Canicross Conversations

Get ready for some festive literary inspiration! The hosts dive into must-read books that will resonate with runners, dog lovers, and adventurers alike. From transformative memoirs of ultra runners overcoming adversity to the unique training insights for female athletes, the discussions are rich and enlightening. They share personal anecdotes about running with dogs and recommend essential reads while inviting listener suggestions. Perfect for cozying up with a good book this holiday season!

In today's fascinating episode, Louise and Michelle chat to writer Paul Besley all about his experiences of finding and training his Mountain Rescue Search Dog, Scout. It's a fascinating episode full of insights into training a working dog, and the human-dog bond. Paul's book, The Search: The life of a mountain rescue search dog team is out now

Those regular listeners amongst you will know the running joke that Michelle has never participated in a canicross race with her dog Poppy. She has finally found a brand new event close to her, and on this episode quizzes Trail Blazing Events Director Richard McQuilton-Morgan all about the race. It will be the first canicross event Richard has hosted too, so it makes for an interesting episode. We learn more about the challenges of putting on a canicross race, and how he’s planning to make the event a great experience for all. We also catch up with Martin Grimshaw of Team Hounds, who was last on the podcast in episode 70. Michelle picks Martin's brains for expert advice on helping her and Poppy to prepare for their first race. Martin also tells us about his newest canine companion Kaos, and what he's been up to since we last chatted back in the summer of 2023. You can find out more about the canicross race and Richard's other Lancashire based events on his website https://www.trailblazingevents.co.uk/

Louise and Michelle chat to Clara Hewson, founder of The Muzzle Movement, about establishing a change in people's perceptions of muzzles, and creating a muzzle which allows dogs to drink, eat and pant fully. Find out the best way to accustom a dog to being comfortable with a muzzle, and inappropriate use of muzzles. We also ask Clara to bust a myth about muzzles in our newest feature. 

In this episode, we chat to Dr Juliet McGrattan, author, speaker and former GP, about running and alcohol.   We answer all the common questions, such as: - is a daily glass of red wine really good for our health? - is that post-race beer helpful? - can you sweat out a hangover? - how does alcohol affect sleep quality and recovery? - is there a safe amount of alcohol consumption for athletes that won’t hinder training or performance? - how does alcohol impact our hormones?   NEW - Stay tuned for our newest feature, Myth Buster, where we tackle common misconceptions.   You can follow Dr Juliet McGrattan on Instagram    If you need support with your alcohol consumption, the NHS website is a good place to start

In this conversation, Rachel Spencer, a freelance journalist and business coach in the pet industry, shares her expertise on habit formation. She identifies the common hurdles that hinder lasting change and offers strategies to overcome them. Rachel delves into habit stacking, demonstrating how to attach new habits to existing ones for easier integration. The discussion also tackles the importance of community support and personal identity in habit-building, ensuring listeners are equipped with practical tools for personal growth.

Louise and Michelle quiz broadcaster and fellow podcaster Anna Harding about her experience of canicrossing and running throughout pregnancy, and how she has felt getting back into it as a new parent. We also chat about introducing a new baby to the family dog.

Nicky Edwards, a seasoned physiotherapist and passionate runner, shares her nearly 20 years of expertise in injury prevention. She discusses the importance of strength training and mobility for runners, emphasizing how to adapt training as we age. Nicky also highlights the dangers of overtraining and offers insights on optimizing training around hormonal changes, particularly during menopause. Her tips on avoiding common running injuries provide valuable guidance for runners at all levels.

We know parkrun no longer allows canicross, BUT we also know a lot of you have many happy memories of parkrun as it turns 20 years old, and we also know many of you still run with your dog there (allowing for the new rules around dogs). Canicross Conversations wants to celebrate the world of parkrun on its 20th birthday, so Louise and Michelle chat to Lucy Waterlow, author of new book The Ultimate Guide to parkrun. A great episode whether you are a brand new or regular parkrunner.

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to canicrosser Tamara Beach, who tells us about how she manages to fit in a high volume of training by training like a triathlete. It's a fascinating episode about finding the right training methods for you, and Tamara certainly has her sights on some big goals!