We’ve introduced you to the three amazing run ambassadors who will be leading you through your run training for SeaWheeze 2013. Now meet Kerri Kelly, our Official SeaWheeze Yoga Instructor! We love to incorporate yoga into our run training and we’ve built regular practice into the SeaWheeze training program to compliment all those miles on the pavement.

Kerri first found yoga in the late 90s after a series of running and sports-related injuries had her down and out. She quickly discovered the power of yoga, not only as a way to heal her body, but as a spiritual tool to change her life. Inspired by this, she left the corporate world to dedicate herself to empowering others through yoga, and now she’s bringing her knowledge to SeaWheeze 2013. Kerri has been teaching yoga for seven years and continues to explore many styles of yoga to ensure creativity and balance in her classes. She is an ambassador for our Cow Hollow store in San Francisco and will be leading yoga during the SeaWheeze weekend in Vancouver!

Q&A with kerri

1.How long have you been doing yoga?  I "checked" myself into yoga in 1999 after a serious of run-related injuries.

2. When did you start running? I've been running as far back as i can remember.  But it was in 6th grade that i discovered i was fast when i beat all the boys in our PT test.

3. Favourite city in the world? In this moment, I am in Varanasi, India and it is blowing my mind.

4. Guilty pleasure? OK. Here goes. I have been totally afraid to admit this. But i love sci-fi.

5. Favourite type of yoga for running? Balancing poses and core work really help reinforce "whole-body running" that not only makes us more coordinated, but more sustainable runners.

6. One thing you want our runners to remember this year?  Listen to your body.  It is brilliant and will tell you everything you need to know about being fast and healthy.

7. Who inspires you? Right now? Young girls in India.

8. One goal you have for 2013?  Let go and Let it ALL in.

 9. Anything else you want us to know? Yes. Self-care is everything. Build it into your cross-training routine...it will make all the difference (and you will be happier too!)

Watch our Facebook page for upcoming live chats with Kerri to learn more about the benefits of building yoga into your run training. 

yup, it's that time again!

We've all done it: with major excitement, we sign up for a half-marathon…and then two months before the race, we realize that we haven't started training yet. Eeep!

We are launching the TackleBox training program in May – this 10-week program is engineered to help achieve your peak performance at SeaWheeze 2013 (hello, personal best!) However, we want you to begin the TackleBox program with some fitness and cardio skills already under your belt. It is with this in mind that we have created the Get Sweaty Get Ready program.

Regardless of your current level of fitness, Get Sweaty Get Ready has plenty of options available to get you into your running groove. Along with running, we have incorporated plenty of yoga and strength work to augment your training. By the time the TackleBox training program program rolls out, you'll be ready to rock!

If you have any questions about training or anything else SeaWheeze-related, please email us at support@seawheeze.com or post on our Facebook page.

For any other training-related queries, please visit our FAQ page under the "Training" tab.

See you on the road!

Last week we introduced you to Chris and Jenn from Austin, TX – this week we’re excited to introduce you to Blue Benadum from LA, who will join them as an Official SeaWheeze Trainer and lead you through the run training for SeaWheeze 2013!

Blue Benadum (twitter: @BlueBenadum, Instagram: blue_benadum)

Blue knows the SeaWheeze well - last year, he placed second overall! He is a pro marathon runner living in Los Angeles and one of our elite ambassadors. He spends most days leading his elite running team LASP in hard pursuit of the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials and also coaching and training LA running teams, groups and schools. He’s currently working on his first book "Find Your FAST! -The Pursuit of Speed, a Runner's Obsession."

q & a with blue

1. when did you start running? As soon as I could walk!

2. what was your first half marathon? The first half of the San Diego Rock n Roll Full Marathon in 2006.

3. what made last year's SeaWheeze so awesome? I love the beautiful course, the sunset yoga, the concert and of course all the beautiful girls in luon!

4. what's your favorite pre-run snack? Oatmeal.

5. favourite movie? Last of the Mohicans.

6. worst run story? I was demonstrating how to do a progressive speed sprint interval to my high school cross country students last year. At the fastest moment, the parking lot took a dip and...wipeout! I was able to roll up to my feet and shake it off but I couldn't run for two weeks. My hip hit really hard. The kids were laughing but a little concerned! ‘What NOT to do when sprinting’ by Blue Benadum.

