Improving run times

Hello,
  We have noticed a large time difference from running the tasks locally and running the tasks on the Remote Execution server.  The small and medium tasks there seems to be a reasonable time difference that allows for the build server to communicate with the remote execution server.  However, the time difference for the large task is fairly significant.  This task is a 19 step task that loops through an excel file to enter information, one field from the excel file, onto the website.   My questions are:

1.   Has anyone else encountered this?
2.   Any suggestions on improving this time?

Thanks

** Locally Ran Tasks **

Small Task (1 task) – Log In
Start: 2:24
End: 2:24:43

Small Tasks (3 tasks) – Login x3
Start: 2:26
End: 2:26:58
End: 2:27:10
End: 2:28:35

Medium Task (1 task) – Log in and navigates around the page
Start: 2:25
End: 2:25:55

Medium Task (3 tasks) – Log in and navigates around the page x3
Start: 2:28
End: 2:29:26
End: 2:29:48
End: 2:30:12

Large Task (1 task)
Start: 2:47 PM
End: 3:48:20 PM
_______________________________________________________________

** Remote Execution Server **

Small Task (1 task) – Log In
Start: 11:12
End: 11:16

Medium Task (1 task) – Log in and navigates around the page
Start: 11:16
End: 11:20

Small Task (1 task) – Log In x3
Start: 11:21
End: 11:25:28
End: 11:25:43
End: 11:25:53

Medium Task (1 task) – Log in and navigates around the page x3
Start: 1:14
End: 1:19:12
End: 1:19:39
End: 1:19:58

Large Task (1 task)
Start: 2:40 PM
End: 5:11:08 PM