Run up hills

Yes, run up hills, and also as a metaphor for life. This is a lesson from my cross country coach Mr. Thomson at Richview Collegiate in Toronto.

If you're running beside or near another competitor, and a hill is coming up, speed up on the uphill and continue on the downhill - by the time the competitor realizes you've taken off (and he won't expect you to try this at the bottom of a hill) you'll already have an advantage and when he comes to the crest of the hill the distance you've opened up with gravity as your friend on the downslope means you'll be too far for most competitors to have the will or heart to chase after you.

Try hard things when they are also hard for your competitors and you will leave them behind and when the good times return, on the downslope, you'll put even more distance between you and them.