Running north to east though not as tricky (2,3,4)
I believe the answer is:
on the trot
'running' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'north to east though not as tricky' is the wordplay.
'though not' suggests deleting specific letters.
'tricky' indicates anagramming the letters.
'north'+'to'+'east'='northtoeast'
'northtoeast' with 'as' taken out is 'northtoet'.
'northtoet' anagrammed gives 'ON THE TROT'.
(Other definitions for on the trot that I've seen before include "without a break" , "In succession" , "Continually busy" , "running" , "Where orthodox Stalinist hurled anathemas" .)