Starting June 3, we’re 10 weeks away from race day - that's 68 days to be precise!

Jenn and I from Rogue Running in Austin, TX (two of your official SeaWheeze Run Ambassadors) are here to help you get there. June 3 marks the start of the official SeaWheeze Tacklebox training, a 10-week, step-by-step guide to preparing for the race and getting ready for SeaWheeze domination on August 10th!

The program is designed for runners of all levels with one common goal in mind: to help you smash through your self-imposed, personal limits to reach places you never thought were possible. That means different things for everyone, but it requires opening your mind and discarding prior expectations.

If you haven’t yet – download the SeaWheeze app so you can track all of your training, or print off the TackleBox program and follow along at home.

As you enter these final 10 weeks of preparation, here are some thoughts to prepare you to get the most out of the Tacklebox program.

“If you have a body, you’re an athlete.” – Bill Bowerman

Own that statement.

If you can breathe, regardless of your size, shape, age, or background, then you are an athlete. If you can move, regardless of your starting point, then you are an athlete and therefore a runner. Own it!

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

Contrary to popular belief, improving as a runner is not about big efforts or even running fast more often, it’s about consistency and doing the small things repeatedly that will drive improvement over time.

What does this mean for the Tacklebox program?

1. Consistency is king.

The most important thing you can do is follow the program consistently starting today. The accumulation of consistent training efforts will make you a stronger runner and prepare you for the August 10th.

In addition to supreme discipline, consistency requires supreme patience.

Other than your weekly workouts (shown on Wednesday on the schedule), all of your runs (or run/walks) should be done at an easy, conversational pace. Running easy means that you can speak comfortably in full sentences and ensures that you are in the right aerobic development zone to best develop your fitness.

As we say to our groups at Rogue, “you have to go slow to go fast later”. Running easy also puts less strain on your muscles, tendons, and joints, allowing you to stay healthy throughout the program.

If you remember nothing else from this blog, remember 3 words: Consistent. Easy. Running!

2. The one-percents.

It’s about the running but also about the small things you do to stay healthy and strong as an athlete. Collier called these things “small efforts,” we call them the one-percents.

What are the one-percents in the Tacklebox program? The one percents are the Strength Circuit and Drills from Jenn and I, the Yoga routine from Kerri, and the Dynamic Warm-up routine from Blue.

These small efforts done repeatedly each week over the next 10 weeks will make you a stronger, healthier, and more efficient runner. Do them all weekly if you can. If not, prioritize them based on your weaknesses, but regardless of your situation, make time for the one-percents!

"Out on the roads there is fitness and self-discovery and the persons we were destined to be." – George Sheehan

Ok, let’s do this. We look forward to seeing you on the roads on August 10th, not as the person you are now, but closer to the person you are destined to be! Your journey to be that person starts today!

We can’t wait to yoga, run and party through Vancouver’s beaches, mountains and city streets with you again this summer. Last year, we created an app to help you with all things half-marathon related: training, a city guide to help you maximize your weekend in Vancity, run playlists and more. We listened to your feedback that you loved the app and that you wanted even more features added for this year’s event.

Drumroll please…

Please meet our brand new SeaWheeze app! We have added a ton of cool stuff designed to make your SeaWheeze 2013 experience as good as, oh, I don’t know, eating Oreo ice cream and getting a foot massage at the same time (*Editor’s Note: Alexis’ creepy idea of a good time does not reflect the views of this blog or 99% of the human population).

Let’s get into the nitty gritty of what features have been added to the app.

makeover alert: my training section

We heard you say that you wanted to track your progress up to the big day. Now you can check the boxes of which runs, yoga and cross-training you've completed per week and the app will compile your progress for you.

We’ve also added new training videos featuring this year's SeaWheeze trainers (runners Jenn Howard-Brown, Chris McClung and Blue Benadum and yogi Kerri Kelly) so you can get instruction on-the-go.

let’s get physical accountable

You can now share and interact with friends on Facebook who are also training – you can see their progress and they can see yours.

Things just got serious.

say cheese!

There's a Photo Booth with different frames so that you can share all your SeaWheeze memories with friends on Facebook, Twitter and more. There’s also a live Instagram feed of anything hashtagged #SeaWheeze so you can keep up with all the yoga.run.party times happening during the weekend!

get down on it

Playlists are now listed in the main navigation for easy reference.

My apologies in advance for multiple Mariah tracks...I was surrounded by butterflies and wearing denim cutoffs when I put them together.  #notreallysorry

live goal crushing

We will now be publishing live finishing times via the app on race day. These will still also be offered via desktop and tablet. Get those goals!

it’s the freakin’ weekend

Weekend events are now broken out by day to make weekend planning easy breezy.

We are counting down the days until August 10^th! This app is available in the App Store as of May 17^th. What part of the SeaWheeze weekend are you most excited for?

michelina's SeaWheeze story

Where did you grow up? Brampton, Ontario – it's the fastest-growing city in Canada, look it up!

