Canicross Conversations

Louise and Michelle chat to journalists Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson about their new book Ultra Women

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Emily Thomas about her new book Canicross for Fitness and Fun

The festive season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a collection of inspiring reads? 🎄📚 In Episode 142 of Canicross Conversations, we’re revisiting some of the most memorable books featured on the podcast. From captivating memoirs and training guides, to cookbooks and stories of resilience, these books offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for inspiration or the perfect gift for a loved one. We share highlights from: Susie Chan (Trails and Tribulations) Allie Bailey (There Is No Wall) Lucy Waterlow (The Ultimate Guide to parkrun) Rachel Cullen (Running for My Life) Niki French (Stop Walking Your Dog!) Paul Besley (The Search) Juliet McGrattan (Run Well) Merili Freear (Just Run) …and many more! Join us as we reflect on these incredible reads and the inspiring conversations behind them. Don’t miss this cosy, book-filled episode that’s perfect for the festive season! 👉 Have a favourite running or dog-related book? Let us know - we love hearing your recommendations!

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

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 World Champion dog sledder Vicki Pullin. This is a fascinating dive into the training, mindset and determination of an elite athlete. 

In this episode, Michelle and Louise chat to ultrarunner Susie Chan all about her dogs, and ultra running. We find out why her dog Roy is so named in an exclusive story never told before, and hear about a dog she encountered in the desert who joined in the multi-day race with the competitors.  Susie's new book, Trails and Tribulations, is out now

In this episode, Michelle and Louise welcome Zoe Gow from Mindspace Journey to delve into how clinical hypnotherapy can strengthen the mind–body bond for runners, with a special nod to the unique connection between runners and their dogs. Zoe shares her personal journey from discovering hypnotherapy in the pandemic to training as a clinical hypnotherapist and supporting endurance athletes with performance, recovery and mental wellbeing. She explains how hypnotherapy works, the power of trance and subconscious suggestion, and how it complements sports psychology. The episode explores topics like calming pre‑race nerves, overcoming phobias (including goats on the Pennine Way!), stress relief, improving sleep, breath‑work and EFT tapping—even for the trail‑running duo of human and dog. Zoe outlines her typical six‑week programme, how it adapts for ultra‑runners, and shares practical tips and resources—including guided recordings and grounding techniques—for listeners to start applying immediately. This episode is a holistic guide to mental resilience, focus and relaxation, crafted to support both runners and their dogs.   Topics Introduction to hypnotherapy for runners Differentiating stage hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy How hypnotherapy can help with race anxiety, fuelling issues, breathing & confidence Defining hypnotherapy & explaining trance Supporting injury recovery and pain management Evidence and acceptance in sports psychology Phobias: e.g. goats on the Pennine Way Managing runner–and‑dog anxiety Sleep support for endurance events Introduction to EFT tapping for calm Links Mindspace Journey Instagram: @MindspaceJourney Zoe’s website Guided downloads: breath‑work, sleep‑audio, EFT sequence

In this episode, Michelle Mortimer and Louise Humphrey welcome Professor Dawn Carnes, an expert in musculoskeletal health and chronic pain psychology. Dawn introduces a cognitive-behavioural approach to help runners and canicrossers break through mental barriers. She explains how thoughts, emotions and behaviours are interconnected and offers practical strategies: insight into automatic negative thinking, goal‑setting with SMART objectives, problem‑solving, self‑visualisation, and self‑compassion.   Through a live demonstration, Michelle and Louise explore addressing motivations, reframing “chore” workouts (e.g. running intervals) into enjoyable alternatives (like netball), and challenging negative automatic thoughts mid-run. The episode concludes with encouragement to tackle fears one small step at a time, reinforcing that change is achievable by breaking tasks into manageable chunks.   Topics Cognitive‑behavioural triad: thoughts, feelings, behaviours Behavioural activation: how exercise lifts mood with dopamine/cortisol Finding enjoyable alternatives to boring workouts Problem‑solving demo: overcoming injury with strength training SMART goals explained Challenging negative self-talk & predictions Avoiding perfectionism & embracing fluctuations "Compare and despair”: the impact of social media Five-step action plan for sustainable change

In this episode, Louise and Michelle quiz podiatrist Kate Hammond about all those things you've always wanted to ask about looking after your feet, but have been too embarrassed or squeamish to ask. We cover: What size shoes to buy Does gait analysis matter? Socks Blister prevention and treatment Athlete's foot Losing a toenail Plantar fasciitis It's a fascinating episode, and we certainly learned loads!

