你準備好了！YOU ARE READY！

譯 | 束午 文 | Bob

僅以此獻給那些即將前往鐵人比賽的各位新手和老兵。

你已進入賽前的休整周，在這之前也許你剛剛開始鐵三運動經歷了幾個月的訓練，也許你已經把鐵三作為一種生活方式好幾年了。下周的比賽對於有些人來說是他們的第一個大鐵賽事，對於另一些人可能是久違了的重回戰場之戰，不論是新手還是老兵，這是一場這個世界上沒有太多人會選擇參加的比賽。

日復一日，你一絲不苟地完成訓練日程表，你不斷地積累里程，浸滿汗水的運動衣褲在洗衣機和乾衣機里輪迴，日晒給你身上留下的曬痕可能要等冬天才會退去。幾個小時的騎行，幾個小時的長跑，加上數不清的在泳池裡的來回，還有那些長長的午覺。

你在雪中慢跑。

你在雨中騎行。

你在酷暑里奔跑。

你在寒冬中繼續奔跑。

當別人選擇苟在家中享福時，你選擇去戶外訓練。當別人選擇再睡個回籠覺時，你選擇清早的訓練。

達爾文進化論說如果有種東西沒能置你於死地，它必將讓你變得更強，夏天的鐵人訓練就是這樣一個置於死地而後生的東西，你已經度過了最艱難的日子。就好像在環法自行車比賽中，運動員爬升了無數陡坡，在他們和至高點之間只剩下最後一個爬坡，你已經付出了如此多的努力，這是最後一道挑戰，你把車的鏈條放鬆，喝一口水，緊一緊拉鏈；下坡就在眼前了，這會是一個很快的下坡。

在這賽前的最後一周，你的日程表忽然鬆弛下來，高度緊張的肌肉也鬆弛下來。雖然這個休整期正是你的身體急需的，你的負面意識卻會開始與你對話。這些對話不會很愉快。它會讓你的思緒充滿痛苦、懷疑、飢餓、口渴、和失敗。它會告訴你為什麼你沒有準備好。它會盡最大的努力試圖消滅你的正能量，因為你的意識並不知道你的身體現在可以做什麼，只有你的身體知道：它已經準備好了！

你的意識也許不能相信你已經準備好了，它會利用這最後一周的休整期說服你參加這個比賽是多麼的愚蠢而自虐的行為，比賽中會出現不可預見的困難。但是請相信我，你準備好了！

報名並完成一項鐵人賽事永遠不是一個巧合，它考驗一個人的決心、專註、勤奮，你需要相信那些冬天的長跑、春天的騎行、還有每個周末周而復始的游泳訓練是值得的。這一切從每天跳上自行車開始一左一右踩下腳踏板開始，從那些孤獨的長距離的慢跑開始。最開始的時候，你可能會懷疑自己，「我怎麼可能完成一個鐵人？「，到後來你最近的一個長跑訓練，當你跑完最後一英里的跑量時，你可能已經信心滿滿地知道答案了。

這一切都是值得的。你進入賽前休整周，你很清楚這一切都是值得的。隨著訓練量的減少，你的身體會逐漸調整、恢復、蓄勢，你只需要隔絕負面意識的干擾，我知道這很難，但你可以做到。

你準備好了！

比賽那天，你會與兩三千名參賽者一起站在游泳的起跑線上，所有人的眼睛裡都充滿了期待和緊張，你站在那片人海中感到一種神奇的歸屬感。當你前行到水裡時，寒冷的水滲入你的濕衣，也許會令你打顫，但請不要忘記微笑，因為你期待了如此之久的一戰終於就在眼前了。此時，眼淚會在你的泳鏡下面打轉，每個人都會有那個熱淚盈眶的時刻。

直升機在空中打轉，你前後左右全是人，在水中形成層層人浪，不知不覺你已經忘記了鐵人這個目標，因為你已經身在比賽之中。

游泳這段會感覺長而沒有盡頭，但你會安全度過。你會看到遙遠的岸邊的參照物變得越來越大，越來越近，不知不覺你已經上岸跑向志願者，他們會幫你把濕衣嗖地一下扯下來，然後你會飛快地奔向你的自行車。