7. best tip for finishing a race feeling good? The more training the better you will feel after you finish. That, plus good nutrition of course.

8. what's one goal you have for 2013? I really want to chip a few more minutes of my finishing time in a key marathon to set the stage for an Olympic Qualifier in 2014.

9. what inspires you? I am inspired by the pursuit of pushing boundaries. It is a beautiful thing because it is relative to each of us. Everyone has their own limitations and regardless of what they are, those of us that work to push beyond them, find that we have something in common.

We think you should know: Blue’s running team, LASpeedProject.com, is part of a documentary where they will be aiming to set a 300 mile running speed record on March 29-30th from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with 4 guys and 2 girls. Talk about a BHAG!

SeaWheeze 2013 is just over 5 months away, but we just can’t wait to get started! The Get Sweaty Get Ready program starts on March 18^th, and we want you to introduce you to the four awesome trainers that are going to be taking you from here to the finish line on August 10^th.

This week, meet Chris McClung and Jenn Howard-Brown, who head up the Rogue Running group in Austin, Texas. They set a BHAG to bring 150 runners to Vancouver in August and kicked things off with a launch party last week - look for more of their inspiring story coming soon!

chris mcclung (twitter: @chrismcclung)

Chris was a retired (and recovering) soccer player at age 19 when he began running to stay in shape and quickly became addicted to the sport. Since then, he has run 10 marathons, struggled through 2 Half-Ironman events (w/o drowning!), and completed over 90 other road races and triathlons. Chris is one of the co-owners of Rogue Running, an Austin, Texas-based running store, training center, and community that is committed to changing people's lives through running.

jennifer howard-brown (twitter/instagram: @jennhb)

Jenn is a run coach for Rogue Running who is passionate about helping athletes find the joy in running. She has completed 14 marathons -- London, New York, Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, San Jose, Dallas and Eugene; more than 3 dozen half-marathons; 2 triathlons; and countless 5k's and 10k's. Jennifer began coaching for Rogue four years ago and has trained hundreds of athletes, who describe her as a Tiger Mom coach -- nurturing with a dash of drill sergeant.

q & a with jenn and chris

1. What made you want to be involved with SeaWheeze?

C: Fate? A calling? Changing lives through running and fitness is my passion, and for some reason much bigger than me, I was meant to be a catalyst to inspire others for this year's race. On a drive to an ambassador meeting at lululemon, I had this spontaneous vision of this tidal wave of people from Austin experiencing the journey to SeaWheeze together. Less than an hour later, I had put that vision into words, and that is when the BHAG was born. Now we have over 150 strong coming from Austin to do the race, and I am so excited to help others in the journey through the training program as well!

J: Joining an inspired group of runners and yogi's for a fun-filled weekend in a beautiful city was impossible to resist.  There is an electric hum buzzing about the SeaWheeze that I had to be part of.

2. What's your favorite race to run?

J: The Eugene Marathon in Eugene, Oregon -- better known as TrackTown, USA. It's a smaller race on a good course with reliably good weather in magical, running town, finishing on the track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where the running greats have run.

3. What's your favorite way to sweat (other than running)?

C: Chasing my children! I have two and four year old boys and a newborn daughter. They keep me on my toes!

J: A juicy, vinyasa flow class.  It's equally as a tough as a run workout without the impact.

4. Favourite thing about your hometown (Austin, TX)

J: The best thing about Austin is the "weird."  We pride ourselves on being a little quirky with our "Keep Austin Weird" slogan celebrating everything from our colony of 1.5 million bats living under the Congress Bridge to our Cathedral of Junk and our food trailer culture.

C: In my opinion, there is no better fitness community in the US than what we have in Austin. Whether you want to run, swim, bike, stand-up paddle, hit the gym, or do almost anything else, you can find a community of like-minded athletes who will surround you with love and lift you up. That and the BBQ and Tex-Mex food too!

5. Who inspires you?

C: The athlete's I coach. I love being a part of their journey from goal-setting to action to accomplishment.

6. Best piece of advice for a first time half-marathoner?

C: Be consistent and have fun! Find a local run group or get a group of friends to together to meet regularly. Choose shorter, fun buildup races that will provide milestones along the way. Oh, and smile more!

