Everything you need to survive a zombie run

by Brittany Anas · October 3, 2013

(Training for a zombie run this fall? Get a little practice in first with the Zombie, Run! app)

By Brittany Anas

For some of us, we need a little motivation to achieve our “personal best” run time. So, it’s either cookies at the finish lines or zombies chasing us.

The summer gave us lots of fun, themed runs: Drenched runs that brought on the water works, color runs that shot us with a rainbow of dust and a mud run that covered our sweat with dirt.

Now, with Halloween approaching, our fun run obsession will intersect with our imagination’s intrigue with zombies. Several different zombie runs — like this one and this one — happen throughout the country during the month of October. The premise? Navigate your way through an obstacle course and reach the finish line in perfect health (i.e. don’t let the zombie capture a flag tied around your waist a la flag football style).

So how do you train and prep for such a race? Here’s your zombie race survival guide.

Train with an app. What’s better than a personal trainer? How about the threat of zombies chasing you being broadcast through your earphones. By far, Zombies, Run! is one of our fave fitness apps. More than 450,000 runners use this app to keep their runs more fun or to help them pick up the pace. The best-selling app turns your run into an adrenaline-pumping game. The app will mix a zombie horror story with your own music perfect for your next jog in the park or to add a spark to your run on the treadmill. For a more serious run, turn on zombie chases that force you to up your speed to escape the undead.
Buy some fall running gear. Fall runs require a little bit more thought than warm summer runs. Be prepared to show up dressed in layers. For women, this Active by Old Navy Running Top is the perfect layering piece. For the guys, we found this Men’s Active by Old Navy mock neck running top that has reflective tape at the nape for nighttime visibility. Save big at Old Navy right now by earning $10 in Super Cash for every $25 you spend. Plus, get an additional 4 percent Cash Back at Old Navy from ShopAtHome.com.
Eat lots and lots of garlic the night before.