What about a relay race? Start at point A, reach point B, head back to point A again.
The twist is that anyone in the lead will have to make a return journey through the pack coming the opposite way. The further you are in front the greater the risk of being hurt or killed on the way back because you will be singled out against the rest of the crowd (which may or may not be fighting between them as it is because they are all after the same thing). Imagine reaching point B and as you begin to run back you see several players running in your direction: Do they want to attack you? Do they want to run past you and try to catch up? Should you run right through them? Have you got decent enough equipment to take them on? Would it be better to find a place to hide and let them pass before moving on?
There would be little routes and secrets to find both on the way there and back, some of which aid yourself while some hindering the others. You could have some which vary depending on where you are, such as a trap which streams water across a path, slowing everyone down and stopping sprinting: If you activate it on the way to point B it will trigger further down the route and slow everyone down, including yourself, but activate it on the way back to point A and it will slow down everyone behind you (because of the placement of the trap and where the switch is). Of course others can activate it and ruin the idea but that's part of the game.
Naturally if you empty all of the chests and resources on the way to point B there will be nothing for the return journey but you will stop others from looting any items. If you avoid most chests and run straight to point B you will end up getting there before everyone else, however the problem is you likely won't have good-enough equipment to defend yourself for the way back and being so far ahead will make you a huge target. I personally think that is a nice contrast and every positive has a negative.
Just something i came up with on the spot after seeing this topic. *shrug*