J: Have a positive, mental attitude.  Your body listens to your brain -- those unspoken doubts in your head affect your physical performance.  Stay positive and trust your training.  You will succeed.

7. Tell us one goal you have for 2013.

C:  To set a new personal best marathon time this year (under 2:46!) My marathon best came in 2004, just over 9 years ago. I have been close to breaking that time again, but haven't yet gotten there. This is the year that I do it!

J: I will achieve my Boston-qualifier in 2013, which means running a qualifying time (3:45) in order to register for the 2014 Boston Marathon.  (I need to PR by 37 seconds!)

We are super excited to meet those who will be following our program from home or from their local lululemon store. See you all in Vancouver in August! –Chris and Jenn

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!

When faced with an injury halfway through training for her first race, Robson Store educator, Cayley, made the  decision to listen to her body and be a stand for the 7500 other runners who would need her support that day.

sign me up!

When I first heard about the SeaWheeze, I just knew it was something I had to be a part of. I’d never been a runner before but if there was one race out there to inspire me to lace up my shoes and hit the trails, it was this one. I signed up without really thinking about what I was committing myself to (21.1 is about 16 more kilometers than I’d ever run before) but I had caught a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out) and there seemed to be only one cure.

Of course, after hitting that “register” button, I had all the reasons not to run, catch up to me – I’d never been in a race before (read: I’d never run regularly before at all) and I had no idea how to train for a half marathon. Lucky for me, I was invited to be a part of a special training group with Mike Porter, one of our amazing ambassadors at the Robson store. For three months, each of the five runners in the group would be receiving a weekly training program tailored to their run experience and their goals, as well as coaching, advice and support from Mike.

from 0 to 21.1 12k

I hit my training hard and fast; within just a few weeks I was running distances that I had never thought were possible for me. When I finished my first ever 12km run, I had such a sense of pride and accomplishment. After that moment, heading out for my runs was no longer a chore. So when I started to get a sharp pain in my left knee on one of my runs I started to get a little worried – running was something I had just started to enjoy and I wasn’t ready to give it up yet.

bottom line: listen to your body

When I told Mike about what I was feeling, the support I got from him was incredible. He sent me videos of exercises to try, kept me accountable to spinning as my cross-training so I didn’t lose fitness and recommended several different clinics for me to visit. Over the month of June, I saw a physiotherapist and a registered massage therapist more regularly than I saw some of my friends but the progress I was making was pretty slow. After a month off of running, I had a tough decision to make – I desperately wanted to run the SeaWheeze (especially after I’d convinced my sister and one of my best friends to run it with me) but I was still feeling that sharp pain in my leg and time to properly train was running out. I held off until the last possible minute but eventually recognized that I needed to give my body the time it needed to heal (which I’m still working on) without the pressure of a deadline.

this is my SeaWheeze

Once I made the decision to not run the SeaWheeze, my FOMO started to flare up again – I didn’t want to miss out on a weekend that I’d been looking forward to since I’d signed up in January. I stayed involved with the race through the Robson store and I was beyond excited to be at the Vancouver Convention Center on August 11th to cheer on the start and finish of the race. Once I had made my tough decision, I channeled my training efforts from running a half marathon to prepping for 7500 enthusiastic high fives.

i’ll runcouver again

I may not have been able to run in the main event this year but I certainly didn’t miss out. I learned a lot from my SeaWheeze experience – what I’m capable of and how to listen to and take care of my body. I know that I accomplished a huge goal by just learning to enjoy heading out for a jog, which is something that I’ll have forever. At the moment I’m focused on getting my knee in a good spot so that I can runcouver my favorite trails again soon. SeaWheeze 2013, here I come!

 It takes a lot to recognize when your body needs a break – and even more to overcome your own ego when faced with a setback. We think those who can’t run should cheer (or get involved in the race in some other way). How have you reacted in the past in the face of injury?

