Assume you're running in an 8K race with 300 runners that bottlenecks somewhere from 1/2 mile to 1 mile after the start. If you want to come in the top 50 or so, is it better to get out in position and stay in position or go out in the middle of the pack and work your way up? I have seen plenty of people die epic deaths after going out in 4:45, but it is also problematic to spend the entire race playing catch up, no?
depends on the course but if you don't get up there you'll be spinning your wheels for a long time as the gap grows and won't make it up.
I'd say coming from behind can be smart and be for good runners, but I'd say most great runners get out hard. Look at NCAA Div 1 Nats. You've got your exceptions, but I've seen people get out in 15:10 and get all-american but not top ten. So with the slow to fast, it can work if your built to run that style, but generally if you are looking to be "elite" get out hard. If it fails, the same hard effort will feel easier in the next race as you become accustomed.
We had a kid go out and lead the state meet the first half mile because in xc you have a hard time passing people. Unfortunately, 72 other runners had no trouble passing this kid who should have finished about 20th place.
I bet if you timed runners at your bottleneck, they would lose 5 to 10 seconds at the most by running their usual pace which is normally too fast anyway. Go out a little slower, lose a few seconds but save your energy and then gradually pass all of those who sprinted out too fast. Four miles is a long way and if you can't catch a runner in that amount of time, you weren't going to beat them anyway.