Meet Emma.

Emma’s dog loves to run, and to keep up, she needed more endurance. But for years, she struggled with a high heart rate that made it feel like she could never get ahead in her training.

Despite five years of canicross and running, Emma couldn’t maintain her heart rate in an aerobic zone—no matter how hard she pushed. It felt hard ALL THE TIME! If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It can feel incredibly tough, and it’s more common than you might think.

Did she need to try harder, or work differently?

First off, always check in with your health—bloodwork can reveal underlying medical issues like low iron or hemoglobin, which sometimes require medical intervention. Emma’s tests came back clear, and her body was in great shape.

So, what was she doing?

• Working as hard as possible in every workout
• Using a single speed for all her training
• Measuring success by how fast she was going
• Not allowing enough rest during intervals

This is a typical approach to cardio training—push yourself as hard as you can, jog as long as you can, and hope you build endurance.

But what if there’s a faster, easier, and more enjoyable way?

Here’s what we did:

• Twice per week, we focused on 20-25 minute cardio workouts, keeping her in her aerobic zone
• We worked through the Cardio Builder series in the All-Access Pass
• We swapped out walk/jog intervals for walk/brisk walk intervals
• Heart rate became the key indicator of intensity, not speed
• After three weeks, we introduced conditioning and speed work

The results?

• Weeks 1-3: Emma built aerobic endurance with walking
• Weeks 4-6: She transitioned into walk/jog intervals
• Her speed and endurance improved dramatically
• She’s running better than she has in years
• Her heart rate stays lower
• She’s recovering much quicker
• Emma’s tackling canicross challenges with newfound confidence

She’s noticed how factors like wind, hunger, or fast decision-making with her dog on the trail can affect her heart rate—amazing observations!

It’s so much easier to push through a tough workout when you understand why it’s challenging, rather than feeling blindsided.

Emma’s progress? It’s not just about physical improvement. It’s about feeling stronger, healthier, and more confident in her running. And her dog? She’s loving every second of it.

Ready to transform your canicross training into a journey you and your dog can truly enjoy? Train smarter, run stronger, and make every run more rewarding together! Try our All-Access Pass FREE for 2 weeks.