Cutting the course: DQ from the event; Outside aid (pacing, electronic device, illegal coaching): DQ; Failure to wear bib: warning + correction; subsequent = DQ
Why people argue about this
People often assume that cutting the course is just about running off the marked path, forgetting they can also cut by going under fences or through bushes outside of it. They misunderstand that "cutting" includes using shortcuts not officially part of the race route, leading to disputes over what exactly constitutes a valid shortcut versus an unauthorized one.