It’s rare for anyone to think a viral dance craze died too soon, but the nostalgia the Running Man Challenge brought to Gen X’ers was just enough to make it kind of charming. Even Sports Illustrated lamented its demise in 2016!

Of course, most people were doing it wrong, but mocking them was half the fun.

Like old folks shaking a cane and yelling “get off my lawn,” everyone in their 30s was scoffing “that’s not how you do the Running Man.” Then we all twisted an ankle demonstrating the correct form.

THIS is how it’s done:

via GIPHY

Ah, those were the days!

Another part of what made the online “challenge” so special – this time to Millennials – was the use of a two-decade-old song.

You see, most challenges use something contemporary. But the Running Man Challenge? Nope. Someone managed to choose Ghost Town DJs’ 1996 kind-of-hit-song “My Boo” and suddenly everyone was transported back to middle school dances.

It might have peaked at #31 on the American charts, but do you know where that song was really popular? New Zealand.

Ok, Kiwis.

But maybe that’s part of what made the Running Man Challenge performed by the New Zealand Police Department so popular. Its viewership now sits at over 1.3 million clicks on the original YouTube upload.

Unlike, say, the Lip Sync Challenge, the Running Man didn’t wasn’t associated with men and women in uniform. It belonged to everyone and was popularized (though not created) by two Maryland basketball players (who, it should be noted, never did the dance correctly).

They just kept doing it until it was popular and they had the fan base to make it happen.

So it kept spreading to other basketball teams, THEN to the rest of us, before it was picked up by law enforcement.

Cops creating choreographed videos feels even more strange in this particular day and age, no matter what your politics. And here’s been plenty of backlash from all over the world on their participation in any of the meme challenges, in part because people wonder how many of the higher-production videos (ahem, Bloomington, Minnesota PD and your smoke machine) are being funded with tax dollars.

But since these folks are from New Zealand, we’re putting that aside for a moment (well, unless you’re from New Zealand, then you don’t have to).

Their video takes place in a parking garage. A car pulls up and a few officers get out and begin the dance.

Then other officers come in from the wings and join what is decidedly NOT the Running Man (can you tell we’re bitter about this?).

Everyone has their own take on producing meme videos, but this is the classic style in which a group just has a fun-loving dance party and occasionally one dancer shows off their moves (as opposed to a slick, choreographed routines with high production values).

But then why did it go viral?

For starters, they’re really into it and seem to be having fun.

But not long after the dancing begins, it appears their superior officer wanders in. (Actually, we have no idea what his rank is, he’s just wearing a different uniform and looks like he’s got a few years on the rest of the dancers.)

But that dude can REALLY do the Running Man!

Finally, someone with some skills!

“Funny how the older guy came and broke down the REAL old-school Running Man, and then went into his Locking like a boss… Go head my friend… show ’em how it’s done,” said one commenter.

We agree. You gotta teach those young ones who to do the moves. Don’t let them get away with anything less than an authentic Running Man!

THIS is a man we’d like to thank for his service (to the dance).

Be sure to scroll down below to see the Kiwi PD’s full performance.

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Source: YouTube – Wingmen, Sports Illustrated, Facebook – Ballislife