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 episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Nicky Edwards, a physiotherapist and experienced marathon runner. Together, they question Nicky on the key aspects we should be focusing on in training to help us prevent injury, including: strength training mobility recovery adapting training as we age the dangers of overtraining optimising training around hormonal changes, including menopause how to avoid common running injuries

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Laura Clark, registered dietitian, and experienced specialist in women's health and menopause. Laura talks us through the battles women have had growing up during a diet culture, and gives us some food for thought about maximising our nutrition as we go through menopause. You can follow Laura on her Instagram @menopause.dietitian Visit her website www.themenopausedietitian.co.uk and sign up to her mailing list to find out more about The Nourish Lab

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to menopause expert Karen Weir about how to get the most out of our running during perimenopause and post-menopause, and the advice is surprising. Karen talks through the risks to our bodies during this time of immense change, and recommends the kind of strength training and running we should be doing, and it's not what you might think. It's certainly made Louise and Michelle reconsider their own training. We'd love to know what you think, and if you have any questions. You can follow Karen on her Instagram @RunwithKaren or on her website runwithkaren.com

In this episode, Louise and Michelle further explore mindset, and how it can relate to our nutrition, as they chat to EIQ nutrition certified coach, Wayne Barrigan. A fascinating episode, with plenty of food for thought (pardon the pun!) as Louise and Michelle both have epiphanies about the way they have approached nutrition in the past. You can contact Wayne via his Instagram page to learn more.

In this episode, Louise and Michelle delve into mindset, as they chat to Mental Health and Exercise Coach, Lucy. Lucy is also a personal trainer, and triathlon coach, as well as competing in triathlon herself. She delivers personalised training plans with coaching and online strength and conditioning classes to help you achieve your running goals. Her plans are tailored to you to ensure your training enhances rather than competes with the rest of your life, and her coaching helps you address the issues that underpin the success of your training such as mindset, nutrition and race day preparation. She also offers non-personalised plans for Half Marathon and Marathon accompanied by video coaching on the same issues.  Visit https://www.feelfitwithlucy.co.uk/how-i-can-help for more information or to book in a free consultation call, or find her on @feelfitwithlucy on Instagram and Facebook. 

What trail shoes should I buy? It's a common question, and the answer is ... a very individual one. In this episode, Georgie Lambert, owner of Alton Sports, talks us through what we should be looking for in a trail shoe depending on the terrain we're running on, and whether we're racing or running for fun. She also explains about different lacing options, and what to look for in a good sock! Don't miss this one.   www.altonsports.co.uk

Continuing the theme this season of healthier humans (because we are, after all, often the weakest link in the human/dog team) Louise and Michelle chat to former GP, keen runner and author, Dr Juliet McGrattan about how the menopause can affect our running, and how we can experience symptoms of perimenopause as early as ten years before we reach menopause itself.   Juliet gives some really practical advice in this podcast - ask the men in your lives to listen too!!    You can access Juliet's course, read her informative blogs about all things running health, and find out about her books on her website here: drjulietmcgrattan.com

In this episode, Michelle and Louise chat to Protein Rebel founder Tim Boote all about why our bodies need protein, particularly when we exercise.    Protein Rebel have offered Canicross Conversations a special discount to followers. Use canicross15 at the checkout to save 15% off all their products at www.proteinrebel.com

This episode is another one all about human recovery, as Louise and Michelle chat to Carole Armitage, founder of hot chocolate company 80 Noir Ultra. Find out about the mental and physical benefits of dark chocolate in a fascinating chat with Carole.