You didn’t think we’d let you run a half marathon and then just leave yah hanging, did you? Coming straight from Rob your TackleBox Trainer, here’s everything you need to know now that the wheezing is over (well, for this year….)

the AfterWheeze

celebrate your success!!!
Take a moment to reflect on what you have accomplished. It is really an amazing feat. Dude! You just ran a half-marathon bragging rights are officially granted.

hydrate
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – drink fresh water! It’s super important to replenish your body's water stores for recovery.

sleep
Your body repairs itself while you are catching zzz's. Make a point to set yourself up for some great sleeps in the weeks following your run (hey, you don’t need to tell us twice).

therapy
Here’s the excuse you’ve waiting for! Massage therapy is always a plus, especially after a run. Book yourself some ‘me time’ to help increase circulation (for better muscle recovery) and to release tension from those overworked muscles.

to run or not to run?
Itching to get back out there? First and foremost, listen to your body when deciding when’s the right time to lace up again. For more experienced half-marathoners, you may be able to get out for a run the very next day. Some of us may not even want to think about running (EVER. AGAIN). I would suggest taking a week run-cation to let your body recover.

If you are feeling stir crazy without running, some great recovery activities are:
• Yoga: hatha, yin, restorative are all really great recovery forms of yoga
• Swimming
• Cycling

keep the momentum going
What now? One thing I find after people finish a program like the TackleBox is that they need two things to keep the momentum going: a goal and structure. Set a goal to create focus for what you are going to do. Find structure in creating a new program for yourself.

You came. You ran. You partied. Congrats everyone, thanks for joining us!

13.1 things to pack for a destination 13.1 miles

6 more sleeps. Eeep! Rob the TackleBox trainer has been getting us prepped with his training program designed for personal bests – now all that’s left to do is get some good sleeps, eat some carbs and pack your bag. If you’re from Vancouver, there isn’t quite as much pressure to pack …but if you’re coming from out of town, you’ll want to put a bag together with all of the essentials you need for having the best weekend of your summer. Here are our suggestions for the 13.1 not-so-obvious things you should remember to pack for your SeaWheeze weekend.

1. Pacifica Perfume – Vanilla Vera Cruz
Pair a yummy-smelling body spray with dry shampoo and oil-absorbing sheets and you’ll be good to go for patio time after your run. Vanilla Vera Cruz is a perfect summer scent: light, sweet and a little bit sexy.

2. Rocky Mountain Sport Epsom Salts
Once you’ve given your all on the SeaWheeze course and you head back to your home or hotel, treat your tootsies to a little TLC with an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salts are an easy and affordable way to rejuvenate tired feet and legs post-race.

3. Women’s No Show Ultimate Sock
While a big training program is important, having a successful run is ultimately determined by the little things. Fight the battle against blisters with socks that stay put and breathe.

4. Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser
SeaWheeze weekend is going to be a jam-packed festivus of good times. This cleanser is the MVP of the toiletry bag: it cleanses dirt, sweat and makeup away without stripping your skin and comes in different sizes for easy travel.

5. Energy Gels
Hunger pangs are a sworn enemy of personal bests. Vega products will be on the SeaWheeze course but if you’ve been training with a different brand bring it along (it’s a good idea to try gels once or twice before race day to make sure they suit your tummy).

6. Om Tote
Picking the right bag to pack for a weekend away can make-or-break how simple (or arduous) the task can be. The Om Tote has plenty of storage capacity to fit everything you need and has compartments to keep all your essentials organized.

7. Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream
Your feet have been working hard and they deserve a little VIP treatment. This foot cream is our absolute favourite – it smells delicious, is super-moisturizing and is completely natural.

8. Groovy Thong
Much like socks, wearing the right pair of underwear on your big day is a decision not made lightly. The Groovy Thong is comfy and won’t, ahem, “ride up” so you can stride ahead without a worry.

9. Alba Botanical SPF 25 Lipcare
Many a time we have slathered on sunscreen only to forget about our lips…and let us tell you, it’s a real bummer when the sun goes down. We love Alba’s SPF 25 lipcare; it is moisturizing, a little glossy without being sticky and we have yet to burn our pout with this stuff on.

10. Clean & Clear Oil-Absorbing Sheets
On fast and furious weekend adventures, sometimes we need to get ready in a hurry. In the summertime, these oil-absorbing sheets are a girl’s best friend – post-race, they will save your life.

11. Deja Vu Scarf
Having a scarf to wear on planes, after yoga classes and on drafty summer nights is absolutely key. We love the Déjà Vu Scarf – the cotton is uber-soft and it’s big enough to wrap around twice. An added bonus: bring this scarf to the beach or SeaWheeze concert for a cozy mini-blanket.

