I'm thinking that Land's End is pretty low, and that the "standard" SW/WOS/WF race course(s) are near the top of the "mountain" on the salt flats.
The problem is the International Course runs for 3 1/2 to 4 miles though some "low lands" before it gets to the higher ground of the "standard" course area. And when it's particularly wet, as it was at SW this year, even the "standard" course gets moved an additional mile to the north meaning that the IC will run almost to the timing traps in "the wet".
Remember that SW/WOS/WF use a five mile course with highest speeds generally in the fifth mile. The IC OTOH uses a six mile course (11 total actually) timed only in the sixth mile both northbound and southbound. This means its timing trap is about between the 1 and the 2 mile marker on this year's #2 SW course. Pretty darn good actually for your Southbound run, but rather a handful going Northbound.
But I'm confident in Mike's religious connections. The overall pious life he leads, along with his frequent visits to the confessional will...
Oh never mind.