In some contexts I like competition, even when I am losing, although obviously much more when I am winning. I guess it's when I care more about the absolute outcome than about my relative position in the race, and when besides winning and losing there is a default third position of not trying at all, which is even worse than losing (though it may not feel so to the people who simply ignore the race).

For example, right now I am developing mobile games and I am comparing myself with a friend who is also developing mobile games, and he does it at least twice faster than me. I guess I would feel better being the first one, but I still prefer having some else compete with me to doing it alone. -- A few years ago I was in a running competition, which is highly unusual for me, and I was almost the last. It still felt good, because it was a huge improvement from never participating in such a competition. (Though I guess being literally the last one would be depressing.)

I am so tired of so many people around me not even trying that I welcome a competition even if I know that I am likely to lose. Actually, there is something good about losing: it shows that there is still a lot of opportunity to grow (and in the best case someone who already did it and could give me advice).

When I was at the CFAR Rationality Minicamp, compared with some other participants I felt like a loser. And at the same time, it was a great feeling: it was like being a new student at Hogwarts and seeing the magic the older students can do. It felt like a plan.