Riding The Waves Of Change Call For Papers: Fill & Download for Free

Definitely not, why should I?I’ve been here 50 years and paid my taxes and dues (old violin) all that time and still do. I have letter from “your obedient servant” - the then home office (those were the days) stating I can stay here indefinitely and do what I want in the UK (except Isle of Man and Northern Ireland) and that’s good enough for me.It’s galling that I couldn’t vote and people like me as it wasn’t a general election but the same rules were applied and I think for a (not so) good reason but so be it. My immediate family and their families are all born and bred British so leaving wouldn’t be fair on them.I wouldn’t re-register if that were to be a new requirement as they (the government) should know by now that people like me are here and have been here for a generation. They say that for people like me we wouldn’t have to pay the registration fee, but for me it’s the principle as I already have the papers. If the government would go back on their original promise then it would only tell me that they couldn’t be trusted any longer.My head tells me that there won’t be a hard Brexit as it would cause untold damage to the economy of the UK and also lesser damage to the economies of quite a few European countries and the fall-out of that is unpredictable but wouldn’t favour the UK, apart from a Trump medal.At the same time something of someone has to give and it can’t be the EU as giving the UK special privileges undermines the whole principle of the EU, not the political side but the economic side. Britain will have to accept the EU principle or go on its own, it can’t have both.The outcome will be smudges and fudges and dust clouds to buy more time to prevent any thing drastic happening. If and only if during that time Labour gets a leader other than Jeremy they might come into power and things could change again. As long as Jeremy (think Michael Foot or Neil Kinnock) is leader the Tories are safe but we as a country will be on a knife edge because of their ultra right wing section. I definitely would not feel safe with them.My heart tells me that there could be one as we’re no longer dealing with rational people and I’m very fearful of that. I still have debates with many people who voted Brexit and they haven’t changed a bit. The same slogans and anti migrant messages surface time and time again and are also appearing again regularly on face book. That only tells me that the unthinking Brexiteers are getting scared that a hard Brexit isn’t going to happen and they’re sharpening the knives in case there’s going to be a second referendum.So I’ll stay here and take the rough with the smooth. The UK is my country as much as any one’s. I’ve been here longer than half of those who think they’re more British than the next man/woman. The advantage will be that I’ll become an alien again. I was an alien when I arrived and on joining the common market was demoted to a mere foreigner. I still look back with nostalgia of standing with two kids on my arms in a throng of a thousand people in Dover seaport passport control while my wife waltzed through. Luckily a traditional real British Bobby dragged us out before we finished up mincemeat. Happy days.My wife’s granddad, who was Irish, told me the first time I met him as a young lad. He said: “Welcome to England son, just remember one thing; You’ll always be a foreigner”. Of course I nodded yes, I understand, but I didn’t understand. For the first few years you are a foreigner than you are one of them until you get in a heated debate, then suddenly you don’t understand the British ways (and there’s some truth in that) but generally amongst friends and family it’s not always meant.However for the last ten years or so there has been a change in society. After 35 years of being here I suddenly had to start proving I had the right to be here, answer questions an more of that what I call rubbish and I asked why suddenly they asked all these ridiculous things, only to be told it’s the new rules. The upshot being that I’m foreign again, except to my Brexiteer friends who rant about foreigners to me but don’t see I’m a foreigner too, I suppose I should take that as a compliment.Finally Britain is a stable country, there might be demonstrations, but our police forces aren’t daft and in general know how to cope with them although we’ve had a few bad ones over the years, so anything is possible. Food shortages? but we had those in the 70’s too and now we have McDonalds. I don’t think there’ll be riots but we could have a general election. After the initial hick-ups life will settle down again to its own rhythm as we had before, meaning pay more for everything, higher inflation, higher interest rates, higher mortgage rates, and less choice in foods and goods - back to the good old days. Once the pound drops to the same value as the Euro they might even link the two.And in case some clever person asks why I haven’t taken British nationality my answer is simple, why should I? I’m Dutch and European and we have the same basic rules and privileges. Now I would have to pay 1500 pounds or more for the privilege but I think that after paying taxes for 50 years they should give it to me if it matters that much, after all I’ve been a cheap customer to them. The funny thing is that in my home country (can say that now after Brexit) they all think I am a British citizen. Better tell them to get me a house ready in case things go belly-up.Seriously before the common market as it was then (1972) many countries had mutual agreements reference work arrangements, social payments, taxes etc. with the UK and if Britain was to go out completely I would think these sort of arrangements would gradually be re-introduced, but I don’t think it’ll get that far.Yes I do worry a lot, as we were (the UK) riding the crest of a wave and the economy was ahead of any country in Europe, and the future looked bright. Since the referendum we’ve gone down and down - but you try and tell that to a Brexiteer, they’ll bite your head off.

