Start Together Or Finish Together ?

Today:
Running - Nil

I'll run tomorrow if the weather is kind.

I haven't thought about running since Saturday. The weather has been crap, may be typical Tasmanian at this time of the year. We haven't seen the sun, it's been cloudy with light intermittent showers and cold winds.
Jog raised an interesting point about the race at Bruny Island. There is no set start time.
You can start any time after 4:30 am ( just before daylight). But every one has to be finished by 2:30 pm in time for the 30 minute drive to the presentation area at the Alonnah Hotel.
This raises many thoughts about whether it is a race or a time trial.
Advantages:
Race directors have everyone finished at or before a known time, many finishing in groups as the fastest ones catch the slower ones near the finish line.
Therefore, everyone is available & present at presentations. The solo runners as well as the relay runners in this case make up a crowd of around 150 people. Otherwise, presentations could be held 4-5 hours earlier to a crowd of 20. Only those present may be able to collect the random prize draw.
The slower solo runners especially can start early and will have more time to make cut off times. They will also be benefited by others catching them, passing on best wishes as they did, at a time in the event when you need all the help you can get.
The faster runners also benefit by having early starters to chase, setting up small goals over long periods of time. Otherwise, they charge off after a group start with no one in front and set their own targets.
Some runners don't like the pressure of racing in long ultras and have to refrain from going out too fast with the pack. This way, they don't fall for the fast start, slow finish, set their own pace without the pressure.
With self help in this event, the many cars on the road are spread out over a long distance, not clogging up country roads.
Sure it's lonely at the start, but then, around the other way, it's even more lonely out there buggered, every one else has finished, many have gone home, and you are still going.
Disadvantages:
Is it a race or a time trial ? If it's a race, then there is some one else around you to complete against, not just the clock.
This event has a very narrow start area at the jetty, so with solo runners and relay runners all gathering around, with their crews in cars, it would be a shambles & dangerous.
Many slow runners would only see the better faster runners from behind as they head up the hill never to be seen again. I once ran Burnie 10 km with Steve Monagetti in the field, never saw him at all, group start as normal. Relay teams would also be the same, fast start.
In some cases, this is a great way to conduct the event. I couldn't imagine a normal race up to marathon distance going this way. But longer than this, it seems logical.
In effect, Six Foot Track and City to Surf does the same thing. Seeded & faster runners start before others, therefore, your actual placing is not known until well after the race is finished. This is reverse SFT or C2S.
Interesting exercise in this case, would Coast to Kozi be more interesting with a set finish time ? I suppose all events have a set finish time with time limits.
Many standing on top of Australia as one, wouldn't that be nice instead of being up their solo, freezing in the dark and trying to celebrate.
In effect, the winner at C2K has finished 12- 16 hours before the last runner. Will all competitors wait around for presentations after the last runner has finished ?