About this episode

Clare Thompson shares her journey with her rescue dog Loki in canicross, discussing training, trust, and the mental benefits of the sport.

Michelle and Louise are joined by Clare Thompson and her rescue dog Loki, whose first season together has been full of surprises, progress and plenty of learning. Clare moved from ultra running into canicross, first with her rescue dog Rex, and then with Loki, a young, high-energy pointer who arrived underweight, inexperienced and in need of confidence. What began as a gentle, low-pressure introduction to racing soon became a standout season, with Clare and Loki finishing second nationally and putting in an expression of interest for Poland. But this conversation is about much more than results. Clare talks openly about working with the dog in front of you, building trust, managing race environments, decompression after events and why canicross can be such a powerful outlet for rescue dogs. As a sports therapist, Clare also brings valuable insight into the human side of the sport. The episode explores why strength training matters so much for canicross runners, especially when adding the extra force of a strong pulling dog. From squats and deadlifts to core work, upper body strength and “snack exercises”, Clare explains how small, consistent habits can help reduce injury risk and…

More episodes of Canicross Conversations

• The Dog Jog with Dr Janey Lowes of WECare Worldwide · June 5, 2026 · 53 min
• Canicross Story: Mick, Rodney, Amber and Betsy (Episode 209) · May 29, 2026 · 36 min
• Running with Endometriosis: Lyndsy and Indy (Episode 208) · May 22, 2026 · 42 min

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