To me his words mean that although he may have been racing against people with more experience, he didn't feel at a disadvantage. He felt as though he was their equal, because age doesn't always matter.
Answer:
both
Explanation:
it can mean both, the context matters
if it is an essay that you have to write, both interpretations are valid. even though i would suggest to interpret it to be your motivation to live, you can take any path you wish
hope it helps