In spite of the deep economic and social impacts of the Modi Government's major policy decisions, people don't criticise him. In fact, they are praising him[1][1][1][1].And this is a very unique situation where the credit for positive results goes to PM Modi but the blame for negative results don't.[2][2][2][2]So many Political journalists and experts have claimed that “PM Modi has developed a Teflon image”.[3][3][3][3]Teflon image is a term used frequently in political science. Teflon is a chemical compound that is used in nonstick frying pans. Teflon leaders are those leaders to whom criticism never sticks to, no matter how much they are criticised.[4][4][4][4]On the other hand, there are velcro leaders on whom even the slightest form of criticism sticks to their image. Every leader, political or non-political could be placed somewhere on this scale.Experts believe that PM Modi is on the Teflon side of this scale. As a result, the deep impact on the Indian economy due to COVID-19 might have very little effect on PM Modi's political ambitions. The main reason behind this is —PM Modi is not just a political leader. He is, almost, a spiritual leader too.Teflon and “Spiritual”On November 8th, 2016, PM Modi announced that ₹500 & ₹1000 notes will be withdrawn. After one month, a similar turn of events happened in Venezuela too. President Nicolas Maduro had announced that he was cancelling 100- Bolivar currency notes as those notes were in the possession of the Mafia.However, just after he announced that those notes would not be considered legal tender in 3 days, people came on roads to protest against this decision.[5][5][5][5]But no such protests were seen in India.Rather, people supported this decision.Even after realising the fact that Demonetization neither brought black money nor infiltration under control and even other objectives of the government weren't fulfilled, not many people criticised this decision. Rather they made statements like, “At least he is trying”.This was the first indication of Narendra Modi's Teflon image.[6][6][6][6]Researchers feel that such leaders have some common traits. They are seen as extroverted and outgoing which appeals to voters. But this definition solely cannot explain Narendra Modi's Teflon image. There are many reasons for this image such as Nationalism[7][7][7][7], Hindu Majoritarianism[8][8][8][8], control over media[9][9][9][9], financial advantage[10][10][10][10]and a weak opposition.[11][11][11][11]Let's first take a look at what forms his Teflon image has taken.A spiritual leaderWe had witnessed a weird form of it when PM Modi decided to meditate in some cave in Kedarnath after campaigning. As always, Media was really interested in this.This was a point which showed that PM Modi's image is not just of a political leader but of a spiritual leader as well.Hence, aspects which could weaken the career of any other normal political leader, like economic slowdown, were not having any impact of Modi's image.LanguageA research showed that even the way Narendra Modi uses the Hindi language is, in a way, responsible for his spiritual image. His choice of words, especially, is worth noticing.[12][12][12][12]For instance, to describe the problems of migrant workers, he used the words, “Tyaag(Sacrifice)”, “Tapasya(Penance)” and “Agni pariksha(Trial by fire)”.PM Modi uses many religious texts in his speeches as well. And these little things help in building his spiritual image.[13][13][13][13]The Benjamin Franklin EffectBenjamin Franklin used an important tool in his political career which is now called the Benjamin Franklin effect.[14][14][14][14]This can be found in PM Modi's speeches as well.[15][15][15][15]According to his effect, if you ask for a favour from someone and he/she accepts then the chances of him/her accepting a second favour increase comprehensively and it also increases the chances of that person liking you more. This happens in our brain due to a cognitive dissonance.Whenever Narendra Modi makes an announcement, he doesn't give an order or instruction, but he asks for a favour, a request.Through such appeals and requests, he can reap 2 benefits — Firstly, it instantly increases his likeablilty as per the Franklin effect. Secondly, many responsibilities shift from the Government to the citizens[16][16][16][16]. So even if a policy scheme fails, the government won't be the only one responsible for it.Maybe only to disassociate himself from the results, many a time, PM Modi doesn't give the full details of any certain scheme and its working. For example, in his infamous “Aatmnirbhar” speech, he focused on the number 20 Lakh crore package, and the responsibilities of disclosing the details were handed out to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman.Because of this, when the performance of Government is criticised, that criticism is not directed towards PM Modi. Rather, it gets directed towards his Council of Ministers.FaithNilanjan Sarkar, a political scientist, claimed in his recent paper that for 2014 elections, PM Modi relied on development (vikaas). Whereas, in 2019 elections he was more relied on trust (vishwaas).[17][17][17][17]Just before the 2019 elections, Rural India had seen an agricultural crisis. In 2019, BJP’s rural vote share increased as well. Sarkar argues, if the 2019 elections would have been just about the development, then people wouldn't have voted in favour of the BJP.And Narendra Modi's spiritual image explains this trust(Vishwaas) on him.Is This Teflon Image Permanent?Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani was the 4th president of Iran. He was also called “Teflon Mullah”.