評論
打印
To Swim the English Channel at 58
58歲時橫渡英吉利海峽
A little over a year ago I began training to swim the English Channel this September. I will be 58 years old then.
一年多以前，我開始為今年九月橫渡英吉利海峽進行訓練。屆時我將年滿58歲。
My friends thought I had lost my mind; my wife didn't think I was crazy but she was somewhat worried. The question I was asked over and over was this:
朋友們以為我瘋了。我妻子倒沒覺得我瘋，就是有點擔心。人們一再問我的問題是：
Why?
為什么？
When a student reporter at Indiana recently asked me this question, I said, "First, let me ask you a question. What are your plans for this summer?" He replied that he was going to work in a supermarket. I didn't have to say more; he understood my point.
最近，印第安納州的一位見習記者問了我這個問題，我說：“讓我先問你一個問題。今年夏天你有些什么打算？”他回答說打算去超市打工。我無需再說什么，他明白了我的意思。
A challenge and something of an adventure are welcome whether you are 20 or 58, and preparing to swim the Channel is far better than working in a supermarket, especially when you have a choice.
不管你是20歲還是58歲，都喜歡接受挑戰，干些帶有冒險意味的事兒；而為橫渡英吉利海峽做準備，遠比在超市打工有意義，尤其是當你有所選擇的時候。
But why did I decide to swim the Channel at 58? Perhaps I myself can hardly give a satisfactory answer.
可我究竟為什么決定要在58歲時橫渡英吉利海峽呢？也許我自己也很難作出滿意的回答。
The Channel has always been the greatest challenge to swimmers; a test of ability, endurance, luck, and even bravery. It is this challenge that attracts about 100 swimmers a year, who are willing to spend time, effort, and money trying it.
對游泳愛好者來說，英吉利海峽向來是莫大的挑戰：是對能力、耐久力、運氣以至勇敢精神的一種考驗。正是這一挑戰，每年吸引了100名左右的游泳愛好者，他們心甘情愿地投入時間、精力和財力，一試身手。
One fact that adds to my interest is that, if I succeed, I will be the oldest person ever to swim the Channel.
有一點更增添了我的興趣，那就是，我要是成功了，將成為迄今為止年齡最大的英吉利海峽暢游者。
I don't think I'm a superman. I do think I have at least two things in my favor:
我并不認為自己是個超人。但我確實覺得自己至少有兩個有利條件：
First, I am training hard — now swimming 7 and a half miles a day. Prior to that time I also kept physically fit by training moderately hard.
首先，我正在刻苦訓練——現在每天游7.5英里。在此之前，我一直堅持適度的刻苦訓練，以保持良好的身體狀態。
Second, I am a resolute man. Once I set up a goal, I won't give it up easily. And this swim has long been a goal. I have a feeling I will be mentally ready and won't do as one Channel swimmer did a few years ago. He trained hard for a couple of years, made the arrangements and even went to England weeks early to train in the Channel before his attempt. The great day came, and he started swimming toward France. After swimming only one hour, he got out of the water and climbed aboard the boat, saying that he suddenly had lost the desire to swim the Channel and it no longer meant anything to him.
其次，我是個不屈不撓的人。我一旦確立了目標，便不會輕易放棄。橫渡英吉利海峽早就是我的一個目標。我有一種預感，覺得自己會做好充分思想準備的，決不會像幾年前一個英吉利海峽的橫渡者那樣半途而廢。他刻苦訓練了兩三年，做好了種種準備，甚至在賽前幾星期就去英國，在英吉利海峽進行實地訓練。重要的日子到來了，他開始向法國游去。才游了一個小時，他就從水里出來，爬上小船，說自己突然失去了橫渡英吉利海峽的意愿，這事對他不再有什么意義。
On the other hand there was the young girl who was attempting to finish her swim when the ocean got rough. She was having a tough time with the rough and cold water, when her trainer shouted to her from the boat that he thought she should give up and get out of the water. She shouted back, "I'm doing the swimming, and I'll decide when to get out." She made it.
相反，有位姑娘在海面涌起急浪時，力圖游完全程。由于海浪洶涌，海水冰涼，她游得很艱苦。這時她的教練在船上向她大聲喊叫，認為她應該知難而退，棄水上船。她大聲回應說：“是我在游，我會決定該什么時候上來的。”結果她成功了。
