I think it is very clear that the vast majority of people who have replied to this thread:
1. Have not viewed the RAK half marathon footage to see exactly what type of filming took place.
2. When you say drones have been used for years during races, I don't think they have been used in the way the RAK used them.
Every single link to videos in this entire thread have been very high aerial shots of races or just scenery. The RAK (and what this thread is REALLY about) used the drone footage as the main live video feed following the runners from just 10-30 feet away in place of a guy holding a camera on a motorcycle. I HIGHLY doubt a drone has been used in the way the RAK used them before this past race. If it has been used that way, I'd love to see the footage, and you can call me an idiot.