Disclaimer: I received an entry to Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!
Although of course I really enjoy running, sometimes it can get boring. For me, some things that help break up potential monotony are running with friends, changing up routes or trying new workouts. This month and last month, I got some extra motivation and entertainment by trying the Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus experience.
This is a new experience created by BibRave, and I was excited to be part of a group of BibRave Ambassadors that got to try and promote it. Read on to learn more, and save 10 percent with code “BIBRAVE10” at runtoescapeseries.com.
The Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus consists of six runs, each with a puzzle afterward. The goal is to help Atalanta, the Goddess of Running, get a spot in the Greek Pantheon by solving these puzzles, and you’ll learn about different Greek gods and their unique personalities along the way. Each run involves clues from a Greek god. The first one is the Challenge of Dionysus.
For this challenge, you will run with the Runkeeper app (with Race Mode Audio toggled on), and during your run, you will hear clues from Dionysus. Then, when you get back home, you will use what you’ve heard along with information in an email to solve a puzzle. The answer to the puzzle will be an access code that will unlock your next run, and the process repeats.
You need to have Runkeeper running during your run, and you also have to run (or walk) outside and not on a treadmill, because the clues are based on GPS distance.
Although it’s tracked on Runkeeper like a virtual race, it’s not a race, and I did not complete any of the runs specifically for time, although you could if you wanted to. However, the pressure is off, and it’s not a competition. There are chances to win prizes, but it doesn’t have anything to do with your speed for each run.
You can also do the runs on your own schedule. I have been running a lot with others, and I don’t wear headphones when I run with friends as we are usually having conversations. So, I did the Run to Escape runs on my own. I ran my first run of the series on April 17 (we got early access) and finished my last run with a 10K yesterday, solving the puzzle today. The 10K is the longest distance of the six runs.
I used to do logic puzzles all the time, and it’s been years since I did one. Hades’ puzzle reminded me of a logic puzzle, and it actually makes me want to do some more of those. I think that was my fastest one to solve. If you’re having trouble with a puzzle, there are Hermes’ Hints — two or three hints and the answer — that you can reveal as you go to give you an extra push.
For the first puzzle, I asked a friend for a hint because I thought I had already figured out the first part of the puzzle, and for the last one, I used Hermes’ Hints. Then, once I figured out the answer, I thought I had already tried typing that in as the code, but the hints let me know I was on the right track. The other ones I was able to solve without hints, and I enjoyed challenging my brain.
There is also an opportunity to connect with fellow runners through a Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus Slack group. There are channels participants can use while they are working on puzzles and once they complete them, so you won’t get any unintentional spoilers.
In the link that comes in the email that you use to solve each puzzle, the audio clues are available so that if you can’t remember exactly what you heard on the run, you can listen again. This was certainly helpful, and for the first two puzzles, I didn’t solve anything on the run. I was excited that during my run for the Challenge of Apollo, I was able to come up with a word that would be used to solve the puzzle.
Once you finish, you’ll get access to the Pantheon Party, in which each god has a “lounge” that includes a food recipe, a drink recipe and a Spotify playlist. There are also chances to win ASICS prize packages, AfterShokz headphones and Knockaround Fast Lanes Sport sunglasses, plus discounts for AfterShokz, Knockaround and ParadigmQ (escape rooms).
Want to give it a shot? The experience is $75 — but use code “BIBRAVE10” to save 10 percent and bring the price down to $67.50. This includes all six runs and puzzles, plus the discounts and chances to win prizes. There is also a flexible refund policy, so if it’s just not for you after two challenges, you can contact messenger god Hermes for a refund.
There’s no physical swag, which is certainly OK with me. I have donated multiple T-shirts and medals because I just have so many. While I do save my marathon medals and of course some swag is cool, that isn’t the main reason I run or race.
Check out the FAQ page if you have questions, and feel free to ask me anything you’re wondering about, too!
Check out my BibRave review, and write your own reviews!
See what other BibRave Ambassadors had to say:
She Runs by the Seashore 
3 thoughts on “What do you get when you combine running and escape rooms? Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus”
Comments are closed.