Orthopedics is the ideal non-surgical treatment for you. And excitingly, Stem Cell Therapy is also very effective at treating arthritic conditions...even severe arthritis.\r\n<h4><strong>Peter A. Fields, MD, DC has had great success in treating joint conditions with Stem Cell Therapy, including: </strong></h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>\"Bone-on-Bone\" Arthritis</li>\r\n 	<li>Severe Arthritis</li>\r\n 	<li>Degenerated Joint</li>\r\n 	<li>Torn, Worn, or Missing Cartilage</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<a href=\"http://Amniotic “Stem Cells”?\">Click here</a> to find out more about Stem Cell Treatments like <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/articles/regenerative-orthopedics/stem-cell-therapy-options-for-arthritis/\">Amniotic “Stem Cells” and One-Shot Magic Cures</a>.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n<h3>What is Stem Cell Therapy?</h3>\r\nStem Cell Therapy is an injection treatment of stem cells into the joint or affected area to promote healing. This procedure is usually used in cases such as where a joint replacement has been recommended when patients have been told their joint is \"bone-on-bone,\" in advanced arthritis, and other aggressive injuries.\r\n\r\nAs stated earlier, Stem Cell Therapy is just one type of Regenerative Orthopedics. And at OrthoRegen, we use the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy because it is extremely comprehensive to help you avoid invasive surgery.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Therapy at OrthoRegen is a non-surgical healing treatment to repair soft tissue. Stem Cell Therapy incorporates autologous (your own) culture-expanded bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and adipose (fat) stem cells in a platelet-rich-fibrin glue. Then, Dextrose Prolotherapy is applied around the entire area. It really is the best way to achieve the greatest possible results without the need for surgery.\r\n<h3>Are Stem Cell Treatments Safe?</h3>\r\nStem Cell Treatments at OrthoRegen are an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen (Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects that vary depending on the area being treated. The Stem Cell Doctor will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation. All Regenerative Orthopedic therapies are only recommended after an extensive history and physical exam.\r\n<h3>Are You A Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy?</h3>\r\nHave you been told you need to have joint replacement surgery -- whether that\'s shoulder replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery (or any other joint)? Or has your doctor said that your condition is bone-on-bone or severely arthritic? Then there is a great possibility that Stem Cell Therapy is for you! And you owe it to yourself to examine all surgical alternatives before going under the knife.\r\n\r\nSpine Surgery and joint replacement surgery are very invasive procedures. And each comes with its own long list of risks and reasons to avoid it at all costs. Surgery comes with hospital stays, long recovery times, potential (dangerous) complications, and the possible need to have the procedure redone at some point.\r\n<h3>Contact Us for An Evaluation for Stem Cell Therapy</h3>\r\nMake an appointment with our Stem Cell Doctor for an evaluation to see if you are a good candidate for the Gold Standard in Stem Cell Therapy for Spine and Joints. Call <a href=\"tel:+[phone_raw]\">[phone] </a>to Schedule Your Appointment Today!\r\n\r\n<a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"https://www.drfields.com/contact/\"> Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Stem Cell Doctor','','publish','open','closed','','stem-cell-doctor','','','2021-04-26 20:14:19','2021-04-26 20:14:19','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=292',0,'post','',0),(293,8,'2019-06-07 11:14:50','2019-06-07 11:14:50','<br>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:14:50','2019-06-07 11:14:50','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(294,8,'2019-06-07 11:15:10','2019-06-07 11:15:10','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:15:10','2019-06-07 11:15:10','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(295,8,'2019-06-07 11:16:47','2019-06-07 11:16:47','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<p><u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.</p>\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:16:47','2019-06-07 11:16:47','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(296,8,'2019-06-07 11:17:06','2019-06-07 11:17:06','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<p class=\"text-center\"><u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.</p>\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:17:06','2019-06-07 11:17:06','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(297,8,'2019-06-07 11:18:58','2019-06-07 11:18:58','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<p class=\"text-center\"><u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.</p>\r\n\r\n  <a class=\"secondaryButton bglight\" href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:18:58','2019-06-07 11:18:58','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(298,8,'2019-06-07 11:19:41','2019-06-07 11:19:41','<h4>Stem Cell Doctor</h4>\r\n\r\nPeter A. Fields, MD DC, is Stem Cell Doctor in Los Angeles and the founder of OrthoRegen. Dr. Fields is a leading expert in using Stem Cell Treatments for joints and Spine Regeneration. Dr. Fields help people avoid unnecessary orthopaedic surgeries whether full surgery or arthroscopic procedure. Dr.Fields is passionate about helping his clients eliminate pain for optimal long-term results, with the use of Stem Cell  Regenerative Treatments.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is a Stem Cell Doctor?</h4>\r\n\r\nA Stem Cell Doctor provides regenerative orthopaedics by offering non-surgical alternatives to joint and spine repair. Dr. Fields uses Stem Cell therapy to regenerate body tissue. Regenerative medicine is growing in popularity in the medical world as an alternative to invasive orthopaedic surgeries including joint replacement. The remarkable thing about Stem Cells is that when you inject them into a specific area of the body, they know what kinds of cells your body needs – for example,  cartilage cells or meniscus cells.