Man in a hood sitting among ruins at mystical mist, post-apocalyptic scene
Bunkers, armored vehicles and assault rifles are useful tools to survive the end of days, but none of it really means much if you aren’t physically prepared to deal with the worst of disasters. Just look at the characters on “The Walking Dead.” Rick and Darryl would demolish a man in a fight while Eugene couldn’t run 100 meters down the track. Even the passive Morgan is trained in a form of martial arts that he practices each morning.
No, guns and trucks are not enough when the real elements come your way. So if you need to brush up on your fitness and fitness-related gear, these are the tips and routines you should be running through to bulk up for the zombie apocalypse.
Cardio Matters
Will zombies slowly lurk your way like in traditional movies or run full speed like “28 Days Later”? There’s no way to know for sure, but good cardio will fend off the fastest of zombies (a topic that was touched on in the beginning of “Zombieland”).
The problem is, running is boring, and that’s OK. There are ways to build up cardio in short intervals to keep it interesting. Find a local high school track or football field open to the public and try this routine 3-5 times a week:
- Jog 50 meters
- Sprint 50 meters
- Walk 100 meters
- Repeat until you can hardly stand
Don’t let the 100 meter walk fool you. This routine will kick your butt after several rounds. See how many you can build up to after a few weeks.
Mobility Matters More
Cardio is important, but we also won’t be running away from zombies in a straight line or around a track. Hordes of zombies will force you to run, jump, climb, kick, crawl, drop and much more. Prepare your muscles and ligaments to take the damage with a good mobility workout.
Like running, mobility is a boring part of fitness but one you just can’t skip it. Knock out the necessities daily with a routine called the Agile 8, which is eight simple movements and stretches to make your body mobile and limber. All you need is a cheap foam roller and lacrosse ball and anyone can get started with these movements. The next time even a fraction of an inch matters within seconds, great mobility could save your life (and it will just be easier to move around in general).
The Right Fitness Gear
Besides the essential gear, like a gun or good knife, there are the items you’ll wear every day when surviving the end of days. These are items you don’t want to skimp on:
Glasses/Sunglasses
When running for your life through the forest, would your frames survive an impact with a tree branch? You better hope the answer is yes, because if it isn’t, it’s time to upgrade to shock-resistant specs.
Hiking/Traversing Pants
Don’t wear jeans in the wild. They’re heavy, insulate poorly and weigh you down if they get wet. Look for a good pair of hiking pants like the Prana Stretch Zions. They’re elastic for mobile movement (now that you’re actually mobile), dry quickly and breath well to avoid too much sweating underneath. These are the pants you could wear every day for a year if needed.
Boots/Trail Running Shoes
You’re going to put a lot of miles on these. Look to brands like Salomon or Asolo, which make hiking boots strong enough to survive the entire Appalachian Trail, and don’t forget a good pair of wool socks to keep your feet dry and prevent blistering.
