Yea I'm in two minds about this one too. It was my first 3P last year, & on the recces had taken to the soft stuff, easier on the knees doncha know!

However on race day the path was taped most of the way down, so in theory you had to stick to it really. I did see a couple of people dropping off to the left just coming off the top, avoiding the path completely, but I don't really know the line there.

As Geronimo says, it is open access land so in theory you can do what the hell you like, but it does make sense to adhere to the organiser's wishes if they state such things & put tape up.

The caveat I would add to this though, is that if such "requests" are made as part of condition of entry, the said points should be marshalled & ANYONE transgressing should be penalised accordingly. Sounds a bit babylike I know but how fair is it to make me, a shit runner, knacker my knees even more plodding down an 'orrible path, when "others" can take the line they like with impunity?

Level playing field & all that (now a run round one of them sounds easier )