12. Klorane Oil-Suppressing Dry Shampoo
Sometimes when patio hour calls we don’t have time to head back and shower post-run. This dry shampoo makes oil disappear without making our hair ashy or grey looking (plus it smells delicious).

13. Bodyglide
Some people are into Bodyglide and some people aren’t….but it can be a nice thing to have in your bag just in case you feel a case of chafing coming on.

13.1 Apothic Red
Red alert: once you’ve come home from your day of SeaWheeze activities, we think it’s critical to toast to your achievements with a glass of full-bodied red. This is our current favourite.

With just two weeks left to the SeaWheeze and our hardest training run out of the way (congrats btw), it’s time to focus on the fun stuff… like getting together the ultimate race playlist. Here’s a list of 13.1 "take-my-aching-body-over-the-finish-line” songs curated by the folks who know running best, you guys!

13.1 songs for 13.1 miles

1. Dog Days Are Over – Florence and The Machine
2. So Close – Calvin Harris
3. My Body – Young the Giant
4. Run The World – Beyonce
5. Black Betty – Ram Jam
6. Midnight city – M83
7. Work Hard Play Hard – Wiz Khalifa
8. Promises – Skrillex
9. Let it Go – Dragonette
10. Let it Roll – Flo Rida
11. Run This Town – Jay Z Ft. Rihanna
12. Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga
13. Bombs Over Baghdad – Outkast
13.1 Run Forrest Run Remix …Seriously? Who comes up with this stuff!

True story - 13.1 songs will not be enough to get ya through 13.1 miles. Fear not, we’ve purposely built in time for you to unplug and take in the full SeaWheeze experience. We're with Aerosmith on this one... you won't want to miss a thing!

13.1 awesome cheer signs for 13.1 miles

1. Your feet hurt because you’re kicking so much ass

2. Worst. Parade. Ever.

3. Chuck Norris never ran a half marathon!

4. Stop reading, keep running!

5. Your pace or mine?

6. WTF: Where’s The Finish?

7. You thought they said RUM didn’t you?

8. Most people won’t drive 13.1 miles today

9. Humpty Dumpty had wall issues too!

10. Go random stranger Go!

11. If it was easy, I would do it!

12. Where is everyone going?

13. Toenails are for sissies!

13.1 It’s called the SeaWheeze not the SeaBreatheComfortably – Get’er done!

Never underestimate the power of a good cheer sign. Got a good one liner? We want to hear it!

Rob, our SeaWheeze TackleBox trainer and Emma, our expert nutrition partner at Vega, took over our social channels for a one-hour live Q & A.  We’ve compiled some of the most valuable questions to help you tackle the SeaWheeze half marathon… 3 weeks and counting!

tips from our experts

Q: Hey Rob - I'm struggling to stop/reduce some shin splints that are beginning in my left lower inner calf - I haven't had shin splints before, any tips for stretches or things to do while I run? – Marena
A: Marena, some quick wins would be to change your runners. Another would be to stretch and roll your calves before and after your run. I would also make sure that before your run, you do a very thorough dynamic warm up. There just happens to be a good one right here. – Rob

Q: How many days before a half marathon do you recommend carb loading? Do you even recommend it at all for just a half? – Alexa
A: The lunch before the race is a crucial meal to get your carb load in so that you still have time to digest it completely. If you have room to eat carb heavy but a smaller portion at dinner, then that works great too! – Emma

Q: I’m never too sure what to eat race day. What’s a good pre-race vegan breakfast? And how much time before the race is good to eat? Thanks – Monica
A: Good vegan breakfasts – We love using gluten-free porridges with berries and almond butter. You could also try a power shake with a plant-based protein (10-15g), banana or frozen mango and extra greens if you like! Consume your last meal 1-2 hours before your run and of course, don’t forget to hydrate. – Emma

Q: Hi Rob, my feet are looking gross from the training runs, ie. blisters but I love my low support shoes… Does that mean they are too small? Or am I still breaking them in? Or wrong socks? I'm reluctant to break in a new pair so close to the race... does skin tape help? Also, why are you so darn good looking - what's your secret? – Carlson
A: Blisters - did you get them when you wore a more supportive shoe? How old are they? What type of socks are you using? Cotton or technical? You have time to buy new runners because of the fact that they are minimal style shoes. I've never used skin tape...does anyone else have input for Carlson? In regards to my stunning good looks, I'd like to think that yoga, running and having great people around me keep me looking fresh *wink* - Rob

