Hardy ran past dodgy characters (7)

I believe the answer is:

spartan

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'hardy' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'ran past dodgy characters' is the wordplay.
'ran past' anagrams to 'SPARTAN'.
But, I'm not sure how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spartan that I've seen before include "Austere - disciplined" , "Of conditions, simple and harsh as for ancient Greeks" , "Bleak - rigorous - austere" , "Old citizen" , "Basic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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