[18][18][18][18]In the 1980s, he was involved in a secret deal with Iran's biggest enemy — America. Even after this information got leaked in the public, his image remained intact.[19][19][19][19]He was Iran's most vicious and aggressive political leader. After the death of Ruhollah Khomeni in 1989, he became a leading political figure. And his influence was so great that people used to call him “King Akbar”.Only in 2005, in spite of being a front runner, he lost the elections to Mohmoud Ahmadinjenad, who was still a little known political leader.[20][20][20][20]There was no specific reason for his defeat. A collapse in the economy and the lavish lifestyle of Rafsanjani & his family contributed to this defeat.But some experts say, there was one major reason and it was that “he promised too much but couldn't deliver”.[21][21][21][21]A lot of people might be familiar with this statement. In the last 6 years, PM Modi has made many promises.Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s economy was on a downward trend. After COVID19, it is predicted that India's growth would be negative.[22][22][22][22]But it doesn't mean, PM Modi will have to repay a political cost, because of it. This is due to his Teflon image. But this image is also not permanent, as we had seen in Rafsanjani's example.And a change in this image won't happen with just 1 setback. It'd need multiple factors such as a better opposition or a serious policy mistake by the PM.An ideal political environment is not one where all leaders are on the velcro side of the scale. Instead, they should be somewhere in the middle of this scale.To do this, their supporters will have to start criticising them for the decisions they are responsible for. And their, oppositions will have to stop criticising them for the decisions, these leaders were not responsible for.Maybe then, we would see a change in this spiritual image of Modi.You may also read: Gaurav Jha's answer to Is there anything which can unite India?Footnotes[1] https://youtu.be/el7jeVqkKbw[1] https://youtu.be/el7jeVqkKbw[1] https://youtu.be/el7jeVqkKbw[1] https://youtu.be/el7jeVqkKbw[2] In coaching hub Kota, future job-seekers say unemployment is not Modi govt’s fault[2] In coaching hub Kota, future job-seekers say unemployment is not Modi govt’s fault[2] In coaching hub Kota, future job-seekers say unemployment is not Modi govt’s fault[2] In coaching hub Kota, future job-seekers say unemployment is not Modi govt’s fault[3] https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0MtMGQyRWNZY2tjNFUxb2lsOGNfaGl2NnJsd3xBQ3Jtc0tudmpvdm9Ra3B3SlE0V1V3WWlvZUpCUFRmM0tOSzRTSkNfUWNKeXZzbVA3RUVWRG9DT0pScTVzNDRRX1ZIMDdib2syWXU1aHNneGh5VjByUWM5MWtyY0g1NlBMRnc4RkpfbFRpSXJxOFFZN2hkU25qaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Fpdf%2F10.1080%2F15377850802005083&html_redirect=1[3] https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0MtMGQyRWNZY2tjNFUxb2lsOGNfaGl2NnJsd3xBQ3Jtc0tudmpvdm9Ra3B3SlE0V1V3WWlvZUpCUFRmM0tOSzRTSkNfUWNKeXZzbVA3RUVWRG9DT0pScTVzNDRRX1ZIMDdib2syWXU1aHNneGh5VjByUWM5MWtyY0g1NlBMRnc4RkpfbFRpSXJxOFFZN2hkU25qaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Fpdf%2F10.1080%2F15377850802005083&html_redirect=1[3] https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0MtMGQyRWNZY2tjNFUxb2lsOGNfaGl2NnJsd3xBQ3Jtc0tudmpvdm9Ra3B3SlE0V1V3WWlvZUpCUFRmM0tOSzRTSkNfUWNKeXZzbVA3RUVWRG9DT0pScTVzNDRRX1ZIMDdib2syWXU1aHNneGh5VjByUWM5MWtyY0g1NlBMRnc4RkpfbFRpSXJxOFFZN2hkU25qaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Fpdf%2F10.1080%2F15377850802005083&html_redirect=1[3] https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0MtMGQyRWNZY2tjNFUxb2lsOGNfaGl2NnJsd3xBQ3Jtc0tudmpvdm9Ra3B3SlE0V1V3WWlvZUpCUFRmM0tOSzRTSkNfUWNKeXZzbVA3RUVWRG9DT0pScTVzNDRRX1ZIMDdib2syWXU1aHNneGh5VjByUWM5MWtyY0g1NlBMRnc4RkpfbFRpSXJxOFFZN2hkU25qaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Fpdf%2F10.1080%2F15377850802005083&html_redirect=1[4] Modi faces no political costs for suffering he causes. He's just like Iran's Ali Khamenei[4] Modi faces no political costs for suffering he causes. He's just like Iran's Ali Khamenei[4] Modi faces no political costs for suffering he causes. He's just like Iran's Ali Khamenei[4] Modi faces no political costs for suffering he causes. He's just like Iran's Ali Khamenei[5] Venezuela puts demonetisation on hold after protests and looting[5] Venezuela puts demonetisation on hold after protests and looting[5] Venezuela puts demonetisation on hold after protests and looting[5] Venezuela puts demonetisation on hold after protests and looting[6] Teflon populism | The Strategist[6] Teflon populism | The Strategist[6] Teflon populism | The Strategist[6] Teflon populism | The Strategist[7] BJP's nationalism is partisan effort to show patriotic front, has no links with ideology of original nationalist cause - India News , Firstpost[7] BJP's nationalism is partisan effort to show patriotic front, has no links with ideology of original nationalist cause - India News , Firstpost[7] BJP's nationalism is partisan effort to show patriotic front, has no links with ideology of original nationalist cause - India News , Firstpost[7] BJP's nationalism is partisan effort to show patriotic front, has no links with ideology of original nationalist cause - India News , Firstpost[8] Under Modi, a Hindu Nationalist Surge Has Further Divided India[8] Under Modi, a Hindu Nationalist Surge Has Further Divided India[8] Under Modi, a Hindu Nationalist Surge Has Further Divided India[8] Under Modi, a Hindu Nationalist Surge Has Further Divided India[9] How Narendra Modi has almost killed the Indian media[9] How Narendra Modi has almost killed the Indian media[9] How Narendra Modi has almost killed the Indian media[9] How Narendra Modi has almost killed the Indian media[10] In 2019, Is BJP Riding a Modi Wave or a Money Wave?[10] In 2019, Is BJP Riding a Modi Wave or a Money Wave?[10] In 2019, Is BJP Riding a Modi Wave or a Money Wave?[10] In 2019, Is BJP Riding a Modi Wave or a Money Wave?