當你騎上自行車從T1出來的時候，會有很多圍觀群眾和啦啦團的鼓舞聲，你會感覺像英雄出征一樣開始你112英里的騎行，帶著微笑騎過那開始的幾英里。

慢慢地，你進入你的比賽配速，路邊圍觀的群眾會越來越少，你開始專註在一邊騎行一邊不斷補充食物和水，掌控你的節奏和補給。

你會發覺早上的太陽漸漸變成了下午的太陽，氣溫也升高了，也許還很熱。也許你現在感覺很糟糕，但你會不停地左右踩下腳踏板，不停地補充水和卡路里，不停地前行。其實這不就是一個長距離的訓練日，只不過有很多補給站給提供免費吃的和最後的趴車服務，不是嗎？這時你感覺已經騎了好幾個小時了，你可能會在特殊補給點停下，充糧換水，很快再上路。這時天氣可能更熱了，你感到無比疲憊，懷疑的思緒會沖淡你的專註力，每個人到這個階段都會有類似的思想鬥爭，要不要停下來休整？不要停，堅持，繼續前進，哪怕前面是上坡路，挺過這個檻就是勝利。不久路邊的群眾啦啦團又會出現了，讓他們的助威聲賜予你你力量，跟他們進行眼神交流，沖他們微笑，這樣你緊繃的身體也會隨之稍微鬆弛一下。

咬牙挺住，堅持戰鬥，不斷忍耐，百折不回。

不知不覺你已經接近T2，你邊騎邊微調體位，讓兩條腿的肌肉稍微恢復靈活度，為跑步做準備。不久你會看到前面的運動員從T2跑出來開始他們的最後跑程，群眾的加油聲會越來越響，你終於回來了，只剩下最後的全馬。你緊繃的神經終於可以放鬆一小下，就算此刻你的自行車胎扁了，你連推帶跑也可以把它運到T2。進入轉換區，志願者會上前把你的戰車接走，你頭也不回地奔向帳篷，取過跑步補給袋，更衣，裝好補給，一切就緒，打開帳篷的門，開始你這個賽季最長的一次跑步。

你微笑著，邁出成千上萬步的第一步。此時你知道你已經成功地度過游泳和騎行的挑戰，泳鏡起霧和車胎爆胎都不能阻止你了，現在只剩下你和你的兩條腿。早上為你吶喊助威的人群又站在那裡為你助威，跟他們擊掌，還以微笑，享受這個時刻，你為這一刻付出了數不清的努力。

第一個英里感覺相當好，第二個也不錯，到了第三個也許就開始感覺不太好了。沒有關係，你知道這不會這麼容易，慢慢調整進入你的配速。這時你會看到前面最領先的選手已經在馬路對面跑在回程，他們有些看起來狀態很好，有些不怎麼好。你的狀態可能很好，也可能不怎麼好。不管你的狀態如何，保護冷靜，這可能是你比賽日中最難熬的一段，但一切都很快會過去，堅持前進，不斷補水，補充能量。也許你的表現跟計劃一致；也許你比計劃的還快些，不要懷疑，相信你自己；也許你比計劃的慢，不要著急，繼續堅持。

每個人都有一個完美的比賽日計劃，但計劃一個鐵人比賽就像遙控一個宇航員登月一樣，比賽那天的突發事件會讓只會按部就班執行計劃的人抓瞎。最關鍵的是你的應變能力，不要浪費時間在無謂的焦慮上，你只需要在問題出現的時候一個一個解決就好了，不斷補水，補充能量，不要停下，記住，不論如何不要停下。

跑到半程的時候你會來到特殊補給站，這時你看到袋子事先準備好的東西，有些會看著像寶，有些看著像草，把那些不想用不想吃的扔掉，繼續前進。嘗試分散注意力看看對面跑過來的人，看看有沒有熟悉的朋友的面孔。給陌生的選手加油，他們有些可能剛剛開始跑程，就像你剛剛開始的時候看到那些領先的選手一樣，分享一些正能量。

如果能堅持跑就繼續跑，如果實在跑不動了，就走一段，就是不要停下來。

路會顯得遙遙無盡頭，這時太陽也恐怕已經下山了。補給站周圍有很多啦啦團，可能還有助威音樂和熱雞湯。不要錯過喝一個熱雞湯！

繼續前進，不要停下。

時間一點點過去，只剩下最後幾英里了，你此刻可能終於相信你會完賽了，你可能會想像踏過終點的情景，讓這些思緒變成你前進的動力。如果你感到腿已經挪不動了，想像一下當你越過終點，有人把獎牌掛到你脖子上的情景，你只差一點點就到達終點了！

