I am an avid runner, I participate in various running events of anywhere from 3 kilometers, 5 kilometers, 6 kilometers, 10 kilometers, up to half marathons (13.1 miles). There are usually dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people in each event; for instance, one of the half marathons has about 7,500 runners every year.
There is a salient fact of which I am aware before I even sign up, before I strap on my running shoes, before the starting pistol goes off: I will never be the first person nor the last person to cross the finish line. Even with that in mind, it doesn't deter me in one bit.
