I can’t quite put words to it, but there is something so enjoyable and invigorating about running through a trail, being towed by your dog. Canicross has become my new happy place. There seems to be a sense of adventure and an acceptance that nothing goes as planned. Maybe that’s what I like about it so much. And maybe not everyone Canicrosses this way, but it’s working for me.
A morning run that was meant to only be 6-7km turns into a 10.5ish km trail exploration. We got a little turned around down some side trails and then had to circle back for a left poop bag. And even though it gave me only 25 minutes to get ready for work, I felt zero stress. This is a huge change for me. When I was competing in elite sport, whether it was swimming or Para Triathlon, being on time and not straying from a plan was emphasized. I think there is a time and a place for such strict parameters, but there is also a time and a place to take one too many left turns and have to back track.
If we are constantly living our lives in a state of strict schedule and perfectly organized plans, I think we miss the opportunities to strengthen our resilience, adaptability, and problem solving skills.
Our tolerance window for the unpredictable shrinks and that can be detrimental. Humans are unpredictable. The world is unpredictable. To rob ourselves of growing opportunities is a disservice to ourselves and the people around us. Or in my case, me, the people, and the dogs around me.
Not sticking exactly to a training plan and just allowing myself to run where a wonderful dog and my feet will take me was a huge step out of my comfort zone. It’s challenging to undo over 20 years of being good at elite sport. But, with every Canicross run, I am learning and loving every minute of mud squishing, bug swallowing, puddle jumping, and whatever other adventure we, and our dogs, may stumble upon. If something gets you excited, but also scares you a little: it’s probably the thing you should be doing.
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