On Saturday, lululemon’s SeaWheeze Half Marathon returned to Vancouver for the first time since 2019, and Canadian Running was there for the comeback.
For a first-time SeaWheezer, the hype didn’t disappoint. More than an hour before the 7 a.m. race start, the downtown harbour area was a rainbow of vibrantly coloured running gear, with bodies of all shapes and sizes moving through guided pre-race stretching and warmups. Nearly 10,000 runners were separated into three starting waves, guided across the line by podcast host Ali Feller and Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby.
lululemon seawheeze cheer squad, 2026. Photo: lululemon
That energy carried throughout the entire 21.1 kilometres, where 16 official cheer stations lined the route, with live music, dancing rollerbladers, drag queens, cheering mermaids and crowds that could rival those at a major marathon. “I have never witnessed such a FUN start line. It felt like a sea of friendship. I almost didn’t want the race to begin, because I didn’t want that part to end,” Feller shared later on Instagram.
SeaWheeze’s classic course wound through False Creek, Kitsilano, English Bay and Stanley Park before returning downtown, with stunning sections along the world-famous Seawall (we passed fans cheering while balancing on paddleboards). Lululemon says runners came from 24 countries, all 50 U.S. states and nearly every Canadian province and territory.
A Vancouver classic
First held in 2012, the race quickly became one of Vancouver’s signature summer events, attracting around 10,000 participants each year from across Canada and abroad. While the event is known for the fast oceanside half-marathon, race weekend also featured yoga, live music, limited-edition lululemon gear and the Sunset Festival in Stanley Park.
The last in-person edition was held in 2019. Virtual races followed in 2020 and 2021, but SeaWheeze then disappeared from the calendar until this year’s return.
A mix of newcomers and regulars
More than half of the 2026 field was running SeaWheeze for the first time. For 46 per cent, it was their first half-marathon. At the other end of the spectrum, 40 per cent had already finished more than 10 half-marathons.
Female-identifying runners accounted for 76 per cent of registered participants. The largest groups came from B.C., California, Alberta, Washington and Ontario.
SeaWheeze has never been an inexpensive race, and this year’s edition was no different, with entry for the 2026 race costing $325. Runners received a pair of SeaWheeze shorts, a finisher medal, three months of training through Runna and admission to the Sunset Festival, which also sold entries to non-runners. The race fees also included access to race-weekend programming and recovery activities.
Once past the high race-entry price point, SeaWheeze excelled at offering an inclusive feeling from start to finish, particularly focusing on women-identifying runners. The finish-line aspect was far less emphasized than creating a welcoming atmosphere for runners and walkers of all abilities, and the race included lactation stations for breastfeeding mothers and free menstrual products throughout the event.
A packed Friday-evening yoga session at Jack Poole Plaza (near the eventual race start) was guided by Indigenous yoga teacher and lululemon ambassador Shayla Stonechild, and an Indigenous-led cheer station helped runners stay stoked as they ran by.
lululemon SeaWheeze Sunset Yoga, 2026. Photo: lululemon
It was encouraging to see these things built into the weekend instead of treated as extras. There is always room for SeaWheeze to involve and highlight more of the cultures and communities that make up Vancouver, but the race has certainly put some useful ideas into practice, and they seem committed to evolving and learning as they grow. Other events could take note.
A course record and sunset beats
Canadian Olympian Ben Preisner won the men’s race in 1:06:11, setting a SeaWheeze course record, and the U.K.’s Phily Bowden won the women’s race in 1:14:19.
For many people, the finish line was only one stop of the festivity-filled weekend. That evening, runners and music fans alike headed to Brockton Fields in Stanley Park for the sold-out Sunset Festival. There was yoga on the grass, food and drinks, and a closing set from DJ John Summit. A thrilled set of music fans was undeterred by long drink lines and prepared to dance until dawn. Even this Summit newbie found herself giving in to the beat.
This year’s return was not a one-off. Lululemon announced that SeaWheeze will be back in Vancouver on Aug. 7, 2027.