Races of many sorts are popular in our society. Everything is a competition. We want to be the first, the winner. Whether it be a 10k run or a run for a political office, it's all about coming in first. 
    When I was in Germany back in the 1970's, Volksmarching was very popular with both the German citizens and with the American soldiers stationed there. Me and some of my army friends participated in many of these events. It is popular because everyone who completes the course gets a medal or patch (depending on the particular event). Efforts have been made to get volksmarching going in this country, but it has had very limited success because of our obsession with winning and the idea that if you can't come in first, or at least second, you shouldn't bother to participate. A sport where everyone who completes the event is a winner has little appeal here. The German government, on the other hand, feels that everyone who participates gets the benefit of the exercise and that it what matters (they have also made it into a real social event).
    Spiritual growth is not like our competitive racing, but it's not exactly like volksmarching either. When it come to spiritual enlightenment, the great sages and saints who finish early, are obligated to turn around and help those who are behind them. Them those people must help the one behind them, and so on. So those of us who are not among the first to achieve full enlightenment, namely anyone alive today, have plenty of help on the path. And we needed be concerned what order we finish in. All that matters, like with the volksmarch, is that we do finish.