[11] The Political Fix: How did Modi’s BJP get the Teflon coating ensuring that no blame sticks to it?[11] The Political Fix: How did Modi’s BJP get the Teflon coating ensuring that no blame sticks to it?[11] The Political Fix: How did Modi’s BJP get the Teflon coating ensuring that no blame sticks to it?[11] The Political Fix: How did Modi’s BJP get the Teflon coating ensuring that no blame sticks to it?[12] The Simple, and Simplistic, Messaging of Modi’s Lectures Is a Big Hit With His Audience[12] The Simple, and Simplistic, Messaging of Modi’s Lectures Is a Big Hit With His Audience[12] The Simple, and Simplistic, Messaging of Modi’s Lectures Is a Big Hit With His Audience[12] The Simple, and Simplistic, Messaging of Modi’s Lectures Is a Big Hit With His Audience[13] Did You Know The Meanings Of These Hindi Words Used By PM Modi? Take This Quiz To Find Out[13] Did You Know The Meanings Of These Hindi Words Used By PM Modi? Take This Quiz To Find Out[13] Did You Know The Meanings Of These Hindi Words Used By PM Modi? Take This Quiz To Find Out[13] Did You Know The Meanings Of These Hindi Words Used By PM Modi? Take This Quiz To Find Out[14] Harness the power of the 'Ben Franklin Effect' to get someone to like you[14] Harness the power of the 'Ben Franklin Effect' to get someone to like you[14] Harness the power of the 'Ben Franklin Effect' to get someone to like you[14] Harness the power of the 'Ben Franklin Effect' to get someone to like you[15] Benjamin Franklin's life inspired me, says PM Modi[15] Benjamin Franklin's life inspired me, says PM Modi[15] Benjamin Franklin's life inspired me, says PM Modi[15] Benjamin Franklin's life inspired me, says PM Modi[16] Shift in focus from citizens' rights to duties | India News - Times of India[16] Shift in focus from citizens' rights to duties | India News - Times of India[16] Shift in focus from citizens' rights to duties | India News - Times of India[16] Shift in focus from citizens' rights to duties | India News - Times of India[17] Not vikas, Modi’s 2019 election was built on politics of vishwas[17] Not vikas, Modi’s 2019 election was built on politics of vishwas[17] Not vikas, Modi’s 2019 election was built on politics of vishwas[17] Not vikas, Modi’s 2019 election was built on politics of vishwas[18] Obituary: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani[18] Obituary: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani[18] Obituary: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani[18] Obituary: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani[19] THE WHITE HOUSE CRISIS: A CLERIC HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN; Key Iranian Calls for Hostage-Arms Deal[19] THE WHITE HOUSE CRISIS: A CLERIC HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN; Key Iranian Calls for Hostage-Arms Deal[19] THE WHITE HOUSE CRISIS: A CLERIC HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN; Key Iranian Calls for Hostage-Arms Deal[19] THE WHITE HOUSE CRISIS: A CLERIC HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN; Key Iranian Calls for Hostage-Arms Deal[20] National Agenda : Mullahs Losing Grip in Iran : President Rafsanjani's failure to create a utopia threatens his political future as well as the power of the clergy.[20] National Agenda : Mullahs Losing Grip in Iran : President Rafsanjani's failure to create a utopia threatens his political future as well as the power of the clergy.[20] National Agenda : Mullahs Losing Grip in Iran : President Rafsanjani's failure to create a utopia threatens his political future as well as the power of the clergy.[20] National Agenda : Mullahs Losing Grip in Iran : President Rafsanjani's failure to create a utopia threatens his political future as well as the power of the clergy.[21] Rafsanjani proved that pragmatism couldn’t moderate Iran[21] Rafsanjani proved that pragmatism couldn’t moderate Iran[21] Rafsanjani proved that pragmatism couldn’t moderate Iran[21] Rafsanjani proved that pragmatism couldn’t moderate Iran[22] How Is The Indian Economy Affected By COVID-19? | Inventiva[22] How Is The Indian Economy Affected By COVID-19? | Inventiva[22] How Is The Indian Economy Affected By COVID-19? | Inventiva[22] How Is The Indian Economy Affected By COVID-19? | Inventiva

This is long but it's my story.In November of 2011, I decided to make some changes. I have always struggled with my weight, and outside of cycling with some friends, have never undertaken any athletic endeavors. I weighed about 238 pounds, didn’t eat very well, consumed too much coffee, and drank my fair share of booze over the years. I felt like I was at a crossroads. Here I was at 38 years old and quickly approaching my forties as a somewhat unhealthy man. I could either make some changes now or deal with health issues that would inevitably manifest into serious problems down the road.I decided to quit coffee and alcohol for the foreseeable future and attempt to get healthy. Two months later, in January 2012, I had an unexpected migraine bout that had me in the hospital getting MRIs, CT scans, and a spinal tap because of concerns that I had cranial pressure caused by spinal fluid leakage. I vowed during that time to start taking my health as my number one priority should I recover. It was a scary time for me and after three weeks the migraine left as fast as it came. My neurologist and I have no idea what caused it but I now look at it as a call to action. I started reading books on nutrition and discovered a book by Rich Roll called “Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself”. Rich’s story starts at 38 and barely able to walk up his stairs without wheezing. He then transforms himself, over a few years, into an Ultra distance triathlete and nutrition expert. He is vegan and his story made me evaluate my eating lifestyle and physical goals. I continued not drinking alcohol, not stressing my body with caffeine over-consumption, and