Free Run
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Object of the game
Your Mii is a jogger, therefore, the object is simply to run. However, in this game, your Mii has decided to run by himself.
Equipment required
This game requires use of:
- The Wiimote
MET
Free Run has a MET rating of 5, meaning that it is a moderate intensity activity.
Levels and time
There are three levels of Free Run:
- 10 Minutes
- 20 Minutes
- 30 Minutes
The duration of the runs and the levels is the same, with two exceptions:
- You can pause while running. The game takes this into account and subtracts this from your time. Small pauses have no effect, but a long one, or many small ones add up.
- Falling down (see Falling down below) counts as a small pause. Fall down enough and time will be subtracted from your total.
What makes Free Run free?
- Free Run, unlike Basic Run, Basic Run Plus and 2-Player Run, has no guide for you to follow.
- This does not mean, however, that you can run where you wish. Your Mii can only run around the black road.
- What makes it free is that you are not constrained by your guide's pace. You can run as fast as you like, within limits (see Falling down below).
- Free Run is also free because it allows you to watch TV while you run (see Watching TV below).
How to play the game
Running
Keeping the Wiimote on your person, run in place.
Where to run
There are three ways you can run in place this:
- Run on the floor/carpet. This method takes no time to set up, save moving the Wii Board to one side. It can, however, be noisy, especially if you live in multi-occupant dwelling, such as a flat (apartment). It can also, depending on how you run or previous injuries, cause pain by transferring shocks to the ankles and knees.
- Run on a mat. While this will have some give that will mitigate shock to knees and ankles, most mats are too light for this sort of run and will move around and end up somewhere that is not under your feet. You also have to take the time to get the mat out. Mats also do little, if anything, to cut down noise.
- Run on a little trampoline. Little trampolines are also known as rebounders. The disadvantage is that you have to take the trampoline out. The advantage is that it takes all the shock. No matter what your running style, you will feel no shock on your ankles or knees. It is also quiet. You can run at any hour without disturbing anyone, especially if you use wireless headphones to pick up the TV's sound.
Best way to run
Run barefoot and run on the front of your foot. Even if you are running on a trampoline that takes all the shock, it is best to practise running this way because it will help you to learn how to run on other surfaces without injuring yourself. Why should you run this way? Recent research has shown that running on one's heels leads to injury. Indeed, modern running shoes do not prevent injury, because they make running on the heels comfortable.
Watching TV
You can watch TV while you run. You will hear your steps on the Wiimote.
The Wiimote will also keep you informed of:
- The start of the run.
- Your distance.
- The time remaining.
- Whether you are running too fast: it will tell you to ensure that the Wiimote does not fall around in your pocket.
- Whether you are pausing too long: it will try to encourage you to finish the run.
- The end of the run.
Falling down
- You Mii can fall down if you run too fast. If he falls down, he will fall flat on his face. If you look at the other Miis, they fall down just like this from time to time.
- Falling down doesn't hurt you, of course, but while you are down on the ground, you are not increasing your distance. Falling down also counts as a small pause (see Levels and time above.)
- If you are watching TV while you run and you fall down, you will be able to hear it via the Wiimote.
Scoring
- There is no score as such for this game. You will be awarded a number of stars according to the distance you have run.
- Pauses have an effect on your score because when you are paused, you aren't running and so aren't increasing your distance.
- Pauses also have an effect on the calorie calculation because time spent exercising is a component of MET.
Hints and tips
- Hold the Wiimote vertically while you run. By vertically is meant hold it in your hand so that it is straight up and down (one end pointing at the ceiling, the other at the floor). Keep your arm and hand horizontal while you run. You may find that it is easier to keep your balance by holding something else - a light weight, another Wiimote, a bottle of water - in your other hand. Why should you do this? Because the best position for the Wiimote to pick up your pace without any interference. By interference is meant that the Wiimote falling around in your pocket, the Wiimote hitting your leg if you move your arms, the Wiimote picking up stray shakes, etc. One can use an armband, but it tends to pick up extraneous shakes and it is difficult to navigate the screens when the Wiimote is in the band.
- If the sound of the Wiimote interferes with watching TV as you run, you can always turn down the volume of the WiiMote.
Silliness
- If you see another Mii jogging in your direction, perhaps one belonging to another registered player, or even just a favourite non-registered Mii, you can attempt to jog with him, side by side. This is not as easy as it might seem because the Miis do not keep a steady pace at all. Sometimes they run slower and sometimes faster. It's the 'faster' bit that is the reason they fall down so much.