Q: Is chocolate milk really the post-run wonder-drink that the ads make them out to be? – Conner
A: Great question! Ideally right after a run, high carbo intake (which chocolate milk has) of either food or drink is good but dairy can be hard to digest. If you want to avoid the dairy you could try a glass of chocolate almond milk! – Emma

Q: Hey Rob, I find that there is a lot of stress on my knees for longer runs, any suggestions on exercises to help strengthen the knees or ways to reduce this stress? Thanks! – Fatima
A: Hey Fatima, great question. Sounds like a little overuse - stretching the quads and rolling them using a foam roller could be a quick win. A little rest could also be all you need. If I were to dig a little deeper, I’d suggest to get a physio to look at your running form as it may be a simple correction of how you run. Let me know how it goes! – Rob

A: Hey Fatima! Natural anti-inflammatories like turmeric & ginger can also support and glucosamine can help nourish soft tissue like joints, ligaments and tendons. – Emma

13.1 runners who tweet for 13.1 miles

1. @RunSoulCycle - Heather Gardner
“R U looking to pick up the pace for your #run? Check out the four cardinal rules of speedwork: http://ow.ly/avFEg #runningtips”

2. @ScottJurek – Scott Jurek
“Start area of tomorrow's ‪#SafaricomMarathon Lewa Wildlife Preserve, Kenya w/ @nature_org http://instagr.am/p/MeEtZBSlIl/”

3. @hotbirdrunning – Jessica Green & Meghan Reynolds
“Remember to eat within 30mins of working out. What we love now - @TraderJoesList Greek yogurt w/ blueberries ‪#fitfluential ‪#fitblog"

4. @ssykes1 – Sam Sykes
“You know last night's workout was killer when you wake up with wicked leg cramps, despite drinking tons of water & eating bacon for dinner.”

5. @andrea_runs – Andrea Rice
“Sun is shining get into shoes and onto the pavement and go running”

6. @authorjimlynch – Jim Lynch
"If your ‪#running shoes have more miles on them than your car, time for a new pair. ‪#runchat ‪#marathontraining ‪#runner"

7. @Abby_NYC – Abby Bales
“Central Park's hills were a B*TCH for my first 5 miler back. Ouch!”

8. @GinaDiCello – Gina DiCello
“No goal, no matter how big or small, is EVER lame. You'll do it, just believe!”

9. @milelong_legs – Kim Teshima
“Before you go trail running, make sure you brush up on your bear education! BEARS!!! http://youtu.be/Bzpwc7KC5dE”

10. @DeanKarnazes – Dean Karnazes
“Today is National Running Day. Celebrate the occasion by doing something apropos: RUN!”

11. @WestCoastWass – Brenda Wasserman
“Run hills at 6:20 a.m. Your body has zero idea what's going on yet. ‪#runvan”

12. @lolojones – Lolo Jones
"Filming a commercial for 6hrs my job was to run & actors job was to drink a McDonald's real fruit smoothie, trade?!?"

13. @MileMannered – Kristina Pinto
“In honor of National Running Day, I did not swear at my treadmill this morning. Much.”

13.1 @textinstagram – okay you caught us, this has nothing to do with running but it’s hilarious and you should follow them.
“Portrait of a dandelion with a suspiciously shallow depth of field for a cell phone.”

1. 13.1 miles seems like nothing after you talk to this chick

2. When the going gets tough, remember all these reasons why you run

3. Here’s a little refresher on staying refreshed

4. Reinvent your race bibs with this cool DIY project

5. Once upon a time, a 13-year-old girl set a marathon world record and no one blinked

6. A solid, summery carbo-loading recipe from our ambassador, Heather

7. Tall, dark and handsome? How to find your sole mate

8. We’re lusting after this commemorative 13.1 necklace

9. Set and achieve big run goals – do it now!

10.  Thinking about hitting the trails? Read this first

11.  An app every runner should have (for safety!)

12.  Nothing quite like a tall glass of this after a run (spoiler alert, it’s not wine)

13.  A cute reminder to live uncomfortably (half-marathon training = uncomfortable but amazing)

13.1. and this duckling is just too adorable to not share… besides, he’s running!