\r\n\r\n<h4>What Conditions Can a Stem Cell Doctor Help?</h4>\r\n\r\nDr. Fields treats weakened, torn or damaged ligaments, as well as tendons, torn cartilage, muscle tears, menisci or labrums. Stem Cell treatment has also been effective in treating severe arthritis conditions.\r\n\r\n<strong>Dr. Fields has had great success in treating joint conditions with Stem Cell Therapy including:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n   <li>Bone-on-Bone</li>\r\n    <li>Severe Arthritis</li>\r\n    <li>Degenerated Joint</li>\r\n    <li>Torn, Worn or Missing Cartilage</li></ul>\r\n\r\nSee more about Stem Cell Treatment.\r\n\r\n<h4>What is Stem Cell Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nStem Cell treatment is an injection of stem cells into the joint or affected area to promote healing. This procedure is usually used for cases where you have been told to have their joint replaced, have bone-on-bone, advanced arthritis, severe meniscus or labral tear or other aggressive injuries.\r\n\r\nDr. Fields  Stem Cell technique one of the four Gold Standards Regenerative Orthopedics procedures to help you avoid invasive surgery.\r\n\r\nStem Cell Treatment, as used in regenerative orthopaedics, is a non-surgical healing treatment for healing soft tissue performed by a Stem Cell Doctor. Stem Cell treatment is the transplantation of autologous culture-expanded bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in platelet rich-fibrin glue.\r\n\r\n<h4>Is Stem Cell Treatment Safe?</h4>\r\n\r\nStem Cell treatment is an extremely safe procedure. The risks are far less than those associated with surgery for your chronic joint pain or acute joint injuries. The risks are often also less than taking Ibuprofen (Motrin) for a lifetime to temporarily alleviate chronic pain. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects which will vary depending on the area being treated. The Stem Cell Doctor will discuss these possibilities fully with patients during the pre-treatment consultation. This is only recommended after a very thorough history and physical exam.\r\n\r\n<h4>Are You A Candidate for Stem Cell Treatment?</h4>\r\n\r\nIf you\'ve been told that you need to have joint replacement surgery -- whether that\'s shoulder replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery (or any other joint), or if you\'ve been told that you need to have spine surgery due to bone-on-bone, arthritis or other conditions, you owe it to yourself to examine all other alternatives to surgery before going under the knife.\r\n\r\nSpine Surgery and Joint Replacement Surgery are very invasive procedures, and each comes with its own long list of reasons to avoid it at all costs: hospital stays, long recovery times, potential (dangerous) complications, and the need to have the procedure redone at some point.\r\n\r\nMake an appointment with our Stem Cell Doctor for an evaluation to see if you are a good candidate for Dr. Fields Gold Standard Stem Cell Treatment for - Spine and Joints. Call <a href=\"#\">310-455-8242</a> to Schedule Your Appointment Today!\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a> ','Stem Cell Doctor','','inherit','closed','closed','','292-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:19:41','2019-06-07 11:19:41','',292,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/292-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(299,8,'2019-06-07 11:19:43','2019-06-07 11:19:43','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mother-child-reading.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Child Reading\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-288\" /><u><strong>Fee’s and Payment/Insurance Policies</strong></u> <a href=\"https://www.drfields.com/about/fees-policies/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a>\r\n\r\n<u><strong>Are medical records or MRI’s/X-rays necessary?</strong></u>\r\nAny pertinent medical records can be faxed (310) 453-1212 to the office prior to your visit. The report (reading) of the MRI/X-ray can also be faxed or brought with you.\r\n\r\nActual MRI’s or x-rays are not absolutely necessary but may be brought with you.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>How long is each visit?</strong></u>\r\nThe first visit is approximately one hour. Each additional visit is about half an hour unless there is more than one area being treated. You can discuss this with the doctor on your first visit.\r\n\r\n<p class=\"text-center\"><u><strong>Do I receive a Prolotherapy treatment on the initial visit?</strong></u>\r\nIf after history and examination it is determined that you are a prolotherapy candidate, then you will receive Prolotherapy on your first visit.</p>\r\n\r\n  <a class=\"buttonlink\" href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Common Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','207-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:19:43','2019-06-07 11:19:43','',207,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/207-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(300,8,'2019-06-07 11:25:54','2019-06-07 11:25:54','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<strong>Fees</strong>\r\n\r\nFor your first visit:\r\nA complete Regenerative Orthopedics history and physical is done at that time. \r\nThis takes approximately 30-40 minutes.\r\nThen the treatment options are explained (prices below).\r\n\r\nInitial Regenerative Orthopedic Consultation: <strong>$300</strong>\r\n\r\nProlotherapy Charges\r\nSmall Joint (Foot, hand, fingers, toes, ankle, elbow, TMJ ): <strong>$400</strong>\r\nMedium Joint (knee, hip, shoulder, ribs): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nLarge Joint (Groin, Neck, Mid Back or Low Back): <strong>$700</strong>\r\nPRP (in addition to the above joint charges): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nStem Cell Therapy: <strong>Please call for pricing</strong>\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Payment Policy</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. When you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more.\r\n\r\nOnly you can decide what is fair and if it is worth the investment even if you instil pay out-of-pocket costs for your health care.\r\n\r\nWe will make every effort to instill the feeling that your time with us is worth it.