One of the best ways to have more fun and improve your running performance is to find a training partner.
Someone to push you to your limits, share the pain of a brutal interval session or even just enjoy the scenery of a long run with.
Well, for all you runners who are also dog-lovers, we may have found the perfect new way of combing your two passions: canicross.
What’s canicross?
Canicross involves harnessing yourself to a dog and taking on a range of different terrains. Think of it like dog sledding – only you’re the sled with legs. You’d be surprised just how much faster you can run with the help of a fit and suitable canine friend.
Obviously you won’t be breaking any personal bests with a Chihuahua, you’ll need to find / have a suitable dog. Site k9ofmine.com looks at the best dog breeds for running here.
It’s a relatively new sport, but events are springing up all over the place. Race distanced vary between 5k and 10k cross country.
What equipment do I need for canicross?
You’ll need the following equipment:
- Dog harness
- Waist belt
- Bungee line
Non stop dog harness running belt: https://amzn.to/2B6XPXy
Non stop dog leash: https://amzn.to/2ztiZyK
For more information about canicross, visit:
https://www.canicross.org.uk/
How much faster can you run with a dog?
For our experiment, we found an undulating 1.22mile off road circuit. The plan was to run laps back to back, with and without the help of Billy, a two year old spaniel, husky, lab cross. The question we sought to answer; how much faster could we run with a dog.
The unassisted first lap was completed in 7:27.2, a pace of 6:08 minutes per mile. Now it’s time to cry havoc and release the dogs of war.
Billy’s champing at the bit. He was built to run. As soon as the harness goes on, he knows the fun’s about to start and you can feel the power in those legs. This second lap feels so much faster straight out of the gate. If anything, you need to hold Billy back. Pacing is still really important and that’s where the runner has to dictate. Get too excited and both runner and dog will soon fade.
The first obstacle is a sharp right turn and a complex junction of a few paths. Here, it pays to have taught your dog to follow direction instructions. A quick yelp of ‘right’ and Billy darts through the gap between the hedge and fence.
Now comes the hardest part of the course – a series of steep rises and drops. You can feel the extra horsepower, or dog power, kicking in now. Each bound takes you a few inches further than on the previous lap. Before you know it, you’ve over the hills and into the finishing straight. Lap two was competed in a rapid 6:30.8, 5:18 minutes per mile.
Not all of that is down to Billy’s raw power. There’s something about running as a team which pulls a little more effort from you. You will dig a little deeper and push a bit more.
What are the rules of canicross?
The rules are relatively simple. Your dog needs to be on a lead, before, during and after the run. You have to clear up after your dog, even when competing – there’s no s#it and run. If you’re entering a race, your dog must be 12 months or older. There are a few more competition rules which you can check out here.
Conclusions:
We had a really fun day training – both man and dog got a lot out of it. If you have a fit and suitable dog, it’s definitely worth trying canicross. Add a few runs together each month and you’ll be amazed how much fun you have and how fit you both get. Even if you’re not competing or even smashing PBs, it’s a great bonding experience too. So give it a try.