Ever notice how running on grass feels completely different from running on asphalt? Or how sprinting on sand leaves you feeling like you just ran twice as far?

In this episode, we dive into why variable and soft surfaces change the game for handlers. These surfaces don’t just challenge your legs—they challenge your core, stabilizers, and even your nervous system, shaping the way your body responds to speed, turns, and fatigue on the course.

Understanding this can give you a serious edge, even if you can’t sprint on sand every day.

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• Speed and fatigue are affected: Running on soft surfaces demands more energy per stride, which increases fatigue and conditions your muscles for the demands of agility. It teaches your body to stabilize and propel efficiently.

Key Takeaways

• Soft surfaces challenge your body differently: Sand, grass, and turf reduce joint impact while activating stabilizer muscles. This builds strength, balance, and resilience, helping you and your dog handle sharper turns and faster sprints.

• Speed and fatigue are affected: Running on soft surfaces demands more energy per stride, which increases fatigue and conditions your muscles for the demands of agility. It teaches your body to stabilize and propel efficiently.

• Adaptation is gradual: Sudden sessions on soft surfaces can overwork muscles and increase injury risk. Gradually introduce short intervals to allow your body to adapt.

• Surface awareness matters: Even if you can’t train on soft surfaces regularly, understanding how your body reacts to variable terrain helps you replicate those neuromuscular adaptations on harder ground.

• • Footwear and form influence results: Proper shoes or even barefoot practice (when safe) can help your body “read” the surface better and transfer strength into speed.

  
  

  Soft surfaces? No problem. My All Access Pass gives you the workouts and guidance to stay fast, strong, and agile no matter what.

  
  

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