Apart from racing to win medals, we also find ourselves racing in our careers and other endeavors, striving tirelessly to win one award, get promoted, and keep striving for the top, and that top doesn't seem to have an end mark. I have seen so many people who have lost a great deal of money trying to run in circles, looking for the best in nothing.
Rat race is a typical example of what this set of people are into. Taking one step at a time to know what works and what doesn't can actually help one avoid running an effortless race with no result. Sometimes, it's not who runs faster that wins the race; it's about knowing what works and what doesn't. This is just one way to avoiding rat race. Now I will be going into detail about my race experience in secondary school.
I know starting this story this way would surprise some and make others laugh, but it's just me being plain. I watched track events, and this attraction took effect on my first day watching marathon races on TV. Before then, I had never participated in any form of race in my life apart from the everyday running to deliver a message for people during my childhood. I remember saying something like, "Running is hard and a great deal of work."
Source
In my secondary school, JSS3, precisely, I was forced to participate in the inter-house sports competition by standing in for my house in the 200-meter race. I avoided this unwilling task while so many were happy and took my disapproval as an advantage. When I knew my frowning didn't stop anything, I was left feeling anxious because I had never run in my life.
Before the D-Day, my house mistress and other coaches who knew more had been coming to guide me and give me hints on how to run and things to do to keep my strength. Then the day came, excitement filled the air, and different houses cheered up their representatives in loud voices.
Immediately I heard go. I started running with all the strength in me, looking at the distance left, and the strength I had lost was enough for me to slow down. Then I remembered what my house mistress said to me and the voices of my house members shouting in a begging tune to win for them. I pretended to be lagging behind in an effort to reserve my strength. By the time they could get to the middle, I saw many breathing, heaving, and counting their steps, and that was when I took the opportunity to run faster. Taking my mistress's advice on pacing and using my energy wisely helped me come in second in the 200-meter race.
That race was my first, and it opened the door to my learning so many things that I applied in other races I participated afterwards. Breathing is one thing necessary to control in different activities. Running, singing, among others. Being able to maintain one's breath when running is considered important because it helps one not get tired easily.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha