Run Away

Run Away
Participation Information
US Season	1-2, Nickelodeon
Other Names	Run Away!
Team Information
Team	Team Run Amok
Team Members	Mark Joerger Aaron Joerger Alissa Joerger
From	Salem, Oregon
Robot Statistics
Weight	218lbs
Dimensions	56" x 35" x 31"
Power	2 X 24V Electric Motors
Weapons	Scoop & Spinning Blades
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"This 'bot went against design paradigms to create a high-clearance, modestly powered, pivot-steered machine that was exactly right for the unique challenges of the first season of Robotica... tenacious Run Amok was modified with a nasty looking dual-blade spinning weapon and made it to the Tag Team finals at Robot Wars as 'Run Away'. She was the luckiest robot ever built."

— Mark Joerger

Run Away (originally stylized as Run Away!) was a competitor robot from Salem, Oregon which fought in both seasons of Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors as well as Nickelodeon Robot Wars. The first of two robots prepared for Robot Wars by inaugural Robotica champions Team Run Amok, it enjoyed mixed success, being defeated in its heat in the main US Championship of Extreme Warriors Season 1 and the second round in Season 2 by General Chompsalot 2. However, Run Away would finish as joint runner-up in the Season 1 Tag Team Terror alongside the original General Chompsalot.

In the Nickelodeon series, Run Away took part in the International Tag Team competition, paired up with Team Creative Steel and the loanerbot Zanzara. Team Run Amok and Team Creative Steel also collaborated on a second heavyweight entry, The Gap, for the main Extreme Warriors Season 2 US Championship.

Design

"Complicated design is easy. Simple takes work."

— Motto of Team Run Amok

Run Away from Extreme Warriors Season 1

A side view of Run Away in the pits during filming for Extreme Warriors 1

Run Away was an upgraded version of Robotica Season 1 champion Run Amok, a large four-wheeled robot which was initially built by the team from a 1972 Murray ride-on lawnmower. Following team captain Mark Joerger's experience with RC asphalt racing cars, the robot utilized car-type steering for the unpowered front wheels, which enabled smoother and more stable control inputs while maintaining tight cornering through its short wheelbase.

Other features of Run Amok include a welded steel chassis, pneumatic tires, 3/4-inch thick plywood top armor and a checker plate front wedge. To ensure that the front tires had enough clearance with full steering lock, two holes were cut in to either side of the wedge which were also frequently interpreted as the robot's 'eyes'.

Run Away in the pits with its wedge removed in US Season 1

Run Away in Season 2

For Robot Wars, Run Amok received numerous upgrades to its chassis, drivetrain and weapons as part of its transformation into Run Away. These included lengthened top armor designed to prevent it from being flipped over or picked up by Sir Killalot as easily, along with a pair of steel rotating 'sidewheeler' blades at 30 inches in length. Mounted vertically on either side of its chassis, these were located at the center and able to spin at up to 1,000rpm. The weapon mechanism was designed in such a way that if one blade was stopped, the other could keep rotating to maintain Run Away's offensive output. Both the weapon and drive systems ran on Bosch GPA 750 motors rated at 24V.

"If you're asking about the bar spinner weapon on 'Run Away', it should not be used as a model for your weapon. We added the showy but largely cosmetic spinner weapon just to please the Robot Wars crowd. It won't [sic] a serious attempt at a damaging spinner."

— Aaron Joerger's retrospect on Run Away's 'sidewheeler' spinners

A further change from its Robotica incarnation was the replacement of the original solid mount bolt for its wedge with a spring-loaded retaining bolt intended specifically for Robot Wars. However, this proved unsatisfactory during Run Away's US Championship heat, so the solid mount bolt was reused for subsequent events. As a result of its upgrades, the robot's original weight of 172lbs was substantially increased to 220lbs (218lbs on televised stats) in line with other heavyweight competitors.

Side view of Run Away in Season 2

For Season 2 and the Nickelodeon series, Run Away received a number of general improvements, including a faster spin-up time for the spinning weapons and gearing adjustments for increased pushing power at the expense of a lower top speed of 'about 10mph' (12mph according to Team Run Amok's 'Ask Aaron' columns). The weapon mechanism was also revised with a sturdier bar-type frame, while a smaller top panel was fitted over the rear wheels.

Run Away's weight statistic in Nickelodeon Robot Wars

Run Away's weight was quoted inconsistently throughout later seasons, at 215lbs in Season 2 and 184lbs in the Nickelodeon series, the latter closer to the original weight of Run Amok. It is unclear whether the Nickelodeon statistic was an error or a result of a weight-saving measure carried out by Team Run Amok.

Etymology

Run Away's name was likely a continuation of the naming scheme set by Team Run Amok for its original Robotica incarnation. Furthering the idea of the phrase being used to describe an individual who acts disruptively or dangerously, 'run amok' was also associated by Mark Joerger with the idea of the robot itself losing control and turning against its builder.

In the case of 'run away', the phrase takes on multiple meanings, from an entity which leaves a place suddenly or one who avoids confronting a difficult situation. The latter connotations were often suggested in passing by roboteers such as Bruce Hall and even Mark Joerger himself, who joked about it being indicative of Run Away's own passiveness in combat.

Carol Grow: "Run Away, do you have a strategy?"

Mark Joerger: "Our name's Run Away, and we may end up doing that..."

— Mark Joerger highlights the irony of Run Away's name

The Team

Main article: Team Run Amok

Run Away was entered by the family-run Team Run Amok from Salem, Oregon, comprising of captain and driver Mark Joerger, his wife Lissa (credited on screen as Alissa) and their then 10-year old son Aaron. Mark and Aaron would build the robot together for its original Robotica appearance, with Max Chapin (who would later enter with Team Creative Steel) also helping out with design, welding and fabrication work at his Creative Steel shop.

"Hi, I'm Aaron. This is my mom, Lissa, and this is my dad, Mark... and we're going to win!"

— Aaron Joerger introduces Team Run Amok in the US Season 1 Tag Team Terror

Team Run Amok introduce Run Away during Extreme Warriors Season 1

Team Run Amok in The Pits

Team Run Amok in Extreme Warriors Season 2

In Extreme Warriors, the former two would frequently share speaking roles across both seasons. It was through these in which Aaron became especially well-known among other roboteers for his confident, competitive, yet considerate and fair-minded disposition, particularly during interviews with American Robot Wars personnel such as Mick Foley, Carol Grow and Dave Aizer.

Mick Foley: "Beating up on the poor kid... what's the deal there?"

Randy Eubanks: "Well... he's not a kid, he's a competitor! I beat up on the robot!"

— Randy Eubanks, treating Aaron Joerger as a respected roboteer

Aaron Joerger at the controls of Run Away in Nickelodeon Robot Wars

Throughout Run Away's televised appearances, Team Run Amok consistently wore red T-shirts with the robot's logo printed on them. Mark also sported a variety of hats including a flat cap on most occasions and a Mickey Mouse-style hat seen during the team's introduction for Extreme Warriors Season 2.

Team Run Amok and Team Creative Steel together in their introduction in Nickelodeon Robot Wars

For the Nickelodeon series, Aaron would take over as Run Away's driver, in keeping with that series' child-focused nature and maintaining an earlier promise held by Mark. He would also assume all of Team Run Amok's speaking roles for their appearance in the International Tag Team, introducing their machine alongside Jordan Robson from sister entry Team Creative Steel and Zanzara.

Robot History

Season 1

"And Run Away, at 218 pounds, looks like a wind tunnel-tested dump truck. With that scoop and spinning blade, it's pretty quick!"

