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.
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I’ve never used poles, but want to get some after I saw how helpful they would be during my last 50-miler.
Poles saved me on my first 50k race with over 6k of vert on technical muddy course. Luckily I’ve been used to using pokes while hiking, so the transition to running wasn’t too extreme. Poles have been a great addition to my trail running training.
Hum… it took me a time to use poles but since I start I never left them ! I started on a 100m trail run and they serve me so much… not only for climbing but also for walking the last 20 m 😉
I learned to use them and get better at it !
On story is when a double traverse the white mountains and break a pole on the return … then walk with one pole and a stick of wood ! Well I realized then that pole are really well done 😉
Would love some leki as everyone tells me they are the other level …. Amazing ?
I’ve done some steep trails in Yosemite when poles would have been a big help. Finally I decided to pull the plug on a pair for a 24 hour vertical challenge in the midst of the pandemic on 2020/10/24. This was an extension of the Mountain Goat edition of Pincushin Hill Climb. As my usual style I went all in 200% right away and bought a Carbon Z pair a few weeks before the race. Tested it at the Woodward Park for a few brief runs to realize that the original tips were uselessly slipping on steep terrain. I ordered a pair of carbide tips just in time and those worked as intended during the 24 hour race. I have 20 years of flat water kayaker background and I love when I can use my upper body to help my legs. Poles are a huge deal, I’m sure that I’ll utilize them next time I try some FKTs in the Yosemite. https://www.strava.com/activities/4240050637 https://www.strava.com/activities/4243198088
I am still new to using poles. I didn’t think I really needed them until I ran a rocky section of a 50k where I felt like a baby giraffe stumbling through the rocks and was passed by a woman using poles that looked like a gazelle. Seeing her move more easily with that extra stability was a selling point for me!
I first used poles after my first 50 miler. Like… the next day, and the day after the race. It was a flat 50, so I didn’t need them during the race, but I had never run anything close to 50 miles, so I needed them as crutches the next few days 🙂
A very good friend got me out the door and hiking. It was hard and for that reason she recommended using poles. Boy what a difference. Hiking became more comfortable and saving my knees. I felt more confident on rough terrain. Now when I put on my hiking shoes to hit the trail my poles are in my hands!
I first used poles for a stage race in Colorado. They were a great help on the climbs and descents. They are especially helpful when running hills on a wet/muddy course, by providing excellent stability and keeping me upright!
I first used poles when hiking the Grand Canyon with my husband. They saved my legs on the descent and we actually ran back up faster than we descended!
My first time with poles was a year ago climbing the steep Mount Morrison in Morrison, Colorado. It made a huge difference and I felt like I could power the whole way up the climb. Now I use poles for harder steeper efforts and when I’m trying to let my legs recover a bit while still getting in some solid uphill training.