\r\nWoman Paying\r\n\r\nAs a <strong>Fee for Service Office</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>. \r\nWe accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services.\r\nWe will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. <u><strong>We cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement.</strong></u>\r\n\r\nWe <u>do not subscribe to any insurance networks.</u> Insurance billing can be up to 40 percent of a medical office\'s overhead. It involves a lot of time and effort. We would rather put that time and effort into caring for our patients instead of billing insurance companies. It also helps us keep our prices reasonable.\r\n\r\nRemember that health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance carrier.\r\n\r\nIf so inclined, you can contact your insurance carrier and ask them if they cover an MD office visit (codes: 99203 or 4; 99213 or 4.) They will not tell you how much they cover - only whether they cover it or not. Most insurance companies cover MD\'s office visits. This is what we bill for.\r\n\r\nAll bills are issued under Dr Fields\' medical license (MD). Unfortunately, there is still no guarantee that insurance companies will reimburse you for your treatments even after they have said yes to complete or partial coverage.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>We cannot bill Medicare or Medi-cal since we are not a provider.</strong></u>\r\nPlease do not ask us to attempt this as it is not possible.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Fees & Policies','','inherit','closed','closed','','202-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:25:54','2019-06-07 11:25:54','',202,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/202-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(301,8,'2019-06-07 11:26:32','2019-06-07 11:26:32','<p>&nbsp; </p>\r\n<strong>Fees</strong>\r\n\r\nFor your first visit:\r\nA complete Regenerative Orthopedics history and physical is done at that time. \r\nThis takes approximately 30-40 minutes.\r\nThen the treatment options are explained (prices below).\r\n\r\nInitial Regenerative Orthopedic Consultation: <strong>$300</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Prolotherapy Charges</strong>\r\nSmall Joint (Foot, hand, fingers, toes, ankle, elbow, TMJ ): <strong>$400</strong>\r\nMedium Joint (knee, hip, shoulder, ribs): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nLarge Joint (Groin, Neck, Mid Back or Low Back): <strong>$700</strong>\r\nPRP (in addition to the above joint charges): <strong>$550</strong>\r\nStem Cell Therapy: <strong>Please call for pricing</strong>\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Payment Policy</strong>\r\n\r\nInvesting in your health should be very important to you. Since the future of health care is changing, you should be involved with this investment. When you make a financial investment, you measure it by how much it grows each year. Investing in your health pays off in many different ways: wellness, health stability, quality of life, energy, happiness and more.\r\n\r\nOnly you can decide what is fair and if it is worth the investment even if you instil pay out-of-pocket costs for your health care.\r\n\r\nWe will make every effort to instill the feeling that your time with us is worth it.\r\nWoman Paying\r\n\r\nAs a <strong>Fee for Service Office</strong> we request that the <u><strong>fee is paid in full at the time of service</strong></u>. \r\nWe accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment of services.\r\nWe will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. <u><strong>We cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement.</strong></u>\r\n\r\nWe <u>do not subscribe to any insurance networks.</u> Insurance billing can be up to 40 percent of a medical office\'s overhead. It involves a lot of time and effort. We would rather put that time and effort into caring for our patients instead of billing insurance companies. It also helps us keep our prices reasonable.\r\n\r\nRemember that health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance carrier.\r\n\r\nIf so inclined, you can contact your insurance carrier and ask them if they cover an MD office visit (codes: 99203 or 4; 99213 or 4.) They will not tell you how much they cover - only whether they cover it or not. Most insurance companies cover MD\'s office visits. This is what we bill for.\r\n\r\nAll bills are issued under Dr Fields\' medical license (MD). Unfortunately, there is still no guarantee that insurance companies will reimburse you for your treatments even after they have said yes to complete or partial coverage.\r\n\r\n<u><strong>We cannot bill Medicare or Medi-cal since we are not a provider.</strong></u>\r\nPlease do not ask us to attempt this as it is not possible.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\">Schedule Your Appointment Today!</a>','Fees & Policies','','inherit','closed','closed','','202-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:26:32','2019-06-07 11:26:32','',202,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/202-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(302,8,'2019-06-07 11:32:37','2019-06-07 11:32:37','<div class=\"col-md-8\">\r\n<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ironman-switzerland-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Ironman Switzerland Logo\" width=\"250\" height=\"120\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-311\" />\r\n\r\n<h6 class=\"text-center\">Sunday July 27, 2016\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</h6>\r\n\r\n\"No matter how tough things get in life, you just just have to keep moving forward.\"\r\nFred and Yvette Fields\r\n\r\n<strong><u>GETTING THERE</u></strong>\r\n\r\nI left on an overnight flight to London. This is an approximately 11 hour flight. I slept 7 plus hours so all was well. After a three-hour layover in London, I then had a 90 minute flight to Zurich Switzerland. After landing I found out that my bicycle, which I had brought with me, did not make it. But the Swiss being very efficient had already tracked it and it was coming on the next flight. Since it was late I left for the city and let them deliver it the next morning. I checked into my apartment around midnight. I had rented an apartment since I was going to be there for 7 days. The next morning the bicycle was delivered. No scratches or anything, so everything went well. The first week was just relaxing getting used to the time difference (there\'s a 9 hour time difference between Los Angeles and Zurich) and enjoying Zurich a little bit. Zurich is a beautiful city with a large lake and a river that passes through the city. Rest was needed as race day on Sunday would come quickly.