— Stefan Frank assesses Run Away's statistics before the Season 1 Tag Team Terror

In its debut appearances on Extreme Warriors, Run Away competed in the main Season 1 US Championship as well as the Tag Team Terror side event. The former was the first event of the season to be filmed; last-minute format changes meant that Team Run Amok fought five robots - General Chompsalot, Spartacus, Cyclone, Panzer Mk2 and Drillzilla - in their heat. Though the last of the four heats to be televised, this was in actuality the third to take place at filming.

Rebecca Grant: "And we have here Run Away with the red team! Hey guys, how are ya?"

Mark Joerger: "Hey, we're doing great!"

Rebecca Grant: "Excellent! So, your bad boy here's gonna lift some people, push them around?"

Mark Joerger: "We'll be doing big things today."

— Pre-battle interview

Cyclone cuts into Run Away

Starting from near the Floor Flipper, Run Away activated its blades and turned into Cyclone, but had part of its plywood top armor ripped open by Cyclone's flywheel. Both were separated by a fast-charging Panzer Mk2, whose rams and lifts left Cyclone immobilized near the right-hand wall.

"After that, mayhem broke loose and I really don't know what happened. I remember being lifted by Panzer at one point, and my wedge showed impact marks from Drillzilla. I think that Panzer later rammed underneath from the side and tore my chain drive off."

— Mark Joerger

General Chompsalot clamps down on Run Away

Run Away backed off, and was next seen reversing towards Refbot, then into General Chompsalot as Drillzilla forced its way under both competitors. The shove from the Silicon Valley Destruction Company shufflebot was enough to dislodge Run Away's wedge, with General Chompsalot also briefly pressuring Run Away before it and Spartacus were pushed by Drillzilla.

"And then Chompsalot gets backed up by Run Away which looks more like... 'Fly Away' to me!"

— Stefan Frank as Run Away battles with General Chompsalot and Drillzilla

Later on, Run Away drove itself into the top-right CPZ, but not without causing Drillzilla to lose its rear drill weapon by reversing into its side. In its escape, it backed into and was briefly pressured by Sir Killalot, before helping General Chompsalot to briefly lift Panzer Mk2 off the floor as four of the five surviving robots met in the center. This, however, left Run Away vulnerable to another shove from Drillzilla, which resulted in Team Run Amok's machine being steered back towards the top-right CPZ. Run Away lost mobility shortly after this, with Mark Joerger recollecting that it had a drive chain dislodged by Panzer Mk2, and was pushed towards the central gate by a House Robot along with the now-inverted Cyclone.

Needless to say, Run Away lost the heat to Panzer Mk2 and was eliminated from the US Championship. However, in anticipation of further appearances, the damage inflicted to it was repaired, the chain reattached and multiple adjustments made to the wedge, drive and weapon systems. Among the latter was the replacement of the weapon motor (as originally used in Robotica) with a spare brought along by Mark Joerger. Joerger himself received further assistance from friend Dan Danknick – present as part of the Robot Wars tech support crew - and Mike Morrow of Team Juggerbot, who helped supply a new tube to repair a punctured rear tire.

In the Tag Team Terror, filmed after but shown before the US Championship, Run Away fought alongside General Chompsalot, the second competition in which both robots would meet each other. Team Run Amok and Team Jawbreaker had previously become friends while competing together on Robotica, a matter which Mark Joerger briefly alluded to while explaining the reasoning behind their pairing.

Rebecca Grant: "So, tell me how you two decided to team up."

Mark Joerger: "We met up at another robotic competition. We liked the way we both fought, and the way we reacted, so it seemed like a natural!"

— Mark Joerger explains the Tag Team Terror pairing of Run Away and General Chompsalot

Additionally, Team Jawbreaker captain Tim Berghoefer cited Run Away's wedge as a complement to his machine's jaws. Joerger, however, admitted that he needed to 'back up' and give himself plenty of space in order for Run Away to take advantage of its top speed for ramming attacks.

In the first round, the duo faced Falcon and Joker, the latter a loanerbot leant to the Sylvan Lake Robot Warriors team. For this battle, a pair of red 'lucky dice' was attached to the back of Run Away, which remained on standby in the opening moments while General Chompsalot fought Falcon.

"The General went out first and beat up on Falcon a bit, then I went out and seriously banged up the loner-bot (sic). Falcon came out to help, and the General joined in. It was a glorious free-for-all."

— Mark Joerger recollects the start of Run Away's first Tag Team battle

Run Away wedges under Joker

An inverted General Chompsalot eventually tagged Run Away, which emerged out of its corner to fight Joker. Getting its blades up to speed, Run Away drove into and lightly buffeted Joker over the Floor Flipper, albeit not without losing its dice. It proceeded to back up across the arena and drive completely under Joker with a second ram, its left blade causing noticeable damage to Joker's spinning shell.

"Run Away's got right under, found the only weakness for Joker... and everybody's in on the action now!"

— Stefan Frank as Run Away drives under and damages Joker's shell

With both robots locked together, their teammates left their corners; Falcon briefly drove behind Run Away but did not use its flipping arm to great effect. A shove from General Chompsalot allowed Run Away to regain traction and help the Team Jawbreaker machine drive Joker onto the Flame Pit despite further pressure from Falcon. Run Away reversed and rammed Joker again, the latter subsequently being pushed back by a seemingly errant Dead Metal. Retreating from the action after tagging General Chompsalot, it went to press the Pit trigger, dislodging the tyre from its mount as it did so. It then proceeded to drive up and push Falcon back into General Chompsalot.

Run Away is targeted by Sir Killalot

"And Sir Killalot goes into Run Away! Sir Killalot picks Run Away up... and Run Away's got nowhere to go! The audience wants the pit! Killalot and his lawless nature's gone in there, takin' the law into his own hands again!"

— Stefan Frank as Sir Killalot illegally attacks Run Away

Nearby, Sir Killalot had left his CPZ and lingered around the bottom-left corner of the arena. Without warning, and in a repeat of earlier House Robot transgressions from the same stage of the competition, Run Away was caught, lifted and turned over by Sir Killalot's claw. Sir Killalot then attempted to dump Run Away out of the arena, with Dead Metal also attacking, but settled with carrying the damaged Team Run Amok machine over to the Flame Pit and Floor Flipper. Run Away was thrown into a somersault and back onto its wheels, but lost mobility after its drive chain came lose again; the removable link had also been ejected.

"Look at that, almost two full rotations off of there! Run Away definitely can be renamed to 'Fly Away' at this point!"

— Stefan Frank as Run Away is tossed by the Floor Flipper

With Run Away incapacitated, General Chompsalot was left to fight on alone until 'Cease' was called. The Judges were called to make a decision, ultimately deciding to evaluate the battle up until Sir Killalot's intervention.

"I had tagged 'General Chompsalot' and moved 'Run Away' off away from the action. Busy watching the match, I did not notice that Sir K. had violated the rules by leaving the patrol zone and venturing into the middle of the arena. He picked up 'Run Away', tried to throw her out of the arena, put her on the 'flipper' upside-down and launched her back onto her wheels! Somewhere in this abuse 'Run Away' lost the chain drive to the rear axle and was immobile."

— Mark Joerger

As the House Robot's attacks were declared 'out of order', Run Away and General Chompsalot were awarded the victory due to their more controlling performances in the earlier stages. When Team Falcon jokingly protested the decision over the level of damage their side claimed to have inflicted, Aaron Joerger emphasized Run Away's use of its spinning blades to back up Mick Foley's explanation and reasoning.

Mick Foley: "[to Team Falcon]...it was the big robot doing all the deeds. I mean, come on, you’ve got to fight your own fights! This is Robot Wars, for crying out loud! [to Aaron Joerger] You want to add something to that?"

Aaron Joerger: "Yes. We certainly used the weapon a lot!"