decided to go vegetarian to see how my body adapted. In many ways, Rich Roll’s life and mine share many parallels. So after reading his book, and during an impulsive moment, I signed up for a half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run) and finished after only 3 months of training. The process to finish that race is a story in itself. That accomplishment left me wanting more. I had no idea what to do next and was suffering from a post race depression. It was such a feat, but at the same time a let down as I no longer had a goal. So in late 2012, I was lucky enough to secure a spot in Ironman Florida 2013 in the following November. It is double the distance and I later learned that it is exponentially harder than the half. So a year later and 40 pounds lighter, here is my story of that journey and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did reliving it on paper.3 Days PriorMy truck is packed with all the items I will need for Ironman Florida. I have my bike on the rack, and a few bags carrying clothes and general necessities. Other bags contain all my tri gear that has been meticulously accounted for and packed carefully. I even have blankets and pillows in the back for the ride home. I know I will be sore and extremely tired the day after the race and figure I will be able to set up a bed in the back to rest while my wife, Erin, does some driving. I am excited although leaving home is bittersweet. Due to school and Halloween, my kids are unable to join me. Erin will stay back to take the kids trick or treating, and then fly up the day before the race. I really wish my whole family would be riding up with me, but at least I will have Erin there to cheer me on. I can honestly say that missing Halloween, when my kids are at the special age for it, is a tough pill to swallow. But I have no choice. Ironman requires athletes to check in two days prior the race.I head out on the 650-mile drive from Fort Lauderdale to Panama City Beach. I don’t mind road tripping at all and am looking forward to the journey. However, relaxation quickly turns into concern. About two hours in to the drive, my right toe starts giving me a little pain every ten minutes or so. After four hours, it hurts every five minutes until a short time later it becomes every minute. I cannot ignore it. I know this pain. I had the same issue a few years back. I panic a little and then pull off the highway. Several years ago I broke my big toe and I don’t think it has ever healed quite right causing sporadic issues. I sit in my truck at a gas station and think, “why of all times in my life would I have an ingrown big toenail three days before Ironman? What have I done to deserve this?” I pull out my phone and search “podiatrist panama city beach florida” and find someone. I call their office and beg my way to get an appointment the next day. At least now I have a plan and that makes me feel a little better.Wednesday evening I arrive at my hotel and check in. I take a short run to test the toe and although it hurts a little it’s ok. It may not seem like a huge deal to anyone who hasn’t done an event like this, but when you have trained for 10 months straight and plan to cover a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a full 26.2-mile marathon, every little injury magnifies itself. I cannot bear the thought of not finishing and the last thing I need is a lousy foot infection. You cannot run on that.2 Days PriorMy schedule is to do a short swim, a short bike ride, and finish up with a short run. I throw on my wetsuit and hit the beach. The forecast indicates a storm is moving in so the rolling waves are not unexpected. I am comfortable in the ocean and have no issues doing my swim. I then hop on my bike and enjoy a 30-minute tour of Panama City Beach. After a short break I throw on the running gear and do a run. I check my toe and although it’s hurting most of the time, it doesn’t seem to affect me once I get going. The toenail has yet to get infected and I am looking forward to seeing the doctor for reassurance.I drive to the podiatrist’s office and he quickly diagnoses me with the not so unexpected ingrown toenail and numbed me up so he could perform a careful partial extraction of my toenail. Yes, two days before my first Ironman, I am unbelievably getting my right foot worked on. We had discussed my concerns about running a marathon afterwards, so he takes special care during the procedure. I consider myself fortunate to find him on some random Google search.That night I watch some Thursday Night Football that happens to be between the Bengals and my beloved Dolphins. Dolphins win in overtime so it is a good night. Everything feels good at this point and it is now time to get excited for Erin’s arrival the next day.1 Day PriorMy coach, Mike Plumb from San Diego, flies in to meet me and about six other athletes he is training. I have not met Mike in person to this point so it is great to introduce myself after so much time working over the phone and the internet. He has planned a group swim but it quickly becomes apparent that the conditions are nowhere close to ideal. The lifeguards have issued two red flags which means there is no swimming allowed. It is their way of saying that if you go out there and find yourself in an emergency situation, they cannot guarantee sending someone out to rescue you. The riptides are visible. It is nasty. The lifeguard is barking out warnings from their truck’s PA system urging beach goers to not enter the water. I have opted to not swim due to my toe issue and one look at the ocean confirms my decision is the correct one. I watch a few swimmers go out but they all return quickly after getting tossed around. If the waves continue like this, there is no way Ironman is having a swim section. To me this would be unacceptable and I can tell others are having similar thoughts.I decide to get my