‘Pokemon Go’ running can help you stay fit in the new year

'Pokemon Go' will raise its level cap in its biggest update ever. — Niantic/TNS

Pokemon Go is secretly a fitness app. If you look beyond the cuteness of Pikachu and the simple battle mechanics, few games are more effective at getting players off the couch. That’s part of the game’s mission.

It pushes players to go outside and explore their community. For me, that has led to a deep dive into running as a symbiotic hobby. Pokemon Go has turned me into a runner but I’m not a serious one. I don’t try for personal records or push myself to run a marathon. All I do is jog around my city hunting for pocket monsters.