— Aaron Joerger weighs in on Team Falcon's response to the Judges' decision

Afterwards, Mark Joerger discovered that Run Away had survived with only minor damage, making further adjustments to the slip clutches for its blades. He was also called up to film an interview where he would 'bad-mouth' and deliver 'some vague threats' to Sir Killalot, though this went untelevised. Through to the final, Run Away and General Chompsalot faced Drillzilla and Team Cyclone with their loanerbot, Tut Tut.

"We shot an entryway interview with all the teams for the tag-team finals. They took a couple of takes, and kept asking the builders to make it "beefier". It was real WWF stuff."

— Mark Joerger on the pre-battle interview for the Tag Team Terror final

During the pre-battle interview, Mark Joerger made visual gestures referencing Tut Tut's pyramid shape in his exchanges with Chris Harriman. Likewise, Bruce Hall of the Drillzilla team jokingly suggested that Run Away's name was indicative of its lack of aggression in combat.

"And Run Away? The name says it all!"

— Bruce Hall, commenting on Run Away's name

Run Away's left-rear wheel is targeted by Drillzilla

Drillzilla steers Run Away into Shunt

Sporting pairs of red and yellow 'lucky dice', Run Away fought first against Drillzilla, ramming the Silicon Valley Destruction Company machine as the latter got its left jaws near Run Away's left-rear tire. It circled speedily across the arena as both robots separated, colliding once more with Drillzilla before reversing and twice crossing over the Flame Pit. Run Away drove into and was pushed towards Shunt by Drillzilla, another ram causing the red dice to fall off. Its left blade hit Drillzilla as the latter pushed and held Run Away onto the Flame Pit for a few seconds. Run Away drove forwards into the wall, Drillzilla slamming into its right-hand side while repeatedly shoving it back towards the center of the arena. During this time, the robot had lost both of its yellow dice.

"Well, those lawnmower rotor blades don't seem to be doing too much damage on Drillzilla. Drillzilla's got all the power and all the cookies!"

— Stefan Frank, as Run Away is pressured by Drillzilla

Run Away is sandwiched between Drillzilla and Sgt. Bash

Run Away takes on Tut Tut

When both robots separated again, Run Away retreated towards the bottom-left corner, only to be pinned between Drillzilla and Sgt. Bash. Sgt. Bash gingerly steered Run Away into the Pit trigger, before lifting the Team Run Amok machine on one side with his pincers. Run Away narrowly avoided the descending pit as it escaped, ramming Tut Tut head-on before tagging General Chompsalot. By this time, the robot had suffered a flat front tyre and severe damage to one of its steering arms, hampering its maneuvrability across the arena floor.

"Lots of bashing -- one of my front tires went flat, and the steel steering arm on the other side actually tore. I could now only turn in a large arc or a slightly smaller arc. Tut Tut and General C. came out to add to the fight."

— Mark Joerger recollects the damage initially inflicted to Run Away.

Tut Tut tips Run Away onto its side

Run Away re-joined the battle after General Chompsalot was pitted by Drillzilla. With its teammate eliminated, it was left to fight Tut Tut once again, initially dodging and briefly driving up the loanerbot's steep front end. Driving noticeably slower than in the earlier stages, it circled towards the center and reversed, only to drive up and be tipped onto its side by a charging Tut Tut.

"Oh! Tut Tut, the tombstone from Egypt, puts Run Away up on its side! I don't think those lawnmower blades are gonna help him out of this one!"

— Stefan Frank as Run Away is tipped over by Tut Tut

Run Away is counted out

Despite attempting to demonstrate some movement with its spinning blades, Run Away was unable to self-right and eventually stopped using its weapon as its motor began smoking. Refbot counted Run Away out, signalling the end of the final as Shunt axed the stranded Team Run Amok machine. As a result, Run Away and General Chompsalot would finish the Season 1 Tag Team Terror as joint runners-up.

Mick Foley: "This Drillzilla team just seems to be unstoppable. How do you feel about that?"

Mark Joerger: "It's like we’re fighting a block of solid metal. There's just nothing to get a hold of on him."

