I was recently accused of cheating...

[Eijolend]

Taking some base hits is exactly what you do vs. a runner rush. Every base hit costs them at least 3 (position, move, attack) wits to do, but only costs 1 to clean up (move, attack and gain a wit for the kill). So you should be able to just invest into soldiers and buffed runners and be way ahead after a few turns.
Even if you don't get a major wit advantage out of it, you generally just have more units left after the exchanges.