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>RACE DAY MORNING</u></strong>\r\n\r\nThis race day morning was different than my last ones. I usually get about 5 to 6 hours sleep. But somehow I couldn\'t sleep and got only about one and a half hours of sleep. I knew I would be a little on edge but I tried to keep myself calm. I got out of bed at 3:30am to do the final preparations and have breakfast and to get to the transition at 5 a.m. We leave our bike, running and biking gear at the transition area on Saturday, so all I had to do was put water and fuel on my bike, pump the tires and check all my transition bags to make sure everything was correctly there. This is very important as when you get off out of the water you need all your bike gear to change into and the same for the transition when you get off the bike and begin to run, The water was just barely legal (cool enough) for wetsuits. This was just below 74.5 degrees as mandated by the Ironman Corporation. Since I\'m a good swimmer I would have actually preferred not to wear a swimsuit but since everyone else was wearing one, I wore it. Then it was down to the starting line to begin a long and arduous day.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_313\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Switzerland-Swim-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Swim 2016 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-313\" /><strong> Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim</strong>[/caption]They had about 1,700 competitors at this race . This is less than the usual 2200- 2500. You seed yourself in holding areas by finishing times (under 1 Hour, between 1 hour and 10 minutes and so on. I put myself in the one hour to 1:10 area as this is my expected time. They let the people go six at a time, every 5 Seconds. But due to the fact that you had to run about 15 feet and then walk in the water over stones before actually starting the swim, everyone ended up getting jammed up so it was really like mass start. This meant that there were people were swimming over each other and very close. So I took my time not only lifting my head to keep my bearings straight, but to make sure I was not being bumped by other swimmers too much. Another problem was that all the buoys were of the same color. Usually when you have to turn, they place a different color buoy. So this too delayed my swim and I knew I would be slightly slower than before. As I made the final turn after two miles, I started to head back to the shore for the final 0.4 miles to make a total of 2.4 miles. The only thing marking the exit was a small black balloon archway. Unfortunately this was not very distinguishable from the water and people were zigzagging all over the place. I could only really see it when I got about two hundred meters close to the shore. I found out later that this problem and the ones mentioned before were had by many other swimmers. But all in all it went well. My swim was slower than before due to the crowding at the start and the sighting difficulties, but now I was done with the 2.4 mile swim and it was on to the bike.\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_316\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Switzerland-Bike-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Bike 2016 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-316\" /><strong>Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride</strong>[/caption]After getting out of the wet suit and getting my bike shoes, helmet and sunglasses on, I got on the bike and started to ride. The first 15 - 20 miles is very flat but also very scenic as you go around the lake. After about 10 to 15 minutes I started to take some nutrition in to replace what I had burned off while I was biking. It\'s important not to take anything in the first 10 to 15 minutes so that your blood goes from your upper body into your lower body. This time we started one of two very long and fairly steep climbs. It was a little bit of a cloud cover so this was good. This cloud cover would be dispersed by the second Loop and the temperature would rise. At the start of the body temperature was probably around 70 degrees but later it would go into the mid-to-upper 80s. Plus it was humid out. As you did this series of two different climbs you have some spectacular views of Lake Zurich and the city. This made things a little bit easier. And the rest of the ride you passed by pastures with cows and some small villages.  Towards the end of the first loop you pass the transition area and do a small little 8 Mile loop. In this 8 Mile loop is an extremely steep hill. It is only about half a mile long but the steepest hill you climb. This area was jammed with spectators yelling and cheering on both sides of the road about 10 to 15 deep. It was very invigorating as you climb this hill and heard music blaring on loud speakers (the second time around  I heard \'Born in the USA\' by Bruce Springsteen). The you descend down the back and go back to the start of the race to begin your second loop after the first 66 miles. The second loop was a little tougher as the temperature reached into the mid-eighties and the sun was out in full force. Since they were long stretches of flat riding, one is down in their Triathlon handlebars alot. This puts a lot of pressure on your neck as you look up periodically to see the traffic in front of you. My neck was getting very tight and even though I was moving it around it was stiffening up a lot. So when I saw a small grassy area quickly hopped off the bike down on the ground and stretched my neck out. This cost me about 45 to 60 seconds off the bike but was well worth it is when I got back on my neck was a lot looser. I could have used a chiropractor at that point but unfortunately they don\'t have them on the race course! hahaha.