— Mark Joerger, upon being asked about Drillzilla's pushing power

Season 2

"We're stronger, we're tougher, we're faster, and we're gonna put a hole in somebody!"

— Mark Joerger introduces the updated Run Away

An updated Run Away returned for the US Championship of Season 2. Competing in Heat G, it faced newcomers Destructive Criticism and Lightning Tracks. Prior to the battle, Mark Joerger outlined the improvements made to the robot and his hope of improving the team's Season 1 form, while also acknowledging the driving errors and lack of self-righting capability that had cost Run Away previously.

Mark Joerger: "I think some improvement on my driving might help."

Carol Grow: "And if not, can Aaron take over?"

Mark Joerger: "What do you think, Aaron?"

Aaron Joerger: "Yes!"

— Team Run Amok suggest a potential driver swap between Mark and Aaron Joerger

Run Away (bottom-left) makes an early lunge on Lightning Tracks

Early on, Run Away advanced towards the bottom-left corner, before ramming Lightning Tracks as both of its opponents locked together in the center of the arena. A separation allowed Run Away to pin Lightning Tracks underneath Refbot, in turn leaving Lightning Tracks exposed to a glancing blow from Destructive Criticism's spinner. It reversed, turned and pressed the Pit trigger, before driving towards the arena perimeter as Destructive Criticism and Lightning Tracks continued attacking each other.

Destructive Criticism attacks the wheels of the stranded Run Away

Moments later, Run Away drove up the front of Lightning Tracks while the Team Dark Forces machine was stranded on the Disc of Doom with transmitter issues. The attack bent Lightning Tracks' aerial and knocked its decorative turret off, but left Run Away stranded over its now-immobilized opponent and open to a series of attacks on its wheels and rear axle from Destructive Criticism. Several blows buckled the right-rear wheel hub and caused both its differential assembly and bearing supports to shatter.

"Look at that! That's a solid steel wheel - Destructive Criticism's disc just went in there and mashed it up, like it's a piece of white bread! Unbelievable, and Run Away is not running anywhere today!"

— Stefan Frank as Destructive Criticism mangles Run Away's rear wheel and axle

These attacks continued as Refbot separated Run Away from Lightning Tracks, leaving both of Run Away's rear wheels off-camber and the drive system incapacitated. However, Lightning Tracks was deemed to have been immobilized first, so was counted out and thrown over the top of Run Away by the Floor Flipper before being pitted by Shunt.

Mick Foley: "The Run Away is a battle-hardened veteran out there. Looked to me like, maybe Run Away was a victim of its own power... do you think that you guys have the fortitude and the know-how, to go back there into The Pits and to make things happen so you can advance into this tournament?"

Aaron Joerger: "Oh yeah!"

— Post-Round 1 interview

Though Run Away survived to progress to the second round, the damage was extensive enough to require a near-total rebuild of the robot's drivetrain.

"I dragged the assorted pieces of 'Run Away' back to the pits and called over team-mate Max Chapin from his driving duties with 'The Gap'. Max Chapin is the best metal worker I've ever known, and he just smiled and said "no problem". We scavenged scrap bits from the rubbish bins in the pits and came up with enough metal to weld-up a solid rear axle and mount the main drive sprocket more-or-less straight. I had a spare rear tire but no spare rear wheel, so I set to work trying to hammer the jagged remains of the original back into something that looked round. Hours later, Max Chapin's fingers ware (sic) burned and mine were bloody. He left to drive 'The Gap' against 'Propeller-Head' and I went to work assembling the bodged pieces."

— Mark Joerger, recalling the 'scrap rebuild' of Run Away following its Round 1 battle

With the assistance of Team Creative Steel's Max Chapin, Mark Joerger restored Run Away to a functional state, rehammering the damaged rear wheel and welding a new rear axle using discarded scrap metal salvaged from within The Pits. As such, it was ready to fight General Chompsalot 2, with Team Run Amok and Team Jawbreaker both committed to going all-out for their fourth battle together.

