We all remember our first race or favorite adventure, but what about the first time you added poles into the mix? Below, LEKI athlete Sabrina Stanley shares her story of when she started running and training with poles and why it has been a game changer for her.
Have a story of your own? Share your experience in the comments section and be automatically entered for a chance to win a new pair of LEKI Ultratrail FX One Superlite Poles. One random winner will be selected and notified.
I started running with poles consistently when I began training for a mountainous 100-miler in the summer of 2018. I knew I would be using poles for the entirety of the race, so I ran with poles during all my training miles. This helped get my upper body familiar with the additional load it would be taking on while climbing and descending. It also taught me how to use the poles efficiently.
My “Ah-Ha” moment came when I was studying the most competitive runners in the world at races that piqued my interest. These runners were all using poles. To be competitive I knew I had to learn how to use poles to assist in my running if I wanted to run at the same level as the top athletes.
Poles take some of the load off a runner’s legs while going up and downhill. This transfer of power to the upper body allows a runner to conserve their legs for a longer period.
Don’t forget! Comment below about your first experience running or training with poles and you could win a free pair of LEKI Ultratrail FX One Superlite Poles. [the contest period for commenting is now closed]
Comments are closed.
Used poles for the first time this year on the Bighorn 100, I will never not use them for big efforts again!
I mostly use poles for backpacking to provide stability when carrying a heavy load. Still don’t use them running races – but maybe a new, light, run specific set would get me on board!
I’ve been running ultras since 1987. No poles until a few years ago. I was hit by a car while cycling to work. Back surgery followed that , and when it came time to get out on the trails again, I realized that poles were going to be necessary for balance and to cushion the shock on the downhills. I’m back in the mountains because of poles.
I have always heard that poles can help relieve some of the weight off your back. I always wanted to get poles but couldn’t afford them, for the longest time. I finally got some poles and boy are they a life changer. Not only do they help you propel forward using your arms and not only your legs, but I have caught myself and prevented a fall on many occasions. I won’t trail run without them.
I started using poles from my very first ultra in 2020! It was a pretty hot day, I had no experience and I went out way too fast. Funnily enough, the poles helped me slow down on the flats. I cruised down the last inclines leaning on my poles and finished my first race barely standing! I learned a lot about that day, but the one thing I got right was the poles 🙂
I started using poles for skiing when I was 4 years old.it was natural to use them trail running 10 years ago.
I owe a lot of my downhill confidence to poles… and a lot of my stubbornness uphill! My current pair is pretty clunky and heavy, but even they undoubtedly support my performance.
You can cover so much more ground over longer periods of time using poles! They help you stay stable during longer endurance events, and also help take some of the weight off those legs to stay fresher for longer! Just make sure you train with them leading up to events, so your arms won’t be sore!
I haven’t used any yet, and I’m starting to think I’m going to regret that soon, with Never Summer coming up in a couple of weeks!
I’ve always used poles for all my mountain adventures, starting about 7 years ago. I use them for both uphill climbing and downhill running.