THE COMPETITOR YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

Last Saturday, I ran a race. 30 km of trail, rock and mud, the kind of mud that sticks to your shoes like cement. But I was wrecked before I even toed the line.

In the days leading up, I had been working long hours, running on fumes. The day before the race, I started work at 2 AM and didn’t stop until nearly 10 PM. I ate once. My body was already shot before the starting gun even went off—and when it did, I wasn’t even ready.

I left my fuel at home. I had to sprint to catch the pack. My heart rate never normalized. Normally, at the pace I was running, my heart rate would sit in the 140s or low 150s. This time? It was 160s, 170s on the climbs. It was an all-out battle from the start.

But there was one problem I didn’t expect.

The guy behind me.

This race was a three-loop course. And on my heels, every step of the way, was the same guy. He never passed me. He never dropped back. He was always right there—close enough that Strava paired us as running buddies.

After the first loop, he stopped at the aid station for water and fuel. I thought, “Finally, he’s gone.”

Nope.

Minutes later, he was back. Huffing down my neck. Blowing snot rockets. A ghost I couldn’t shake.

Second loop, same thing. He stopped at the aid station, and I thought, “This time for sure.”

Nope. He caught back up.

By the third loop, I had nothing left. Every part of me was screaming to stop. My legs were bricks. My body was drained from days of exhaustion and bad nutrition. And that’s when it hit me.

This guy—this relentless, quiet, unknown competitor—was keeping me in the fight.

At first, I hated him. But by the third lap, I needed him.

I could have dropped off at any time. But I didn’t, because he was still there. I didn’t want him to pass me. I wasn’t just running for myself anymore—I was setting the pace for both of us. And as much as I wanted to suffer in isolation, when the real test came, I leaned on him without even realizing it.

With a quarter mile to go, I kicked hard, making sure he wouldn’t slingshot around me. I crossed the finish line completely spent. No cooldown walk, no catching my breath—I just wanted to find him.

But here’s the kicker. I didn’t even know what he looked like.

I walked up to the wrong guy and asked if it was him. It wasn’t.

Fortunately, Strava connected us, and I finally got to thank him.

The Business of Relentless Competition

We think we’re grinding it out alone. But there’s always someone in our blind spot, pushing us forward.

The Relentless Pursuer Effect: Whether in business or in sport, someone is always keeping pace. A competitor, a colleague, a market disruptor—someone is there, whether you see them or not. Instead of resenting them, use them. Let them force you to stay sharp.

The Illusion of Isolation: We tell ourselves that success is a solo effort, but the truth is, pressure and accountability make us better. The presence of competition forces consistency, even when we don’t have the energy.

The Unseen Mentor: The people who push us most aren’t always those we choose. Sometimes, our best motivators are the ones who don’t say a word—competitors, critics, or even the internal fear of being left behind.

Sustained Performance Under Pressure: This wasn’t my best race. I was depleted before I started. But I locked in, found a rhythm, and held the line. Business and leadership aren’t about ideal conditions—they’re about performance when conditions are at their worst.

If you’re in the fight right now, feeling like you’re barely hanging on, take a look around.

There’s someone there. They might not say a word. You might not even know their name.

But they’re keeping you in the race.

Use them. And keep moving.