How did you sweat growing up? Were you a runner? I played competitive basketball – I could shoot well but running wasn't my strong suit on the court. My coach always told me I had to play smart because speed wasn't my forte!

Where do you live now? Beautiful Vancouver, B.C.

What made you decide to run the SeaWheeze this year? It all goes back to last year's SeaWheeze. At this time last year, I had goals to move from Ottawa (where I was living at the time post-university) to Vancouver. I saw some co-worker's Instagram posts of the SeaWheeze launch party last year and had major FOMO – it was then that I decided I was going to Vancouver to run. When I ended up coming here, I spent a day working with the social media team and discovered what I wanted to do with my career next. What was great about the experience is that my "online friends" became my real-life pals – we ran beside each other, worked together and had an amazing weekend. It was through these connections made during the SeaWheeze weekend that I achieved my goal of moving to Vancouver and getting a job in my new favourite city.

What is it that you love about Vancouver in the summertime? I discovered this city – the beaches, mountains and neighborhoods – via the SeaWheeze. It was an incredible way to drink in this city and I fell in love. I love that on one run you can see mountains AND the beach from downtown – it is so unique. The yoga scene here is incredible and the communities are great – there is a ton of diversity but everything is close together. Vancouver has big city feel but it's still small enough to feel at home.

What running goal are trying to accomplish this year? I have a lofty running goal that's actually going to take longer than a year. My friend Danielle and I set a goal to run five of the coolest half-marathons in the world over the next five years. Some we're thinking about include the Rock 'N Roll Marathon in the UK, the San Francisco Nike Half-Marathon and more. It's a great way to stay in shape and incorporate some great travel!

What is one goal you haven't reached that you are still trying to attain? This one eats at me big time. When I was 16 years old, we visited the Great Wall Of China on a school trip. Once I got the photo op, I quit climbing before I got to the top. When I think about this it drives me nuts and one day I will get back there and summit the highest point!

Are you a morning or evening runner? In Ottawa I had to be a morning runner because it is so hot in summer. I am so excited to be able to train at different times of day this Spring in Vancouver.

What kind of yoga do you do to complement your run training? Vinyasa Flow is the practice that I love (I practice at least two times a week) - I know my body will begin craving Yin as training gets more intense and then I'll switch over.

What are you going to eat the night before the SeaWheeze? Pizza and pasta, hold the wine. I am Italian after all!

We are going to be featuring different runners over the next few weeks who are running SeaWheeze - why they are running, some tips they have and what keeps them inspired. Are you running SeaWheeze 2013? Follow along to get amped up for the big day! If you are interested in participating in the SeaWheeze weekend but missed out on signing up, we still have tons on volunteering opportunities - come party with us!

Okay pals, it's crunch time. Like we mentioned on Facebook earlier this week, we have sold 8,000 of our 10,014 spots for SeaWheeze this August 10th, 2013. Have you signed up yet?

I repeat....ahem...have you signed up yet? Because this puppy is going to be sold out soon and I don't want anyone missing out on what is one of the best parties of the summer. Last year I had a family function and had to miss it - and while I had an incredible time at the other event, I also had major FOMO. Consequently, as soon as tickets went on sale this year I pulled the trigger.

From what I've heard (I sit quite closely to the planners of SeaWheeze, and they don't exactly whisper) this year's race and weekend events are going to be next level. This year I have declared that I am going to be like Jim Carrey in "Yes Man", just saying yes all day every day. Yesyesyesyes. I'm not doing the usual things I do; waiting to see "who else is coming" and then missing it or "waiting to see if my hip hurts" only to feel great in August but not have a ticket.

The summer of 2013 is going to be major. I'm going for it. I am COMMITTING IN CAPS LOCK. This is serious!

For more info (and less cliched uses of the words "going for it", "rad" and "caps lock"), please check out the SeaWheeze registration page here.

Yup, it’s that time again. Last year we decided to throw a badass half-marathon party on the streets, seawalls and beaches of Vancouver and it was such a success that we’re taking it to the next level this year.

We are thrilled to announce that registration for SeaWheeze 2013 goes live tomorrow, Friday January 18^th at 9am.

Were you at SeaWheeze 2012? If not, watch this video to get a little feel for the race.

what's this half-marathon all about?

Like last year, there will be crazy cheer stations (hello, drag queens!), tunes pumping through the course, a runner’s lounge and a SeaWheeze store. We’ll have yoga throughout the weekend offered to keep you limbered and relaxed – after all, this is the summer time and we want you to feel awesome. Last but certainly not least, we will be having another concert after the race this year – details are top secret for now (any guesses?!) but we promise it’ll be something you’ll never forget. Check out this page for more information on all things SeaWheeze.

We’ll also have a training program to help you achieve your running goals. Wanna get your personal best down by five minutes? Want to finish your first half? Whatever your goals are, we’ll have a program to help you get there.

So are you in? We hope so…this year we’re taking it to another level and we want to celebrate with you.

Register here – we’ll see you at the start line on August 10!