Getting Ahead

Now when I run races, I see many people who start out ahead of me fall behind me after one mile. Of course, the really excellent runners have gone far, far ahead-God knows where. I can't even see their backs.
 
In today's five-mile race, towards the end I passed ten or twelve people. Then one girl went ahead of me. She looked at me to see if I was going to try to catch her, and in silence I said, "Go ahead." Later I caught her.
 
Another girl went ahead of me after four miles. She was taller than I am and so strong and muscular. Again in silence I said, "All right, go ahead."
 
-11 July 1982 
  
 
 
[Source: "Getting Ahead" in Sri Chinmoy,  Run and Become, Become and Run, Part 11, Agni Press/Aum Publications, Jamaica, New York, 1983.]