bike and tri bags checked in to transition early as rain is forecasted all afternoon. The bags contain all my gear for each race section. I have my T1 bag that includes all my bike shoes, clothes, nutrition, etc. Then I have my T2 bag that consists of my running shoes, fresh clothes, etc. There is a changing area for athletes to change so everyone has these bags and the transition between the disciplines is part of the event. The quicker you change, the quicker your overall time is.I hop in my truck and drive about 90 minutes to pick up Erin from the airport. It is great to have her here. She is my first supporter to arrive. Later that day, my dad, his wife Susi, my brother, and my good friends Mike and Tracy are due to arrive. It all gets exciting now that I can share the next few days with all of them.A few hours later, the projected storm rolls in. I can hardly see the ocean from my balcony. The forecast still indicates a beautiful race day but I wonder how that is possible looking at the rain coming in sideways and the wind gusting over 20 mph. It calms down a little over the next few hours and we head to dinner where we meet up with my dad and Susi after their arrival. It is then an early night after going completely OCD checking and double-checking my gear.Race DayThe alarm goes off and I wake up at 4:30am. The first thing I do this morning is look out off my balcony in to the early morning darkness and check the ocean. When I see that it has calmed to a reasonable level, I am relieved, but then it hits me that I am about to do Ironman Florida. A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a full 26.2-mile marathon are on today’s agenda. After eating breakfast, I quickly realize I am running a little late considering transition closes at 6:30am. I still have to drop off some more gear in my bags at the start area. I get my gear together and anxiously head out to the start.Erin and I carry all my last minute items to the transition area. It is rather chaotic having 2,000 athletes and all their loved ones running around. I get my gear all sorted but it is already creeping up to the start time and I start to feel rushed again. The bathroom lines are enormous so I tell Erin I will meet up with her by the beach. My biggest regret about the whole experience is now not planning a meeting point on the beach where we could all take prerace photos and hang out. I had said goodbye to Erin before I got on the beach, but now find myself alone for 15 minutes when I could have been standing with her and my family taking it all in.Before I know it, we are listening to the national anthem and watching the pros leave. They leave at 6:50am and the general field goes at 7am. There are so many people that I can barely see the ocean but know there are some large wave sets out there. The music is pumping and then suddenly there is a countdown and the gun goes off. The music switched to Van Halen’s “Panama”. I am in the middle of the pack and start to wade in. What was I doing getting into this ocean with 2,000 other maniacs? Remember this sounded like a great idea a year ago? I get about 30 feet offshore and begin carefully diving under the waves. Then all of a sudden I mistimed a wave and due to the amount of people in my way, I couldn’t dive under. I was thrown back and ended up on the ocean floor upside down and doing everything I can to ensure my goggles don’t end up floating away. I come back up, spitting up water, and then get super energized. Here I go! I start swimming. I get kicked in the face, yelled at, and even elbowed in the lip pretty badly. Some guy tries pulling my foot out of frustration from behind so he can swim over me, and when he gets close to touching my big toe, I kick hard with the other foot and smack him right back. There is nothing like this experience. Someone told me that it is like being in a washing machine and the analogy is pretty accurate. I never feel like I have a clear swimming lane for 2.4 miles.After the first loop we end up on the beach and run through the spectators on our way back to the water again for the second loop. I eagerly look for my supporters as I run by but it is all a blur. Everyone looks the same. I just hear music and see thousands of faces cheering us on. I dive back in to the water and start swimming again with more confidence. I have no idea whether I am swimming in a straight line or zig zagging the course. It doesn’t matter to me. I am swimming in Ironman!I make it back to the beach and begin the hunt to locate my crew again. I finally hear Erin and my dad screaming. I take a second to stop and high five them all. I continuing towards transition and this is when I have an emotional moment. I tear up for a few seconds. I feel so relieved the swim is over and feel a huge sense of achievement already. I know that I can do this and today will change me forever.I hit the transition, get my T1 bag and head to the men’s changing tent. It’s hard to describe the scene here. Imagine walking in to a dressing room and seeing hundreds of people half naked, getting changed as fast as they can, while hundreds more pile in every few minutes. It’s pandemonium. I carefully change in to my bike clothes and then head out. I locate my bike thanks to all the volunteers who do all they can to ensure a smooth handoff and head out. Right as I am getting on my bike, I again hear my crew yelling encouragement. It’s all a blur to be honest. I get going and settle in for a 112-mile, 6-hour bike ride. After a few minutes, I check my heart rate that is around an ideal 130 beats per minute, eat some food and take in some liquids.There is no drafting on the bike portion. By rule, athletes are not allowed to sit on another rider’s wheel and ride in their slipstream. If caught, it means you will be issued a 3-minute penalty and end up in a tent along the side of the road that’s appropriately called the “penalty