Crossword Genius

Avoids runners about to make a poor start (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

skips

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'to make a poor start' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'avoids runners about' is the wordplay.
'avoids' becomes 'p' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'runners' becomes 'skis' (ski is a kind of runner).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'p' placed inside 'skis' is 'SKIPS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for skips that I've seen before include "Large containers for rubbish" , "Waste containers" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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