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Being an orthopedic surgeon couldn't help Dr. Gerardo Goldberger find a diagnosis for running in scorching Israeli summertime heat.

A senior member of the Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) in Freehold, Goldberger enjoyed the dual role of U.S. team physician and triathlete at the 18th Maccabiah Games last month.

His July 17 race, consisting of a 1,500-meter swim (just short of a mile), a 40-kilometer (25 mile) bike ride, and a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) run, began with temperatures of 98 degrees at 6 a.m. that rose to 105 degrees before Goldberger finished in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

"Once you start the race at 98 degrees, there's not much you can do about it," Goldberger said. "I'll tell you the truth, it's pretty wicked."

Goldberger's knowledge of the body did come in handy, however, when it came to training for the games. He usually competes for 12-13 hours at a time in ironman races, true tests of endurance including a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile (marathon) run. For the Olympic-style triathlon of the Maccabiah Games, Goldberger said he shifted his focus to intensity and interval training to add more speed.

Most members of the American team were at a disadvantage because they experienced mild temperatures this spring and summer, and couldn't simulate the heat they would come across overseas. At the very least, Goldberger's medical experience helped him pace himself during the training process, he said.

"It's critical for knowing how not to overdo it and knowing the effects of heavy training and overuse to the body parts and joints," Goldberger said.

Roy Silver, captain of the American triathlon team, collapsed during the running portion of the event, Goldberger said. Goldberger stood in 2nd place after the end of the biking phase but slowed down by the middle of the running part. His time earned him a 19th-place finish in a strong international field of 130 ranging from 18-year-olds to a 76-year-old Canadian, as well as a 6th-place result out of 20 in the age group of 45-49.

Goldberger, 47, also participated in the 1981 Maccabiah Games in squash for his native Argentina, and this time around saw some of his childhood friends return as coaches for that team. He decided to begin racing triathlons 25 years ago as a way of staying in shape during college at Rutgers, in addition to his participation on the rowing team. He worked as a field physician at the 1996 Olympics and the 1994 World Cup in soccer, and trains for triathlons with Brian Shea, his coach in Tinton Falls.

Once Goldberger applied to the games as an athlete, the U.S. team saw his professional background and approached him about helping address the shortage of doctors on the squad. There was a team of physicians, physical therapists, and trainers at each American team venue, with Goldberger stationed at the Tel-Aviv Hilton.

Each morning Goldberger would assist with clinics from 6:30-8:30 a.m., treating basic skeletal and muscular injuries, and trained for his own event for the rest of the day, getting accustomed to the extreme heat he would have to face on the day of the race.

"I was there to compete, not just to show up," Goldberger said.

Goldberger said he got the chance to have several conversations with noted Jewish swimmer Jason Lezak, whose astonishing push in the final 25 meters of 4x100 meter freestyle relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing helped edge out France and propel Michael Phelps to his record of eight gold medals. Swimming happens to be Goldberger's strongest triathlon discipline, he said.

Attending the Ramat Gan Stadium opening ceremonies, which Lezak officiated after deciding to pass on the 2009 World Aquatic Championships, provided an emotional high for Goldberger. He also said he appreciated the chance to race the triathlon out of Tiberias near the Golan Heights, a region that helps protects Northern Israel from attacks.

In Freehold, Goldberger has a large subset of swimmers, bikers, and runners among his patient base because they understand that he is familiar with the rigors of their sports, he said. His orthopedic practice focuses on knee and shoulder reconstructions.

"I treat the athlete as a whole," Goldberger said. "I look at the whole process and see what are the minor adjustments we can do without changing their training."