Fitness Tuesday: Zombies, Run! review

I want to feature one of my all-time favorite fitness apps ever in the history of apps and history, "Zombies, Run!" It's basically a game, a trainer, a workout buddy, and a story rolled all into one, and even people who aren't into zombies or running can enjoy the immersive story and game"play".

Playing is super simple. If you do any sort of cardio, whether it's running, cycling, walking, or streaking, you can put it on and play through a mission. It's mainly geared towards runners but really, any level of cardio is fine. Each mission is like a radio episode; there's a couple story clips interspersed between your chosen music.

The basic premise of the story is also simple: the zombie apocalypse has happened, and you're in a settlement called Abel Township helping them gather information and supplies and even chasing down bad guys.

What makes it different than running to just music or just a radio show or podcast? For starters, the story is REALLY well written. It'll get you going and your heart pumping if it's not already. There's also a Zombie Chase mode, which will randomly send a zombie after you during a song -- if you don't speed up, you lose supplies!

Speaking of supplies, you pick them up during your run. You can use them to build a base, Sim-City-style, and keep your fellow Abel Township citizens safe and warm.

My puny base. Clearly I don't run enough for Abel.

As of now there have been 2 major updates to the app, such that it's now called Zombies, Run 3. Every update is a Season in the game, therefore there are 3 seasons and around 60+ missions total so far, with many more to come. There are length missions to help with your races (5k, 10k, and 20k) and a new interval training mode for those looking to do sprintwork.

Not shown: Races (5k, 10k, and 20k)

Lastly, a shoutout to the Zombies, Run 5k app, which is separate from the main game and usually around $1.99 USD. ZR5K is Zombies, Run!'s answer to Couch To 5k, except so much more fun and encouraging. This is the app that got me from no running at all to running 5ks every day. It worked because I wanted to know more about the story, and it was just really exhilarating to play.

Apart from a few minor bugs usually relating to social sharing and ZombieLink (the online database), Zombies, Run! is pretty much the perfect cardio workout app. I really, really highly recommend it.

Score: 4.9/5
Six to Start website
Zombies, Run! website

Special Post: Bay to Breakers

On a whim (shh... yes, I'm one of THOSE runners at B2B), I decided to go with a few friends to Bay to Breakers. For those of you who are not runners or from the bay area, B2B is a 12k (~8 mile) run from downtown SF to Ocean Beach. It's somewhat to very hilly terrain, all on the streets. They pretty much shut down that entire part of the city for the run. People dress up in all sorts of crazy costumes and themes, and there are even naked men (no naked men in this post for the sake of everyone's eyes).

Pro runners, and also Thing 1 and Thing 2

With the Zombies Run, 5K training under my belt, I managed to keep a slow but steady pace of 4.1 mph throughout the entire run, walking only in the last leg of the Hayes Hill challenge -- it would have been overkill trying to push through all the walkers at that point. Everyone else in my group finished like 20 minutes before me because I run like molasses from a vacuum, but crossing the finish line running at all was the greatest feeling ever.

Finish Line!

I even got a cool medal!

 
I still have a long way to go to even be able to keep up with those guys, but from not running at all 3 months ago to being able to finish a 12k run is actually pretty impressive. My knees and quads took a beating so I'll definitely have to prep better next race. For those of you in the bay area, I highly recommend going just for the experience. It's walkable, and for some people the point of B2B is the sightseeing and not the race.

Zombies, Run! review to follow!