你開始可以聽到前方市中心的聲音了。路邊稀稀拉拉的群眾會在黑暗中喊你的名字為你助威，還他們以微笑。他們早上在你騎上戰車出征的時候就在那裡了，你騎完全程回來的時候他們又在那裡，這時你快接近跑步的終點了，他們仍在那裡。你回到了市中心，已經累成狗，如果還能保持7分鐘／公里的配速就算幸運了。這時你可能會問自己：這一天的時間都去哪兒了？你也許會在兩種極端的感覺中掙扎：完完全全地停下來，或者，讓此刻永遠永遠繼續。

你跑過25英里的路標，只剩下最後的兩公里了，你忽然間又能感覺到自己的雙腿了，你開始跑起來，你開始飛奔，有如神助。

前方的燈開始越來越亮，音樂聲也越來越響。然後人群開始出現了，他們會看到你，每個人都會看到你。

你奔向那道亮光，群眾在圍欄後為你吶喊助威，在紅毯上，你奔向那道為你而閃的午夜的太陽。

他們會喊你的名字。

你會繼續奔跑。

所有的痛苦忽然間消失得無影無蹤。

這一刻是屬於你的，全世界都在看著你，只有你。

你衝過終點，閃光燈一陣亂閃，你停下來，你終於停下來了。這時你的腿可能不停顫抖，忽然間所有的疼痛又回來了，你再也沒有任何體力剩下，倒在志願者的肩頭。

你將成為Ironman。

你準備好了！

So without further adieu, to those of you heading to Ironman - to the IM-Virgins, the veterans, and everyone in-between...

Right now youve all entered the taper. Perhaps youve been at this a few months, perhaps youve been at this a few years. For some of you this is your first IM, for others, a long-overdue welcome back to a race that few can match.

Youve been following your schedule to the letter. Youve been piling on the mileage, piling up the laundry, and getting a set of tan lines that will take until November to erase. Long rides were followed by long runs, which both were preceded by long swims, all of which were followed by recovery naps that were longer than you slept for any given night during college.You ran in the snow.

You rode in the rain.

You ran in the heat.

You ran in the cold.

You went out when others stayed home.

You rode the trainer when others pulled the covers over their heads.

You have survived the Darwinian progression that is an Ironman summer, and now the hardest days are behind you. Like a climber in the Tour de France coming over the summit of the penultimate climb on an alpine stage, youve already covered so much ground...theres just one more climb to go. You shift up, you take a drink, you zip up the jersey; the descent lays before you...and it will be a fast one.

Time that used to be filled with never-ending work will now be filling with silent muscles, taking their final, well-earned rest. While this taper is something your body desperately needs, Your mind, cast off to the background for so very long, will start to speak to you.

It wont be pretty.

It will bring up thoughts of doubt, pain, hunger, thirst, failure, and loss. It will give you reasons why you arent ready. It will try and make one last stand to stop you, because your brain doesnt know what the body already does. Your body knows the truth:

You are ready.

Your brain wont believe it. It will use the taper to convince you that this is foolish - that there is too much that can go wrong.

You are ready.

Finishing an Ironman is never an accident. Its the result of dedication, focus, hard work, and belief that all the long runs in January, long rides in April, and long swims every damn weekend will be worth it. It comes from getting on the bike, day in, day out. It comes from long, solo runs. From that first long run where you wondered, "How will I ever be ready?" to the last long run where you smiled to yourself with one mile to go...knowing that youd found the answer.

It is worth it. Now that youre at the taper, you know it will be worth it. The workload becomes less. The body winds up and prepares, and you just need to quiet your worried mind. Not easy, but you can do it.

You are ready.

You will walk into the water with 2000 other wide-open sets of eyes. You will look upon the sea of humanity, and know that you belong. Youll feel the chill of the water crawl into your wetsuit, and shiver like everyone else, but smile because the day you have waited for so VERY long is finally here. You will tear up in your goggles. Everyone does.

The helicopters will roar overhead. The splashing will surround you. Youll stop thinking about Ironman, because youre now racing one.

The swim will be long - its long for everyone, but youll make it. Youll watch as the shoreline grows and grows, and soon youll hear the end. Youll come up the beach and head for the wetsuit strippers. Three people will get that sucker off before you know whats happening, then youll head for the bike.

The voices, the cowbells, and the curb-to-curb chalk giving you a heros sendoff. You wont wipe the smile off your face for miles.

Youll settle down to your race. The crowds will spread out on the road. Youll soon be on your bike, eating your food on your schedule, controlling your Ironman.