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, even though this was a Swiss race, they did not have it organized that well. There was no ice anywhere on the race course (this was to also include the run portion). That meant when they handed you water bottles they were basically warm. One is used to getting an ice cold water which is very refreshing. The second loop went well and after doing a very steep climb at the end again, it was off the bike and into transition to begin the run\r\n\r\n<strong><u>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</u></strong>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_318\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Switzerland-Run-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Run 2016 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-318\" /><strong> Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run</strong>[/caption]\r\nAfter riding 112 miles, it\'s always a nice feeling to get off the bike. I changed into on my running shoes and was off for the 26.2 mile run. At this point it was very sunny and hot. They changed the run this year so that you would pass through the heart of the city and by Lake Zurich . But they made it a four loop course which was a little monotonous. My first 10+K loop went very well for me. As you left transition and passed by the crowds it was very invigorating. After 2k you turn to go through the downtown area. You went down one of the main streets with a lot of fancy stores. Then you turned into the malled off streets that were cobblestones but not too bad to run on. These were very small and winding streets in the old part of town. Several cafes were there too with spectators. Then you came out alongside the river and under a bridge to run about 2K by the lake. Here there were hundreds, if not more, people cheering as they enjoyed their Sunday afternoon. This was very invigorating hearing people cheer you on and yell your name or the country you were from (the race tags we wore had our first name and two small flags of the country you where from). The whole time you ran along the lake there were throngs of crowds. After turning around we headed back to the transition area to begin the next 3 loops. This was a little tough as when you pass transition you also passed the Finish Line.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_319\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<img src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Switzerland-Finish-Line-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Finish Line 2016 275\" width=\"160\" height=\"301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-319\" /><strong>Dr. Fields crossing the finish line</strong>[/caption]After each loop, there were people finishing but you still have to continue around and do your loops. They kept track of this when you came up towards the end of each loop and they would put a colored arm band around your forearm . Once you have four armbands on you could turn it into the finish line. As I said, the first loop very well. During the second loop I started to develop some foot pain. I have had this in the past in training but it only would last about 10 to 15 minutes at most. Unfortunately this time it did not go away so my second loop (each loop was a little more than 10K) was much slower. This pain would come and go until halfway into my 4th and last loop. But Ironman are all about challenges. I just dug deep and kept my focus on where I was going and put the pain aside.Dr. Fields crossing the finish line But all-in-all, I persevered. By the third fatigue was getting setting in but I just kept going since I you had to go out and do a fourth loop. Of course in everyone\'s mind you\'re thinking maybe I could just turn and go into the finish line. But again you could not enter the Finish Line without the four colored bands on your arm ( and that would be cutting the course so in reality no one ever considers that). The route was interesting but unfortunately there was no ice anywhere on the course. This all the athletes found to be very unusual. They did have sponges you could squeeze the water out on your head, shoulders and back but again it was just all air temperature water. So you just kept sipping water, cola, taking in nutrition and putting one foot in front of the other.\r\n\r\nSo as I made the final turn at about four kilometers to go, I knew I was heading back and that despite any difficulties, I had I would complete my 7th Ironman. As I came into the transition area and made the final 50 meter turn into the finish line I knew I had done it again. As I crossed the finish line I heard the words that I had heard 6 times before, \"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"\r\n\r\n<strong>POST SCRIPT</strong>\r\n\r\nOf course as with every other race I was dedicating this race in the memory my mother and father. When the pain in my foot started to get worse during the run I just stayed focused. I had learned from both of them that no matter how tough things get in life, you just just have to keep moving forward.  I also kept a small remembrance of them in my back jersey pocket.  When things would get really tough, I would reach back and touch it.  Knowing they were with me made it a lot easier.\r\n\r\nMany of you may not know this  but both my parents were refugees fleeing fascism during World War II.\r\nBeing Jewish and living in Germany in the 1930\'s was not an ideal situation, to say the least.\r\n\r\nMy mom\'s family fled Germany to live in France in 1933. My mom was only 7 years old. After 8 good years, they had to flee once again, in 1941, to the US. So at the young age of 16 she would have to learn her third language, see her dad pass away after only a month in the US, help care for her family and more.\r\n\r\nMy dad, at 19, left Berlin in 1938 to hide out in Shanghai, China. He knew that it was either get out of Europe or perish. His parents unfortunately would never make it out. It took him nine years, until 1947, to finally get to the US. Penniless and without family, he would eventually meet my mom (married for 56 years) and with her start a successful business, raise a family and the rest is history.\r\n\r\nNo matter how bad things got they never gave up hope,\r\nThey instilled this in me from early childhood.\r\nAnd it stayed with me and helped me through this race.