By channeling our inner child with games and puzzles, we can jumpstart a stale workout routine, or maybe even make those half-baked commitments actually stick.
Whether you're an ultra-runner or training for your first 5k, I think we can all agree that we're always looking for a way to spice up our morning run.
You've been there: your alarm goes off you sit up in bed you look at your running sneakers in the corner and you just… don’t have it in you today. And that’s OK! Not every day is a five-star day. But what happens when a one-star day becomes a one-star week and then a one-star months and then suddenly you look back at your calendar and realize you are way off track for your training goals?
I’m always looking for something to keep me engaged in my runs. There’s only so many times I can listen to the same energizing playlist before I’m stuck in a rut. For most of us, the way that we get ourselves hyped for our runs is knowing that we’ve got a race to look forward to... and then the pandemic hit.
"How can we bring FUN back?"
We’ve seen a number of virtual races pop up and that’s a fun way to engage with other runners and get some pretty sick bling, but it still doesn’t solve that problem that we have when we’re logging miles on the pavement and finding our minds wondering and lacking the spirit that started our journey.
How can we bring FUN back? For me, I find that through games! It may sound juvenile but hear me out – mental games are a great way to keep you engaged and motivated to run, even when the biggest goal of the day is simply getting out of bed.
With that being said let’s take a look at a couple different options I’ve explored and how they add a little spice to workout plans.
RUN TO ESCAPE
Of the different options I’m going talk about, this one is the newest one. Created in a partnership with BibRave and RunKeeper, Run to Escape is a 6-part puzzle series themed to the Greek gods and goddesses. Your task: assist demi-god Atalanta in completing a set of puzzles to earn the official title as a Goddess of Mt. Olympus. In these challenges you work to unlock clues by logging miles. Once you’ve hit a certain mile marker you receive a new clue. When you return home from your run you’ll use the clues you’ve gained while you were hitting the pavement along with some instructions sent to your inbox to piece together a codeword. That codeword, if correct, unlocks your next level.
I'm over halfway through the series and I like that the audio cues are not disruptive to the run and allow you to listen to your normal music while completing the challenge.
I will say that the best part of the series actually comes once you’ve completed your run, so it may add some extra pep in your step to get home quicker! The challenges are engaging but not impossible to solve; you don’t have to be an escape room expert in order to engage with these. That being said, I’m definitely the type of person who overthinks things and there were times when I received clues that I spent way too much time deep diving in when in reality the clue was more just about engaging in the story rather than trying to gain actual information. Sometimes the clues are more obvious than others! This series does have a cost and is $75 for the entire challenge set.
Overall if you’re the kind of runner who wants to add something fun like this to switch up the routine but isn’t looking for something super disruptive I highly recommend checking the series out!
Best For:
Those who like minimal distractions while running
Escape room enthusiasts waiting for in-person rooms to reopen
Runners looking to try something out without a long-term commitment
New/returning runners looking for a fun way to ease into developing a routine
ZOMBIES, RUN!
If you’re a runner who is looking for the energy of a playlist with the content of an audiobook, this is your app! Zombies, Run! has been around for a while and is a much larger series than something like Run to Escape. There are multiple chapters and there are even different levels that you can pay for to unlock more content. In this post-apocalyptic series you are a runner working at a remote outpost your job is to gather supplies for the few survivors left while… Avoiding zombies.
This app is really interactive with your GPS and how fast you’re running. You’ll receive story prompts and mission information throughout your run, and at times will be interrupted with “zombie attacks.” At that point the music will become intense and you’re now in the middle of your own horror movie zombies chase you if you’re not fast enough you’re dead. As you move through the chapters the challenges become harder, the zombies multiply, and the increase in speed.
This is an absolutely great app if you are someone who is looking to improve your speed intervals! It is a little bit more intrusive than the run to escape series as you are going to receive multiple prompts throughout your run and there isn’t a post run puzzle element to it like run to escape this is more focused on storytelling rather than engaging with you through puzzles and other activities.
The biggest drawback to this app is the pay wall. The first few chapters are free, but after that, pretty much everything else is locked.
Best For:
Playlist junkies looking for something more content-driven listens
Audiobook fans
Speed interval workouts
Those looking for a larger, more story-driven challenge to develop a long-term schedule
Horror/Action film lovers who dream of being on The Walking Dead
SMART WATCH CHALLENGES
And then there are those who like no rules they want to do it the wrong way on their own terms and instead of focusing on puzzles or stories they are motivated by pure, unbridled COMPETITION. Are you and your long-distance best friend looking to motivate each other before your big race? Betting your buddy who can run the most miles in a week? Smartwatch challenges such as those found on the Apple Watch or Fitbit are fun, relatively rule-free games that substitute mid-run stories and audio cues for the satisfaction (and in some cases, actual money!) that comes from seeing you beat out your friends and family.
The real drawback here is that, with most smartwatch apps, you can only compete with those who have the same watch. In this case, device-inclusive apps like Stridekick offer fun challenges for that one friend who INSISTED on buying that one watch no one else has (for a price, of course… nothing is free!)
Best For:
Those who need serious motivation and accountability from actual humans
Anyone who loves anything FREE
Runners who live by their wearable tech
Music die-hards
Running minimalists who prefer no interrupts (how do you do that?!)
Have you tried any of these? What do you think? Are there any other running games or challenges that I missed? Let me know!
-C
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