tent”. They enforce this by sneaking up on riders on motorcycles, and evaluating if they are drafting too closely to the rider in front. Unfortunately many riders do violate this to gain an edge but I am being very careful to not draft and get penalized. I also want to do this event by the book so that I can say my time was earned honestly.I try to enjoy the process as much as I can and savor the experience. There are tons of supporters along the highway cheering the field on. I see some wacky things out there too. For instance, in the middle of nowhere, there is a makeshift jail cell on the side of the road with someone in a gorilla costume and a girl dressed as a clown dancing inside the cell. What does this mean? I have no idea, but it makes me laugh and the image is burned in to my brain.I keep my bathroom breaks to a minimum but I am also pleased to have the need to take them because it means I am hydrated. About halfway through, I stop for my special needs bag. Special needs bags are for additional supplies, and both the bike and run sections have them. You can put whatever you want in them. I have a spare bike tube, a clif bar, and other odds and ends. I grab what I need and then take a few minutes to check my toe. I am sore so I clean out all the sand from the beach that is irritating it, and feel much better knowing I attended to it. It is still in the back of my mind that the run may suffer because of it. I have no idea how it will hold up.I am amazed with the weather. It’s gone from a very stormy yesterday, to a gorgeous, albeit windy, sunny day today.About three miles from the bike finish, I know that if I hustle I can make it under 6 hours. I pick up my pace while most are winding down. I hit the finish mat and hand off my bike to a volunteer. I get my T2 bag and head back in to the changing tent. Again, it is crazy in there. I take the time to soak it all in while changing in to my running gear. My legs feel surprisingly good and after a brief stretch I head out in to the sunlight and the cheers. I immediately see my support crew and wave. I keep my pace low, as my plan is to slowly build in to the run. I have prior experience where I went too fast and my heart rate skyrocketed. For me, it is hard to recover from that so going easy is my goal. I have two 13-mile loops ahead of me and I know it will be dark when I finish.The first two miles out of transition are full of spectators. People set up tents and cheer on everyone as they go by. A lot of them are drinking and getting wild. I see some girls standing in the middle of the road dressed in what appear to be dominatrix outfits. Are those whips in their hands? Yes. Am I going to get whipped to hurry me along? Yes. I see a guy who is naked except for a sign covering his privates. The sign reads, “Go faster or I drop the sign”. No problem! I see an old lady holding a sign that says, “You’ve got stamina. Call me later”. I am wishing I will remember everything I will see and I’m thinking how much I would love to have a camera to take photos along the route. The crowd is amazing. I cannot emphasize enough how much their energy is fueling me.Every mile they have aid stations where they have water, sports drinks, food, gels and other assorted items. My plan is to briskly walk through those while refueling.The miles slowly start ticking away. I keep taking in some additional calories every hour along with some salt tabs to keep my electrolytes in check.About 6.5 miles in I am in a state park and it is gorgeous. There are sand dunes and seeing that turnaround feels like a huge accomplishment. I make the turn and check all vitals. My heart rate is in check, my pace is decent, and overall I feel pretty good.At the end of the first 13-mile loop I am back at the start and see my crew right next to the run special needs bags. Someone asks how my toe is holding up. I have forgotten about it for the most part and this is a great sign. It is causing a little discomfort here and there but nothing that will stop me from finishing. Inside my special needs bag I find some letters of encouragement from Erin and my kids. I grab them and decide to save them for later when I know I will really need them.I feel good until about mile 16. At this point I start getting some stomach distress that is probably due to all the sugar I have ingested throughout the day. I take some more salt tabs and starting hitting the water a little harder. “Keep going,” I repeatedly tell myself.Stomach issues during Ironman are a brutal reality. This race stresses the body out and sometimes the body fights back with a vengeance. I do not want to take any chances so I am reluctantly stopping a few times at the porta-potties. After a few stops, I feel much better despite losing some time. I see people looking miserable quite regularly during the run, and I see my fair share of people throwing up, cramping, and looking like they can’t go on. Ironman is a physical battle and there are plenty of reminders along the way.At this point, I check my time and quickly figure that if I maintain a 12-minute mile for the rest of the race I can come very close to finishing in less than 13 hours. I get excited at this thought and focus on my pace. Twelve-minute miles is an easy pace for me normally, but after swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 and running 16, it isn’t so easy. When I hit the turnaround in the state park again, I stop and pull out the letters. I read about how proud Erin and the kids are of me and it is just what I need. My seven-year-old daughter Catherine’s letter makes me laugh. She wrote “good luck” and that she is saving me a Kit Kat from her Halloween candy stash when I finish. That’s a deal.I am really focused now and I begin passing people. It is hard to tell who is on their first lap and who is on their second. I talk to one girl and say “only a few more miles” and she responds “not for me. I still have to go around again”. While I feel for her, it makes me feel great that I only have a few more miles to go and no longer have to face a second 13-mile loop.I hit mile 24 and start hearing the finish line music in the dark distance. I can hear the emcee yelling “(insert name), YOU are an Ironman!”