\r\n\r\nWhat was happening to me during the race was nothing compared to my parents journeys, but as they taught me, just kept moving forward and don\'t look back.I share with you these stories as this is what I kept in my head as I was running past the pain and fatigue of working out for over 12+ hrs straight.  The book  \'Man\'s Search for Meaning\' by Viktor Frankl, MD, Phd, which was my father\'s favorite book, has a famous quote that goes something like this: \'It\'s not what happens to you in life that matters; it\'s how you deal with it\'.\r\n\r\nI want to thank everybody who has gotten to this point and taken the time to read this. Also everybody out there who were shouting and/or cheering during the race following me on the Internet or just in their minds. I appreciate it all.\r\nThank You.\r\n\r\nOf course, I thank my parents everyday for not only the love they gave me, but for the spirit and determination to never give up that they ingrained in my soul. I\'m so thankful that I had them as my parents.\r\n\r\nOne last special dedication.\r\nTo my 91yo uncle Andre in Belgium, who felt guilty about taking time away from following me on the computer to do a few errands.\r\nHe sometimes knew more about me during the race then I did.\r\nMerci beaucoup, Monsieur Jamar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"clear\"></div>\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC</strong>\r\n<strong>The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup> and 7X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"col-md-4\" id=\"sidebar2\">\r\n<img alt=\"Dr. Fields, The Athletic Doc®, post race\" title=\"Dr. Fields, The Athletic Doc®, post race\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Switzerland-Finish-2016-275.jpg\" style=\"width: 204px;\"><br>\r\n<strong> Dr. Fields,The Athletic Doc<sup>®</sup>, post race</strong>\r\n<a href=\"https://goo.gl/photos/iYRMcML2UYWmW2pQ6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2016 Switzerland<br>\r\nClick For More Photos</a>\r\nClick below for Pictures &amp; Story&nbsp;\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>','Race Report 7th Ironman','','publish','open','closed','','race-report-7th-ironman','','','2020-06-30 17:58:43','2020-06-30 17:58:43','',0,'https://www.drfields.com/?p=302',0,'post','',0),(303,8,'2019-06-07 11:30:19','2019-06-07 11:30:19','\r\n<h2>We have moved!!</h2>\r\n<img title=\"Dr. Peter Fields\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/portals/0/Images/drfields-bio-img.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Peter Fields\" />Our new address is:\r\n<strong> 2730 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 220\r\nSanta Monica, Ca 90403</strong>\r\nThe phone, fax and email is all the same.\r\n\r\nThe bldg. is located on the southwest corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Harvard Street, which is two blocks east of Wilshire and 26th Street in Santa Monica.\r\nThis is only one mile from our old location.\r\n\r\n<strong>We will not be able to provide validated parking at this new site.</strong>\r\nThere is ample metered parking on Wilshire Blvd.\r\nThere is also metered and non-metered parking on the side streets.\r\nFor those wishing to use the parking garage, they charge $2 per fifteen minutes with a maximum of $16. It is all automated and there is no parking attendant.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to seeing everyone soon at our new home.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"clear\"></div>','','','inherit','closed','closed','','302-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:30:19','2019-06-07 11:30:19','',302,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/302-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(304,8,'2019-06-07 11:32:37','2019-06-07 11:32:37','<div id=\"dnn_ctr686_ModuleContent\" class=\"DNNModuleContent ModDNNHTMLC\">\r\n<div id=\"dnn_ctr686_HtmlModule_lblContent\" class=\"Normal\">\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"content\">\r\n\r\n<img title=\"ironman switzerland\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/portals/0/Images/AthleticDoc/ironman-switzerland-logo.jpg\" alt=\"ironman switzerland\" />\r\n\r\n<strong>Sunday July 27, 2016\r\n2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"No matter how tough things get in life, you just just have to keep moving forward.\"\r\nFred and Yvette Fields\r\n\r\n<strong>GETTING THERE</strong>\r\n\r\nI left on an overnight flight to London. This is an approximately 11 hour flight. I slept 7 plus hours so all was well. After a three-hour layover in London, I then had a 90 minute flight to Zurich Switzerland. After landing I found out that my bicycle, which I had brought with me, did not make it. But the Swiss being very efficient had already tracked it and it was coming on the next flight. Since it was late I left for the city and let them deliver it the next morning. I checked into my apartment around midnight. I had rented an apartment since I was going to be there for 7 days. The next morning the bicycle was delivered. No scratches or anything, so everything went well. The first week was just relaxing getting used to the time difference (there\'s a 9 hour time difference between Los Angeles and Zurich) and enjoying Zurich a little bit. Zurich is a beautiful city with a large lake and a river that passes through the city. Rest was needed as race day on Sunday would come quickly.