Yellowblackmask,
I've noticed the exact same thing. I have been successful in catching the runners by getting in front of him and turning fresh plotts loose when he crosses...of course when I guess wrong on his path, I get behind the race....all part of the fun to me. Sometimes leapfrogging the fresh dogs is the only way...eventually, eventually he will stop.
We have done a few of the dropping fresh dogs last year. It either worked great or we would be on a nine to ten hour run. Just plain ole to dang long to stay on a runner. Also throws us into daylight timeframes which makes me nervous. To many idiots over here to chance running one into daybreak.