Reader Rudy Schwarz wanted a little more detail on the Frostbite series half-marathon, how Mike Farrell beat Zac Freudenburg by just one second, in 1 hour 11 minutes 22 seconds. So, we went straight to one of the sources for the answer.

Freudenburg, a member of the 180 Energy Runners, reports by e-mail that the pair ran the whole race together. “It was not planned, but I suppose neither one of us had the drive to try and break away. Since neither of us pulled away and the finish of the frostbite does not allow for much of a kick till about 20 meters to go, we finished together. I couldn’t resist a kick in the last 20 meters, but Mike equaled it and got a step ahead at the finish line.”

Freudenburg is training for the World Mountain Running Championships in April. Farrell will be at the U.S. Cross Country Championships Feb. 16 in San Diego, as will St. Louisan Margaret Lyons, St. Charles native Jason Lehmkuhle and Serena Burla of Columbia, Mo.