I'd be happy to run in the snow... They did:
http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/userfiles/file/14...
The compression of finish times on this 6.3 mile trail run is amazing, as the leaders apparently crushed down the snow for the followers, speeding up the track as they went along.
Last month in a comparable size/location race:
http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/userfiles/file/14...
73rd place was 22 minutes behind the winner, at an 11 minute mile.
Last weekend, the winner did an 11 minute mile pace, and Karl Ahlswede was 73rd place, just 5:02 back. I don't think I've been that close to the winner in one of Ron Horn's runs...
Likely a lot of strategy involved at the front, deciding whether to push ahead or just wait for others to take more of a lead...
I wonder if it was just a slog-in-a-line a bit further back, or if cutting-in-line, with sharp elbows, was part of the strategy there :)
Probably not quite the same dynamic at Rocky Ridge :)