56-year-old runner uses zombie game for marathon motivation
The Story
A 56-year-old runner reports completing his first marathon with the help of the smartphone game Zombies, Run! He ran the first half in two hours and 10 minutes and the second half in three-and-a-half hours. His phone battery died at mile 15, ending the game and music, after which he described the remainder as extremely difficult.
Key Facts
- The runner is 56 years old and describes himself as “old, fat, bald dad.”
- He used the Zombies, Run! interactive running game and a playlist of music from Myths and Monsters’ EP Genesis, which uses a sequencer modelled on a Game Boy to control Sega Mega Drive sound chips.
- He followed the Hal Higdon Novice Marathon Training Program: three short runs during the week and a long run on weekends, with distances increasing over 18 weeks.
- His phone battery went from 80% to zero in less than three hours at 15 miles, due to the combined demands of GPS tracking, music, and the game.
- First half marathon split: 2 hours 10 minutes; second half: 3 hours 30 minutes.
- He previously had three laser eye surgeries for a tear in his left retina and described that pain as “biblical.”
- The game’s voice actors include Phil Nightingale as Sam Yao, the “run operator.”
- He plans to train for another marathon to try to beat five hours.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Unnamed runner (author of the article, age 56)
- Phil Nightingale – voice actor for Sam Yao in Zombies, Run!
- Ben Elton – author of an audiobook mentioned briefly
- Hal Higdon – creator of the Novice Marathon Training Program referenced
- Myths and Monsters – band that recorded the EP Genesis used in the playlist
Sources: The Guardian
