Minneapolis, MN, Sunday October 5, 2008 Olga Glok erased a 10-second deficit with 300 meters to go to overtake fellow Russian Silvia Skvortsova and win the women's race at the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday. Glok, 25, finished in 2 hours, 32 minutes, 27 seconds to beat Skvortsova by 11 seconds. Although both runners have lived in Minnesota-like weather conditions in Russia, they said Sunday's cold and rainy conditions made for a difficult race. "The only thing that didn't happen was snow," Skvortsova said through an interpreter. "It was a test of us because of the weather. A real test." Skvortsova took the lead at the four-mile mark and held it until past the 26-mile mark. She said she began to feel the affects of the cold weather at mile 10 as her muscles tightened, creating a slower pace. "I was not that tired, but my legs would not permit me to go any faster," Skvortsova said. For Glok, the cold weather was more of a psychological challenge, making it difficult to concentrate on just the race and also limiting the number of fans. "It's always good when there are a lot of spectators out there to spur you on," she said. "But with this type of weather there is not as much of that." Glok said the only time she has raced in similar condition was a marathon in Paris when it was overcast and about 30 degrees. But Sunday's rain, which lasted most of the race for the front-runners, was a first for Glok. "It's difficult in this type of condition and everything," she said, "because you've got the distance that already makes it difficult, and the weather makes it even more difficult to maintain the concentration in the cold and the rain and everything." This is Glok's first major marathon victory in eight she has run and only her second race in the United States. Glok said she couldn't remember if she placed seventh or eighth at the San Diego marathon, her only other U.S. race. She earned $25,000 for first place. Skvortsova, 33, came in as a more experienced and decorated runner, holding the fastest recent women's marathon time of 2:27:07 at the London Marathon last year. She finished third in the Twin Cities Marathon in 2001 and second in 2004. The veteran of 20 marathons said that after her earlier improvement in the Twin Cities Marathon, she believed she could win this year. "I was ready for the race and was hoping to set a course record," Skvortsova said. "I thought I prepared well." The course record of 2:26:51, set in 2001 by Russian Zinaida Semenova and tied in 2004 by Russian Irina Permitina, was unthreatened, however. Another Russian — Elza Kireeva — finished third in 2:39:49 to create an all-Russian podium after the race. "I like this; it is kind of like a Russian marathon," Skvortsova said.