How running is like a boxing match

I've just discovered an inspiring fact. Especially in contact sports, an attack or a defence move is simple and can be easily defined. Boxing is about exchanging blows. Judo is about slamming. Wrestling is about pinning down your opponents.

But there are some sports in which an attack or defence move involves no contact at all.

Picture a 1500m race. When a runner takes the lead, he is launching an attack on the rest of the runners. They see him going faster and farther and risk losing if they don't keep the gap to a minimum. Hence they are forced to go faster. And what happpens when they need to go faster? They breathe harder. Their leg muscles work harder. Blood gushes faster. And the mind is challenged with many thoughts. Can I sustain? Will I have enough energy for later? Why does it seem too hard?

A defence move is equally or more beautiful. Some will react by overtaking the one trying to get the lead. This is aggressive. And great to watch. Some will just try to close the gap. And then wait at the right time to take the lead and hopefully maintain to the finish line. But there are those who could only close the gap but they are still behind. That's when it's important to be able to "attack" in order to win races.

So running is also like a boxing match. The runners "attack" one another.