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 have trained with poles for the first time this summer and love the support they offer on the inclines!
I started using poles in the past year after I started doing more challenging uphill mountainous terrain. Still don’t feel comfortable using on downhill. First race with poles in September! Lightweight and ability to fold them up and tuck them away necessary.
My first experience was hiking Mt. Whitney about 20 years ago. The power used by the arms on the uphill allows the legs to last longer. On the downhill, they provide stability and can ease pressure on the knees. I have been an advocate of using poles for years. Love them!
Poles are great. For me they make some borderline unrunnable terrain runnable… like descents on some of the Colorado 14ers, Grand Canyon, and other big moderately technical terrain. They give me confidence to move faster out there.
I have never run with poles, but after completing a 100-mile run in Yosemite’s backcountry with eleven others, most of whom did use poles, I am a believer and am eager to acquire a pair and learn how to properly use them!
Back in the day when I first started using poles people would stop me on the trail to ask if I was going skiing. Now they are common because more people discovered that they really work. Doing Ouray 100 next week and you can bet everyone will have poles!
I’ve never trained with poles, but would love to start! Have always been a bit intimidated, but know it can be a game-changer.
My story is not about my first time using poles, but instead about a time I VERY MUCH regretted not using them! In 2019 I completed the Antelope Canyon 50 miler, and unfortunately, I was not an expert at using poles at the time, so I opted not to use them. It was my first trail ultra, and it included some VERY steep and treacherous climbs, long portions running entirely on slick rocks and almost 30 miles in grueling (soul-sucking!) sand. While traversing such tricky terrain, especially the last 15 miles which were completely in the dark and on the edge of a steep cliff, I dreamed of having poles! And my legs did, too! It was so tough on the technical portions without poles, and my hips were out of whack for months following the race. I knew then and there that successful trail running (especially for long distances) and poles go hand in hand (literally!).
I started using poles when I noticed my knees were giving me troubles…about 15 years ago. Ever since, I’ve had NO knee issues. They work!!
I was trail running before backpacking. I never used poles because I thought I didn’t need them, it was an extra thing to manage, extra weight, etc. Having used and appreciated them backpacking, I was ready to use them on trail runs, but before having a decent opportunity to do so, lent my poles to a friend who returned them with one having been badly bent. I’d love to add some awesome, usable poles to the toolkit.