Youll start to feel that morning sun turn to afternoon sun. Its warmer now. Maybe its hot. Maybe youre not feeling so good now. Youll keep riding. Youll keep drinking. Youll keep moving. After all, this is just a long training day with valet parking and catering, right? Youll put on your game face, fighting the urge to feel down as you ride for what seems like hours. You reach special needs, fuel up, and head out. By now itll be hot. Youll be tired. Doubts will fight for your focus. Everyone struggles here. Youve been on that bike for a few hours, and stopping would be nice, but you wont - not here. Not today. Youll grind the false flats to the climb. Youll know youre almost there. Youll fight for every inch of road. The crowd will come back to you here Let their energy push you. Let them see your eyes. Smile when they cheer for you - your body will get just that little bit lighter.

Grind. Fight. Suffer. Persevere.

Youll plunge down the road, swooping from corner to corner, chaining together the turns, tucking on the straights, letting your legs recover for the run to come - soon! Youll roll back - youll see people running out. Youll think to yourself, "Wasnt I just here?" The noise will grow. The chalk dust will hang in the air - youre back, with only 26.2 miles to go. Youll relax a little bit, knowing that even if you get a flat tire or something breaks here, you can run the damn bike into T2. Youll roll into transition. 100 volunteers will fight for your bike.Youll give it up and not look back. Youll have your bag handed to you, and into the tent youll go. Youll change. Youll load up your pockets, and open the door to the last long run of your Ironman summer - the one that counts.

Youll take that first step of a thousand...and youll smile. Youll know that the bike wont let you down now - the race is down to your own two feet. The same crowd that cheered for you in the shadows of the morning will cheer for you in the brilliant sunshine of a summer Sunday. High-five people on the way out. Smile. Enjoy it. This is what youve worked for all year long. That first mile will feel great. So will the second. By mile 3, you probably wont feel so good. Thats okay. You knew it couldnt all be that easy. Youll settle down just like you did on the bike, and get down to your pace. Youll see the leaders coming back the other way. Some will look great - some wont. You might feel great, you might not. No matter how you feel, dont panic - this is the part of the day where whatever youre feeling, you can be sure it wont last. Youll keep moving. Youll keep drinking. Youll keep eating. Maybe youll be right on plan - maybe you wont. If youre ahead of schedule, dont worry - believe. If youre behind, dont panic - roll with it.

Everyone comes up with a brilliant race plan for Ironman, and then everyone has to deal with the reality that planning for something like Ironman is like trying to land a man on the moon. By remote control. Blindfolded.

How you react to the changes in your plan will dictate your day. Dont waste energy worrying about things - just do what you have to when you have to, and keep moving. Keep eating. Keep drinking. Just dont sit down - dont EVER sit down.

Youll make it to halfway point. Youll load up on special needs. Some of what you packed will look good, some wont. Eat what looks good, toss the rest. Keep moving. Start looking for people you know. Cheer for people you dont. Youre headed in - theyre not. They want to be where you are, just like you wanted to be when you saw all those fast people headed into town. Share some energy - youll get it right back.

Run if you can. Walk if you have to. Just keep moving.

The miles will drag on. The brilliant sunshine will yawn. Youll be coming up to those aid stations fully alive with people, music, and chicken soup. TAKE THE SOUP.

Keep moving.

Youll soon only have a few miles to go. Youll start to believe that youre going to make it. Youll start to imagine how good its going to feel when you get there. Let those feelings drive you on. When your legs just dont want to move anymore, think about what its going to be like when someone catches you...puts a medal over your head......all you have to do is get there.

Youll start to hear town. People you cant see in the twilight will cheer for you. Theyll call out your name. Smile and thank them. They were there when you left on the bike, and when you came back, when you left on the run, and now when youve come back. Youll enter town. Youll start to realize that the day is almost over. Youll be exhausted, wiped out, barely able to run a 10-minute mile (if youre lucky), but youll ask yourself, "Where did the whole day go?" Youll be standing on the edge of two feelings - the desire to finally stop, and the desire to take these last moments and make them last as long as possible.

Youll hit mile 25. Your Ironman will have 1.2 miles - just 2KM left in it.Youll run. Youll find your legs. Youll fly. You wont know how, but you will run.

The lights will grow brighter, brighter, and brighter. Soon youll be able to hear the music again. This time, itll be for keeps. Soon theyll see you. Soon, everyone will see you.

Youll run towards the lights, between the fences, and into the night sun made just for you.

Theyll say your name.

Youll keep running.

Nothing will hurt.

The moment will be yours - for one moment, the entire world will be looking at you and only you.

Youll break the tape. The flash will go off. Youll stop. Youll finally stop. Your legs will wobble their last, and suddenly...be capable of nothing more. Someone will catch you. Youll lean into them. It will suddenly hit you.

You will be an Ironman.

You are ready.