i think using the hint is more cheating than a letter. you get letters in real crosswords so its more realistic. but the game is the game and anyhting that keeps me engaged is good.
I have spent the last few months targeting sub 20 5km with the goal of going out and running it the day before my 40th. Managed to mess up by not actually booking the Battersea 5k to do it and was really quite ill but thought i had to have a go.
Google the longform word and symbol and you get pages and pages of the letter