Kind of!

She’s definitely faster than you. You can’t even get a sight of her by the time you build back up to speed, there’s no way you’re catching up. Well, shit. I mean, if you did, you were probably going to tear her clothes off right here in the park, which is pretty dangerous. It’s probably best for everyone if you lose.

Unless.

You bank a hard right, charging through a patch of tightly-knit saplings. Branches sting your bare skin as you protect your face, but you have too much motivation right now to slow down for anything as petty as physical injury. Lara’s faster than you. But you’re willing to bet you’ve been in this park a lot more than she has.

The shortcut takes you out nearly right into a couple, who jump back when you burst out of the woods like a sasquatch. A brief wave is all the apology you can muster before it’s right back into the brush again. The trail here winds to compensate for the incline, making sure you don’t go down too fast and lose balance. Skipping it like this is tempting fate, the thought of catching your foot on a root and plummeting down at speed flashing through your mind. You’re not sure if it’ll be enough to seize victory from Lara’s positively killer body and determination, but no risk, no reward.

You have to jump up on the edge, then down again to avoid tripping over the fountain near the south gate. You’re sure you look like a moron, but you didn’t want to slow down. However, looking like an idiot lets you know that you’re in the lead, because you can hear a short, harsh guffaw interrupted by heavy breathing. A quick glance let’s you see Lara coming off the end of the trail. The two of you lock eyes for a moment before you both focus on the gate.

Even with the shortcuts, which you’ve paid for in countless, little lacerations and some dignity, she’s still slicing your lead to the gate down mercilessly as she bolts for the exit. If you don’t do something, you’re really going to lose.