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]
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I used poles for the first time training to pace my friend at Hardrock. They made such a difference for a flatlander like me to conserve my legs. They are a tremendous support!
Poles helps me out with backpacking all the time with crossing rivers and navigating steep terrain. The same translates to trail running!
I started using poles after seeing slower runners fly down technical trails in Costa Rica. I’m still learning how to use them effectively!
Poles have helped me get my arms involved on some climbs to take a little load off my legs, but I really like them for additional security while descending on technical trails.
I first used poles to race Silver Rush 50 in 2019. I trained with them leading up to the race, and I remember others around me saying that they were jealous of the poles when we were climbing together. They make a huge difference!
A lil’ Leki haiku for you:
Picked up poles to run
The Superior Hiking Trail
Loved every minute
Ouray 100. Raced without having trained with them and finished with very sore shoulders!
I tried poles for the first time when training for UTMB. I remember the easy of going uphill in Whiteface skyrace (3,300 feet gain in 2 miles). Definitely a game changer.
I started using poles for a hilly state park less than 30 minutes away, but in part to get the spider webs out of the way using something other than my face.
My wife suffered a traumatic leg injury in a snow sledding accident 18 months ago, shattering her ankle, as well as breaking her tibia and fibula. She will never run again, but she’s “walking” (with much pain) after 12 months of recovery. We bought a cheap set of poles this spring and they’ve been a life saver in that they’ve allowed us to at least experience some of the trails for short distances again as a family. I was always a bit anti-pole for no particular reason. But I’ve used the poles twice thus far, on two longer runs on the trails this summer, and actually loved having them on some of the more technical terrain.