runners on a circular race track (not important for this to be evident at this time) waiting to start the race

shots of them playing / learning / working together at school, making it obvious these people know each other and are competing against each other

big stretch of running, some power forward, lose pace, drop back, one is in front continued flashes of their (present) life, their successes, watching them put their heads down and really push to win

focus on one that's developed the lead, flashes of their happy life, suddenly flashes of their wife cheating, family being torn apart, they recoil as if hit by physical blows, stumble and trip, tumble at speed onto the floor as the other runners pass them

some runners clearly happy / sad about passing the other, some unpleasantly happy at the competition losing out, all pressing on

continue like this, showing several more being hit by life events - a drink problem a car crash, losing relatives, being sacked, house repossessed, etc, each causing the runner in question to take a near-physical beating

at this point, we see the first person who was 'knocked out' getting themselves back up, starting off slowly, then hurling themselves forward with incredible pace, approaching the main pack. also see one or two of the others (not all) doing this, to greater / lesser success (but not as powerfully as the 1st)

smug, well-built, attractive-looking runner who has been sneering at others takes and continues on in the lead, but looks concerned at seeing the others rejoining the race and approaching.

more runners are lost (pack is thinning out to a few now), the 1st to fall appears as though they might take the lead, concern clear on the the smug runner's face, until the 1st to fall is hit by another horrific life incident (death of a child), falls down again, appears destroyed

smug runner clearly ahead, barely anybody near him, now, looking toward finish line

return to fallen racer, who agonisingly pulls themself back to standing and attempts to run on, but clearly is too physically destroyed to run, harrowing section of them stumbling, getting back up, shaking head and weary limbs

eventually, fallen racer spots a distraction at the side of the track, is confused / blinks / etc to be sure of what they're looking at. sees a group of racers (from their own race) laughing, smiling, standing and sitting around, as in a makeshift party. one of whom beckons the fallen racer, who reluctantly leaves the track, sits down and is handed a drink by smiling friends

cut back to other racers on the circuit flagging badly, noticing this group and slowing to a stumble, then leaving the course to join their friends

smug racer looks around, jubilant and in disbelief at there being no other racers near him, repeatedly cutting to the finish line. smug racer passes finish, applause and confetti stream, ticker tape and swelling music, but winner looks confused and increasingly distraught, looking around, trying to find any of the other racers while loping slowly on a victory lap

eventually he makes out the group of relaxing runners and their ad-hoc party, disbelieving looks, some looks of anger as though he's the subject of a joke / has been cheated in some way, brandishing of gold medal and shouting at the crowd for their approval, eventually slumping to sit on the floor in exhausted despair 

cut shots of lonely child, sat on his own at a school disco, angry and upset, welling with tears

seated winner seen from above, hands reach down, friends pull him up from ground, beckon and coax him to join the party. dawning relief and joy on the face of the winner as he goes to join his friends

cut shots of friends talking and relaxing together, winner smiling and hugging with friends, table with photographs of some (absent) runners, one runner on wheels/sticks, a few coupled together, children at their side, winner and 1st fallen racer holding hands.

shot moves out from group, out of stadium, fade out