Carol Grow: "Friends outside the arena?"

Mark Joerger: "Inside the arena... it's all gloves off."

Carol Grow: "Anything goes, right Aaron?"

Aaron Joerger: "Yeah, we're going to get them!"

— Team Run Amok prior to their Round 2 fight

Run Away is tipped onto its side

Immediately, Run Away darted off to press the Pit trigger, which Mark Joerger would later explain was part of a plan to push General Chompsalot 2 down in the early stages. However, this allowed General Chompsalot 2 to pursue, ram and lift it off the arena floor with its jaws. Though Run Away inflicted light damage with its blades in return, the rear axle flexed, causing the drive chain to come loose once again. General Chompsalot 2 proceeded to carry, tip and twice ram Run Away against the wall; left on its side and again unable to self-right, Run Away was counted out and set upon by Dead Metal and Sgt. Bash.

"Run Away is just gonna get sawed, munched, burnt and crispified... and there's nothing they can do about it!"

— Stefan Frank as Run Away sustains punishment from the House Robots

Run Away, at the mercy of a 'tug of war' between General Chompsalot 2 and Sgt. Bash

General Chompsalot 2 pits Run Away

Moments after the House Robots had finished attacking, Run Away was gripped and rammed a few more times by General Chompsalot 2 before Sgt. Bash pulled it clear from the wall. As it was being dragged back towards the Pit, General Chompsalot 2 also grabbed hold and tugged Run Away back and forth by its right-hand spinner. Once Sgt. Bash let go, Run Away was again grabbed by General Chompsalot 2, which proceeded to push it towards the right-hand wall, turn and pit the defeated Team Run Amok machine. While Run Away was eliminated from the US Championship, this was not to the detriment of Team Run Amok's long-standing friendship with Team Jawbreaker.

Mick Foley: "Aaron, Run Away has been a formidable competitor here on Robot Wars, but it seemed like it just wasn’t prepared for the attack of the General. Is that correct?"

Aaron Joerger: "Yes, but we're friends!"

— Interview following the Round 2 fight

"We lost, but the important thing is that we fought."

— Mark Joerger, reflecting on Run Away’s loss against General Chompsalot 2

Nickelodeon

The Season 2 incarnation of Run Away made a further appearance in the concurrently-filmed Nickelodeon series, competing solely in the International Tag Team event. There, it was partnered with Zanzara, a loanerbot fielded by sister team and fellow friends Team Creative Steel as their robot The Gap was badly damaged after their battle with Propeller-Head. Fulfilling a promise held by Mark Joerger, Aaron would drive Run Away for this episode.

"All the other robots, beware!"

— Aaron Joerger concludes Run Away and Zanzara's Tag Team introduction

Run Away is taken out by The Revolutionist

The Floor Flipper tosses the defeated Run Away and Zanzara

In the US Qualifier, Run Away and Zanzara faced Team LOGICOM along with their spinner-wielding machines The Revolutionist and Spin Doctor. Zanzara fought first against both of their opponents, but was immobilized by The Revolutionist, forcing Run Away to rush out of its corner to ram the latter. However, its wedge glanced off The Revolutionist's spinning shell, and in the process of reversing out of Shunt's CPZ Run Away had its right-rear wheel bent inwards by The Revolutionist.

The impact completely immobilized Run Away's drive before it was attacked by Shunt and placed onto the Floor Flipper along with Zanzara. Both of the Salem-based entries were flung through the air together, with Run Away landing on its side and eventually being pitted upside-down.

Dave Aizer: "So I was watching the Tag Team match and I thought what was going to happen is, that you guys were going to tag each other in. But I look up and the next thing to me I know is that there’s four robots in the ring! How did that happen? What happened out there?"

Aaron Joerger: "Well, our teammates were in trouble."

Dave Aizer: "So you had to go bail your teammate out, right?"

Aaron Joerger: "Oh yeah!"