. I start to get a little choked up here. I know I have it in the bag. I can’t wait to hear those words. I also can’t wait to see my wife and loved ones at the finish.During this time, everything seems to slow down now in a weird way. I think I am running faster but from mile 25 onwards it all becomes dream like. The crowds get bigger. Everything gets louder. Hundreds of people are cheering me home. I hear the noise and it boosts me. I am hyper aware of everything around me. I see a volunteer yelling, “finishers stay right, others to the left”. I veer right and start my way down the finish chute. I cannot manage to high five all the people that are trying to high five me. I feel like a rock star. I come around a final bend and see the finish line with the iconic Ironman arch and the timer on top. It reads 12:52 and I know I would be well under 13 hours. I slow down and start looking for my crew and then they pop up out of nowhere among the crowd. I stop and hug all of them. We exchange emotional words and I say I’m ready to cross the line. I jog the final few yards and then walk over the line taking it all in. I’m not sure whether they call my name over the loud speaker or not, but I’m immediately greeted by a volunteer. He puts their arms around me in case I pass out and asks if I’m ok. I get this amazing medal, finisher hat and shirt, and everything is so surreal. They walk me off the course, give me a blanket to keep warm, and ask if I need anything. They walk me out of the finish area and just like that it is over.I borrow someone’s phone and call Erin who quickly meets up with me. I can’t believe I did it. I did the Ironman in 12 hours and 54 minutes. I started at sunrise and ended shortly after sundown.No one knows if my name was announced by the emcee. The volunteer at the finish line said he thought he heard my name. I am sure it wasn’t and I can’t figure out why not. I try not to let it bother me, but I can’t help it. It does. I want to hear the words “James, YOU are an Ironman”. I have to figure out a way to hear it.We go back to the hotel and I shower and get changed. I am surprised at how decent I feel. I redress my toe that now looks a little beaten up. My friends, family and I all regroup and decide to have dinner together. We enjoy taking pictures together and discussing my experience. We are all in shock that I finished a 13-hour race and how far I’ve come in 18 months. We enjoy getting away from the race crowds for a few minutes, and reliving the day by ourselves. It turns out they all had a great time tracking me online and then getting in to position to see me go by. I am happy to hear that they had fun on such a long day.After an hour or so at the restaurant, I just have to go back to the race finish, find the emcee, and mention that my name had not been called. He says all first timers are announced but then asks what my name is. He announces the runners coming in and then graciously booms over the sound system, “James Ashcroft, YOU are an Ironman”. I feel so much better. It’s like a sense of closure and finality after this magnificent day. (I later find out they did call my name in the chute but due to the stop to hug my family I missed hearing it.)One of the greatest tips I got from someone who did the race previously, was to go back to the finish and watch people try to make the midnight cutoff. Ironman has a strict rule that you must finish in 17 hours (midnight). You can be one second over and after that whole day, you will not receive a medal and be an official finisher. I meet up with my coach who says one of his clients is still on the course. She is a 60-year-old woman and he had seen her at mile 20. He ran with her from mile 20-21 and calculated that she needed to accelerate from an 18-minute mile to a 14-minute mile at the end of this brutal day to even have a chance of making the cutoff.So here we are at 11:58 and the chute is completely empty. The music is playing and the crowd is making some serious noise to energize the runners nearby. We see someone and squint down the chute. No, it’s not her. Again this happens. 11:59 and no sign. Then we see a little headlamp in the distance. Is it her? No. Wait a second…. it is. The music pumps up, and the crowd goes nuts beating the barricades and cheering. Here is a 66-year-old woman giving 100% for 6 miles. She passes us at 11:59:35 and still has another 50 yards or so to go. She pushes and then we hear a booming “Christa, YOU are an Ironman!” Her final time was 16:59:53. She covered 140.6 miles and made it by 7 seconds. If you see that in person and it doesn’t tear you up a little, I don’t know what does. It is incredible and the most fitting way to end a day that still feels like a dream.Ironman is an epic journey. It is a huge endeavor and requires many hours away from home. There were 20-mile runs and 100-mile bike rides on the weekends. There were many early morning swims before the workday and runs at night afterwards. It required 15-20 hours a week to train for which translated to many hours away from my family.I got to live my dream of being an Ironman. I understand fully that my family sacrificed a lot. So it is not just my Ironman. It also belongs to Erin, William, Catherine and Nicholas. Without their support and understanding I could never have achieved this and hope I made them proud. I’m pretty sure I did because when I got home my daughter Catherine casually asked how it was, and before I could respond she smiled and handed me the Kit Kat.By James AshcroftIronman Florida 2013 Finisher!Swim – 01:13:13 Bike – 05:59:14 Run – 05:12:12