Photo from Android Community.
by Stephanie Palazzolo, senior editor
I sprinted down the sidewalk, feeling my worn-out sneakers smashing into the ground with every step. My heart felt like it was going to explode, and each breath ripped at my dry throat as I gasped for air.
“Bloody hell.” I chuckled a little at Sam Yao’s stereotypical British accent but stopped as I heard his next words through my cellphone. “Zombs are right behind you, Runner Five. Thirty, forty maybe… basically a small army. Run!”
***
With the popular Zombies, Run! exercise app, every run can turn into an apocalyptic adventure. The app describes itself as “an epic adventure that motivates you to run further and faster than ever before,” which is entirely accurate. Zombies, Run! is different than any other exercise app on the market, incorporating an original storyline with lovable characters that make a daily run something to look forward to–rather than something to be dreaded.
The story begins with a typical supply drop during the zombie apocalypse. Before long, however, your helicopter is mysteriously shot down and you crash in the middle of no-man’s-land, your helicopter pilot presumed dead and your location completely unknown. As you continue on your run, you start to hear snippets of radio calls from Sam Yao, the communications operator at Abel Township, a nearby settlement, as he guides you through the forest and back to safety. As “Runner Five,” you become a valuable member of the community despite the mysteries surrounding the helicopter crash and your shady history.
The exercise app is divided into 30-40 minute episodes that must be downloaded before each run. Every episode consists of short radio messages with about five minutes of silence between each one. Periodically, the app will announce that you’ve come across some supplies, ranging from broken cell phones to shorts. These items can be used to upgrade your settlement and protect it from invading zombies.
Zombies, Run! is one of the most popular exercise apps on the market because it’s just so well made. The voice acting is superb, and the plot makes it feel more like a TV show than an actual exercise app. Through the story and characters, users are more likely to become invested in the app, providing further motivation to work out and run. In addition, the app provides good interval training with its optional “zombie chases.”
However, Zombies, Run! has its pitfalls as well. Running in busy cities can be difficult and almost dangerous, especially when the zombie chases are turned on. There’s nothing worse than trying to squeeze between people and wait for cars when the constant reminder that the zombies are only 13 meters behind you is sounding in your ear the entire time. In addition, the app only works with music that is already downloaded on your device; other apps with free music like Spotify and Pandora cannot be used during runs. And just like any other app, Zombies, Run! has its glitches too. The app sometimes miscalculates the distance or duration of the run, which makes it an unreliable source of actual statistics. Lastly, the app costs about $4, which is fairly expensive for an exercise app…but not too terrible once you consider that it used to go for $8.
For those who already enjoy running and have a set schedule, an app that simply records information may be more beneficial than Zombies, Run! But for those who have a bit more trouble with dragging themselves off the couch and putting on a pair of running shoes, this exercise app is a definite must-have.
Find Zombies, Run! on the App Store or on Google Play for Androids.
