The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Is a short story by Alan Sillitoe, later made into a film by Tony Richardson. Frankly, I suspect that the loneliness of the long-distance runner is nothing in comparison to the loneliness of the long-distance blogger, as I write these words into nothingness. I would like to have 63 followers, year 11, so you have some distance to go here.

But... the point of this comparison is that you are now, as you revise and head towards your exams, in a kind of race of your own, and it is certainly a long-distance one, as stamina and determination are required. Likewise, careful preparation is essential (if you are not to strain a mental muscle you should stretch carefully first), you need to know the course that you are to run, the distance that you must cover, and the hidden challenges of the countryside, and you should, of course try to warm up by doing little runs first before you try the big one.

It is a race where you are competing against others, but ultimately, you are trying to achieve something for yourself. You might even find a strange companionship in the suffering of those who stagger beside you, out of breath and exhausted, yet still determined to finish.

I could extend the metaphor almost infinitely... can you?