\r\n\r\n<strong>RACE DAY MORNING</strong>\r\n\r\nThis race day morning was different than my last ones. I usually get about 5 to 6 hours sleep. But somehow I couldn\'t sleep and got only about one and a half hours of sleep. I knew I would be a little on edge but I tried to keep myself calm. I got out of bed at 3:30am to do the final preparations and have breakfast and to get to the transition at 5 a.m. We leave our bike, running and biking gear at the transition area on Saturday, so all I had to do was put water and fuel on my bike, pump the tires and check all my transition bags to make sure everything was correctly there. This is very important as when you get off out of the water you need all your bike gear to change into and the same for the transition when you get off the bike and begin to run, The water was just barely legal (cool enough) for wetsuits. This was just below 74.5 degrees as mandated by the Ironman Corporation. Since I\'m a good swimmer I would have actually preferred not to wear a swimsuit but since everyone else was wearing one, I wore it. Then it was down to the starting line to begin a long and arduous day\r\n<div><img title=\"Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/portals/0/Images/Ironman%20Switzerland%202016/Switzerland-Swim-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim\" />\r\nDr. Fields after the 2.4 mile swim</div>\r\n<strong>THE SWIM: 2.4 Miles</strong>\r\n\r\nThey had about 1,700 competitors at this race . This is less than the usual 2200- 2500. You seed yourself in holding areas by finishing times (under 1 Hour, between 1 hour and 10 minutes and so on. I put myself in the one hour to 1:10 area as this is my expected time. They let the people go six at a time, every 5 Seconds. But due to the fact that you had to run about 15 feet and then walk in the water over stones before actually starting the swim, everyone ended up getting jammed up so it was really like mass start. This meant that there were people were swimming over each other and very close. So I took my time not only lifting my head to keep my bearings straight, but to make sure I was not being bumped by other swimmers too much. Another problem was that all the buoys were of the same color. Usually when you have to turn, they place a different color buoy. So this too delayed my swim and I knew I would be slightly slower than before. As I made the final turn after two miles, I started to head back to the shore for the final 0.4 miles to make a total of 2.4 miles. The only thing marking the exit was a small black balloon archway. Unfortunately this was not very distinguishable from the water and people were zigzagging all over the place. I could only really see it when I got about two hundred meters close to the shore. I found out later that this problem and the ones mentioned before were had by many other swimmers. But all in all it went well. My swim was slower than before due to the crowding at the start and the sighting difficulties, but now I was done with the 2.4 mile swim and it was on to the bike.\r\n<div><img title=\"Switzerland Bike\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/portals/0/Images/Ironman%20Switzerland%202016/Switzerland-Bike-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Bike\" />\r\nDr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride</div>\r\n<strong>THE BIKE: 112 Miles</strong>\r\n\r\nAfter getting out of the wet suit and getting my bike shoes, helmet and sunglasses on, I got on the bike and started to ride. The first 15 - 20 miles is very flat but also very scenic as you go around the lake. After about 10 to 15 minutes I started to take some nutrition in to replace what I had burned off while I was biking. It\'s important not to take anything in the first 10 to 15 minutes so that your blood goes from your upper body into your lower body. This time we started one of two very long and fairly steep climbs. It was a little bit of a cloud cover so this was good. This cloud cover would be dispersed by the second Loop and the temperature would rise. At the start of the body temperature was probably around 70 degrees but later it would go into the mid-to-upper 80s. Plus it was humid out. As you did this series of two different climbs you have some spectacular views of Lake Zurich and the city. This made things a little bit easier. And the rest of the ride you passed by pastures with cows and some small villages.  Towards the end of the first loop you pass the transition area and do a small little 8 Mile loop. In this 8 Mile loop is an extremely steep hill. It is only about half a mile long but the steepest hill you climb. This area was jammed with spectators yelling and cheering on both sides of the road about 10 to 15 deep. It was very invigorating as you climb this hill and heard music blaring on loud speakers (the second time around  I heard \'Born in the USA\' by Bruce Springsteen). The you descend down the back and go back to the start of the race to begin your second loop after the first 66 miles. The second loop was a little tougher as the temperature reached into the mid-eighties and the sun was out in full force. Since they were long stretches of flat riding, one is down in their Triathlon handlebars alot. This puts a lot of pressure on your neck as you look up periodically to see the traffic in front of you. My neck was getting very tight and even though I was moving it around it was stiffening up a lot. So when I saw a small grassy area quickly hopped off the bike down on the ground and stretched my neck out. This cost me about 45 to 60 seconds off the bike but was well worth it is when I got back on my neck was a lot looser. I could have used a chiropractor at that point but unfortunately they don\'t have them on the race course! hahaha.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, even though this was a Swiss race, they did not have it organized that well. There was no ice anywhere on the race course (this was to also include the run portion). That meant when they handed you water bottles they were basically warm. One is used to getting an ice cold water which is very refreshing. The second loop went well and after doing a very steep climb at the end again, it was off the bike and into transition to begin the run\r\n<div><img title=\"Switzerland Run 2016\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/portals/0/Images/Ironman%20Switzerland%202016/Switzerland-Run-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Run 2016\" />\r\nDr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run</div>\r\n<strong>THE RUN: 26.2 Miles</strong>\r\n\r\nAfter riding 112 miles, it\'s always a nice feeling to get off the bike. I changed into on my running shoes and was off for the 26.2 mile run. At this point it was very sunny and hot. They changed the run this year so that you would pass through the heart of the city and by Lake Zurich . But they made it a four loop course which was a little monotonous. My first 10+K loop went very well for me. As you left transition and passed by the crowds it was very invigorating. After 2k you turn to go through the downtown area. You went down one of the main streets with a lot of fancy stores. Then you turned into the malled off streets that were cobblestones but not too bad to run on. These were very small and winding streets in the old part of town. Several cafes were there too with spectators. Then you came out alongside the river and under a bridge to run about 2K by the lake. Here there were hundreds, if not more, people cheering as they enjoyed their Sunday afternoon. This was very invigorating hearing people cheer you on and yell your name or the country you were from (the race tags we wore had our first name and two small flags of the country you where from). The whole time you ran along the lake there were throngs of crowds. After turning around we headed back to the transition area to begin the next 3 loops. This was a little tough as when you pass transition you also passed the Finish Line.