I think the "blur" on the detail screen is actually just a quirk in the way the graphics work - the background is pulled directly from one graphic, but the little character is actually enlarged from the tinier "villager" graphics you see in the game. The enlargement comes up a bit blury.

I LOVE the runners - if you get one at the start of the game, but him/her on farming and you'll quickly get enough food to last you through that first gap before you get enough tech points to get them into the crops. If you get one after your food sources are stabilized, but him/her on building and watch for all the building related puzzles to be solved quickly! If you get one after you've solved all the puzzles, put the runner on breeding and watch him/her chase after the opposite sex. I wish I could have a whole village of runners!
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C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN\DOS\RUN