“Never give up on your goals no matter how tough things get.”
Fred and Yvette Fields
As many of you have enjoyed reading my stories about my Ironman races, I will now give you a brief synopsis of my eighth Ironman in Cozumel, Mexico November 27, 2016. I apologize for the delay in getting this out.
GETTING THERE
This was not as complicated as it was for my races in South America or in Europe. A 3 hr. flight to Dallas and then 2 1/2 hrs. to Cozumel. I arrived five days in the advance of the race. Then the usual registering, getting ready and just sitting back and relaxing the last few days.
RACE DAY MORNING
I awoke at 3:30 a.m. Breakfast at 4 a.m. and then getting down to the race start. In Cozumel, you start 2.2 miles away for the T1 (transition one) area where you have our bike, so first you go to the transition area and make sure everything is OK as you leave your bike and bike clothes the day before. You fill your bottles with water, pump your tires, place some nutrition on the bike and then take a bus over to the race start.
There was nothing unusual at the race start this morning except for the fact that I forgot my speed suit. A wetsuit is not allowed in the race when the water temp is above the 76.5 degrees (actually it was 79 degrees today). Like many athletes, I usually wear a speed suit over my Triathlon suit. This is a suit that is very similar to what Olympic swimmers wear to streamline the body. But it really was no big deal as swimming is my best sport and at best it can take seconds and not minutes off my swim.
One of my highlights of standing in the corral waiting for the swim start was that I was actually standing next to, and met, The Iron Cowboy. This is a 41-year-old guy who just the year before had done what is really considered impossible. That is, he did 50 Ironman races in 50 days in 50 states. Yes, you heard me correctly. It was a monumental effort and he did it to raise awareness for several different organizations. I told him what an honor it was to have met him.
Swim Start with his parents initials on his forearms
The swim for me is never a major challenge as it is my best event. The start in Cozumel is very organized and controlled. They let about five to ten people off the end of the pier about every 15 seconds, so it never gets very crowded. The water very nice and it makes for an enjoyable swim. You can see down 30 – 50 feet and see schools of fish along the way. You can also see the scuba diver lifeguards who are strategically placed along the way in case anything happens. While swimming, about halfway thru the race, I did detect a current as it picked up and was coming towards us. This is not the norm as usually you swim with the current but occasionally it can change. I just moved on and kept motoring through. At the end I found out my time was just a minute or two slower than usual but most were 10-20 minutes slower than their usual time. Then out of the water, run over to the transition tent to dry off, get my helmet, bike shoes and sunglasses on and then on to the bike for 112 mile bike ride.
THE BIKE: 112 Miles
Dr. Fields during the 112 mile bike ride
THE RUN: 26.2 Miles
Dr. Fields during the 26.2 mile run
Dr. Fields crossing the finish line
POST SCRIPT
As I’ve described in other race reports, my parents instilled in me the ability to work thru things no matter how hard it gets. Life is not always easy, just like an Ironman. There are some easy stretches and some hard times. But you just keep your head down and keep moving forward. The spirit of my parents never left me during the entire race. Their attention, caring and never ending love for me was always in my thoughts. As with every race, as I get towards the end, I imagine my parents there embracing me like they had for so many years. Their eternal love and kindness carries me through more than just my Ironman races.
PS Once again I was first out of the water in my age group in the swim. After the bike, I was in the top third of my age group. This was a first for me. Unfortunately after the run, due to the above-mentioned issues, I fell back and finished towards the top of the lower third for my age group. But all in all, it was a good race.
PPS I want to thank everybody who not only read this but also who thought of or followed me during the race. Thank you all very much.
Peter A. Fields, MD DC
The Athletic Doc® and 8X Ironman Triathlete