\r\n\r\nAfter each loop, there were people finishing but you still have to continue around and do your loops. They kept track of this when you came up towards the end of each loop and they would put a colored arm band around your forearm . Once you have four armbands on you could turn it into the finish line. As I said, the first loop very well. During the second loop I started to develop some foot pain. I have had this in the past in training but it only would last about 10 to 15 minutes at most. Unfortunately this time it did not go away so my second loop (each loop was a little more than 10K) was much slower. This pain would come and go until halfway into my 4th and last loop. But Ironman are all about challenges. I just dug deep and kept my focus on where I was going and put the pain aside.<img title=\"Dr. Fields crossing the finish line\" src=\"https://www.drfields.com/portals/0/Images/Ironman%20Switzerland%202016/Switzerland-Finish-Line-2016-275.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Fields crossing the finish line\" />\r\nDr. Fields crossing the finish line But all-in-all, I persevered. By the third fatigue was getting setting in but I just kept going since I you had to go out and do a fourth loop. Of course in everyone\'s mind you\'re thinking maybe I could just turn and go into the finish line. But again you could not enter the Finish Line without the four colored bands on your arm ( and that would be cutting the course so in reality no one ever considers that). The route was interesting but unfortunately there was no ice anywhere on the course. This all the athletes found to be very unusual. They did have sponges you could squeeze the water out on your head, shoulders and back but again it was just all air temperature water. So you just kept sipping water, cola, taking in nutrition and putting one foot in front of the other.\r\n\r\nSo as I made the final turn at about four kilometers to go, I knew I was heading back and that despite any difficulties, I had I would complete my 7th Ironman. As I came into the transition area and made the final 50 meter turn into the finish line I knew I had done it again. As I crossed the finish line I heard the words that I had heard 6 times before, \"Peter Fields, you are an Ironman!\"\r\n\r\n<strong>POST SCRIPT</strong>\r\n\r\nOf course as with every other race I was dedicating this race in the memory my mother and father. When the pain in my foot started to get worse during the run I just stayed focused. I had learned from both of them that no matter how tough things get in life, you just just have to keep moving forward.  I also kept a small remembrance of them in my back jersey pocket.  When things would get really tough, I would reach back and touch it.  Knowing they were with me made it a lot easier.\r\n\r\nMany of you may not know this  but both my parents were refugees fleeing fascism during World War II.\r\nBeing Jewish and living in Germany in the 1930\'s was not an ideal situation, to say the least.\r\n\r\nMy mom\'s family fled Germany to live in France in 1933. My mom was only 7 years old. After 8 good years, they had to flee once again, in 1941, to the US. So at the young age of 16 she would have to learn her third language, see her dad pass away after only a month in the US, help care for her family and more.\r\n\r\nMy dad, at 19, left Berlin in 1938 to hide out in Shanghai, China. He knew that it was either get out of Europe or perish. His parents unfortunately would never make it out. It took him nine years, until 1947, to finally get to the US. Penniless and without family, he would eventually meet my mom (married for 56 years) and with her start a successful business, raise a family and the rest is history.\r\n\r\nNo matter how bad things got they never gave up hope,\r\nThey instilled this in me from early childhood.\r\nAnd it stayed with me and helped me through this race.\r\n\r\nWhat was happening to me during the race was nothing compared to my parents journeys, but as they taught me, just kept moving forward and don\'t look back.I share with you these stories as this is what I kept in my head as I was running past the pain and fatigue of working out for over 12+ hrs straight.  The book  \'Man\'s Search for Meaning\' by Viktor Frankl, MD, Phd, which was my father\'s favorite book, has a famous quote that goes something like this: \'It\'s not what happens to you in life that matters; it\'s how you deal with it\'.\r\n\r\nI want to thank everybody who has gotten to this point and taken the time to read this. Also everybody out there who were shouting and/or cheering during the race following me on the Internet or just in their minds. I appreciate it all.\r\nThank You.\r\n\r\nOf course, I thank my parents everyday for not only the love they gave me, but for the spirit and determination to never give up that they ingrained in my soul. I\'m so thankful that I had them as my parents.\r\n\r\nOne last special dedication.\r\nTo my 91yo uncle Andre in Belgium, who felt guilty about taking time away from following me on the computer to do a few errands.\r\nHe sometimes knew more about me during the race then I did.\r\nMerci beaucoup, Monsieur Jamar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"clear\"></div>\r\n<strong>Peter A. Fields, MD DC</strong>\r\n<strong>The Athletic Doc® and 7X Ironman Triathlete</strong>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>','Race Report 7th Ironman','','inherit','closed','closed','','302-revision-v1','','','2019-06-07 11:32:37','2019-06-07 11:32:37','',302,'https://www.drfields.com/uncategorized/302-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0);
