Week One with Zombies

Monday - downloaded Zombies, Run! app and put together a running playlist filled with all the most high-paced songs I have. Lots of metal, punk, and grunge mostly. Mostly. However, it turns out that my HTC Widlfire is a piece of rubbish whose internal memory cannot handle the installation of the game. Plus, they have no option to install straight to the SD card. It was clear I was going to need an iPhone if this app was to be of any use, and I really, really want to use it. I love zombies, and games, so it just seems an ideal way to trick myself into exercise.


Which reminds me of this one time I went to the gym in the Crown Casino hotel and they had an exercise bike attached to a big screen. Got on, started peddling and a game began where I was powering a steampunk-style flying machine and trying to win an air race where I had to fly through floating hoops. My peddling speed determined the speed and height, while moving the handle bars steered me about. It was the best piece of gym equipment I have ever experienced. If all gyms were like that they would be very popular places.

Anyway, I spent the rest of my day pondering iPhones before securing my boyfriend's old one. It's a bit busted up but should do the trick.

Tuesday - miserable weather, worked, came home and ate a big English-style meal of mash and roast veggies while watching Joss Whedon's Firefly. Kinda counterproductive to the cause but good for the happiness levels.

Wednesday - it was again a truly miserable day with rain and arctic winds, but it was also half way through the week without one run under my belt. Something needed to happen. Around midday the rain cleared up and I headed out for my first taste of Zombies, Run!. Verdict? Excellent. It was actually the perfect day for it because the sky was dramatically overcast, the dead leaves falling from trees, and hardly anyone was out on the Mullum Mullum track.

At the start I laughed a lot as the zombies chased me because it was ridiculous, but I soon got into the mood of the game. More than once I was genuinely startled as my brain struggled to decide whether I was really in trouble or not. Thankfully, my legs were fooled and I ended up with more of a fleeing-for-my-life style run than my usual systematic jog.

All up a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I ran/walked for an hour with about 40% running. Plus I was going a lot faster and pushing myself harder because, dammit, I just don't want to become a zombie. The game and this run has given me a great boost in confidence. If I keep it up then hopefully I'll reach my goal of 1km by the end of the week.

The End of the Week - Wowsers, what a week. I've been for four runs in total, three of them on consecutive days, one of them when hungover. All of this is much, much better than I anticipated.

Friday and Saturday I did the Week One sessions of the 5km Training app of Zombies, Run!. This section promises to take the user from no running experience to 5km in eight weeks. Which means 1/3 of my training time will be spent on gaining only 1/4 of my overall desired distance. Which is not really good enough for my goal of 1km gain per week. The sessions were easier than I would push myself if left to my own devices, yet it was the perfect pace for my Saturday hangover. Think I'll save them for my slower days.

On Sunday I decided it was time to test the limits and see if I can make the whole 1km. I had my doubts. The Boyfriend gave me a pep talk, saying that anyone could run a kilometre but they just have to take it slow and keep on trucking. He told me my mind was my greatest enemy and I'll have to switch it off for the run. There is such truth in that because my brain is kinda lazy and likes to weigh up the pros and cons of going home to bed, Joss Whedon, and popcorn. Sometimes it promises me chocolates and tells me I'm just not the running type and that's okay, no shame in it. It says I should stick to my strengths, not chase crazy dreams of being a runner. Yes indeed, my brain is a wily one.

But the pep talk gave me a new outlook, so I began the day with visualising the end. I told myself anyone could run a full km, it's not an absurd feat, just takes time, and thought about how happy I would be to have reached my goal. I started with a ten minute walk to warm up and then....

BAM!! This champion ran the whole 1km non-stop! [cue applause]

So it turns out at the end of week one I am right on target. Here are my times and distances for each session. I'm not sure if they are reasonable or lame, but dammit, they're mine. Let's just hope I can keep it up.

Wed - 4.96km in 47m12s
Fri -   4.28km in 37m11s
Sat -   4.28km in 44m19s (hangover day)
Sun -  6.40km in 1hr12m43s (includes 1.13km straight run...well, jog really)

I'll leave you with my favourite running song of the week: The Quest by Alestorm. These guys are a Scottish pirate metal band that I first saw at Sonisphere Festival in 2011. I know pirates and zombies are a strange mix but the pace of the drumming is perfect for fleeing the undead. Actually, maybe someone out there should make a pirate zombie film because it could be deliciously ridiculous and fun.