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.
I actually haven’t used poles for a race yet, but am planning on using them for my first 100 miler, the Kodiak. Right now I’ve just been borrowing a pair from a friend to test them out before getting my own
Started using polls training for and competing in the Bryce Canyon 100 miler a few years back. I agree with the article that poles help transfer force to the upper arms and save your legs. One of my adapted skills is efficient and fast down hill running, especially on significantly steep and technical slopes. Leki poles, with their unique hand strap technology, allow the pole handle to always to be within reach without having to grip the pole at all times, saving your arms! Seriously feels like you’re flying downhill as the Leki poles allow you to develop an efficient cadence and confidently increase speed and agility. Love these poles!
I first started using Leki poles on Mt. Whitney in 1991. I later became a product rep for Leki.
I haven’t gotten used to poles for running yet. I am a hiker and backpacker, so I value the stability and quad-saving pros of using poles! The races I have done so far haven’t allowed poles due to course constraints, but I hope to get out in the Wasatch sometime this summer and test them out for running.
I first used poles when I fast climbed Cascade peaks up and down the west coast. I lost them in my move to east coast and regretted not having them on my Pemi loop and Devil’s path runs. Time to get new ones!
Tried poles for a 50mi race – used my ski poles. Got some lighter carbon poles after that 😉 Now only use poles for big days with loads of vertical.
I used them after a 50 miler with 10k of gain kicked my lower back from being bent over climbing. Huge difference being able to stand up straighter while ascending.
Used poles for the first time at Canyons 100K last year. I thought I’d put my Leki poles down, but I grew used to the Micro Trail Vario’s S-frame strap and ended up letting ’em dangle most of the way. Had the aha moment a couple days before the race when a downhill test run earned me a little golden Strava thing. Race day they saved my legs, especially in the post Deadwood vert.
I starting using poles this summer as I prepared for the upcoming Hardrock 100.
I first used poles when training for the Superior 100 miler with 20k+ feet of elevation gain. I quickly found in my long mountain training runs that being able to share some of the load with my upper body would be a huge factor in a 100 mile race. They have also saved me many times on descents where I can run quicker than others by having an extra couple points to stabilize myself.
A good pair of running shoes is approaching $200 but will last you less than a few hundred miles on the trails. For basically the same price, a good set of LEKI poles will last you a couple thousand miles of trails or more!!