— Aaron Joerger following the US Qualifier

Following this loss, Run Away and Zanzara were due to fight UK representatives Bigger Brother and Kat 3 in the play-off. However, Team Run Amok withdrew their machine as the damage inflicted by The Revolutionist proved too great for another 'scrap rebuild' to take place. With Kat 3 also pulling out, Zanzara and Bigger Brother fought on alone, the recent UK Series runner-up going on to win on a Judges' decision. As a result, Run Away and Zanzara finished the International Tag Team fourth overall, in what would be Team Run Amok's final appearance on Robot Wars.

"Time and progress finally caught up with our tough old lawnmower / robot. She won season 1 of Robotica as 'Run Amok', fought hard in Robot Wars as 'Run Away', and even managed a final battle on the new Robot Wars show for Nickelodeon, but the advent of monster weapon motors has just dished out too much cumulative damage on the old girl."

— Team Run Amok website

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 5

NOTE: Despite Run Away not taking part in the battle, Run Away & Zanzara's loss in the International Tag Team playoff is considered a loss.

Series Record

Run Away in The Pits

US Series	Run Away Series Record
Season 1	Heat (Round 1)
Season 2	Heat, Round 2 Entered with The Gap
Nickelodeon	International Tag Team, Fourth Place Entered with Zanzara

Outside Robot Wars

Run Amok, Run Away's original Robotica guise

In its original guise as Run Amok, Run Away participated in the first season of Robotica, with the wedge serving as an optional attachment. Debuting in the very first episode, it encountered steering issues during its Speedway round against Spring Breaker, but completed three laps and eventually rammed an immobile Spring Breaker out of the course boundaries. Despite its score being deducted by ten points through going out of bounds itself, Run Amok still outscored Spring Breaker 40-10. Subsequent victories in the Maze and Gauntlet stages allowed Run Amok to qualify for the Fight to the Finish against Killer B; a tentative performance culminated in it pushing Killer B off the platform shortly after the railings were dropped.

In the Final, Run Amok completed six laps in The Speedway to the five of Kritical Mass, during a close and fiercely-fought run by both competitors. Kritical Mass responded by narrowly beating it to the center platform in The Maze, building up a 40-point lead going into The Gauntlet. Despite a slower start, Run Amok eventually caught up with and defeated Kritical Mass after the Team Suspect Robotics entry got stranded while trying to push the final safe. Equalizing Kritical Mass on points, it progressed to the Final Fight to the Finish against Juggerbot and Ram Force. Despite entering with a damaged drive motor, Run Amok emerged victorious, using its wedge to drive behind and push Ram Force off the platform after Juggerbot eliminated itself a few seconds earlier. As a result, it was declared the Robotica Season 1 champion in its only appearance.

Mini Run Amok

Run Amok with both Mini and Micro Run Amok

Due to the damage sustained in Robot Wars, Run Away was retired from combat, but was repaired to working condition and restored to its original Robotica specifications and identity. This lead to the spinning blade weapon being removed and repurposed as a wall decoration, and the red and white plywood top armor reapplied in place of the Extreme Warriors Season 2 set-up. As a static display, Run Amok attended events such as the DaVinci Days in Corvallis, Oregon in July 2002, where it was present alongside The Gap.

Two smaller non-combat replicas of Run Amok were also made, Mini Run Amok and Micro Run Amok, each weighing 4lbs and ¼ oz respectively. Mini Run Amok was a 40% scale version based on a Tamiya RC car chassis, itself repurposed from an unnamed claw-wielding robot built by Mark Joerger for his team's Robotica Season 1 application.

Trivia

Run Away, minus wedge, makes a background cameo in Extreme 1

• Run Away makes a brief cameo appearance in Episode 2 of Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1. Minus its wedge plate, it can be seen in the background on Team Run Amok's Pit bench, while Julia Reed interviews King B Powerworks and 101's team captains ahead of their Tag Team Terror battle.