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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2015 AT thru hike
I’ve always used poles as I am section-hiking the AT, and only recently used them for a rocky trail half marathon with over 3000 ft elevation. I was so glad to have them although they’ve been pretty beat up and no longer fold up. My goal is to get another pair of Lexi poles and keep them specifically for running. Total game changer for tough climbing in trail races!
I use poles when I hike, but am just starting to incorporate them into my trail runs. I have a half coming up this weekend with over 2K of vert, so I’ll definitely be bringing them along. Hoping it helps with the impact on the downhill!
I’ve used poles off and on for a few years, really helps to engage my upper body on the uphills.
I first used poles during training for my first 100k, what a difference it made
Running the Zion traverse self supported. I got to Willy’s Wiggles and my partner decided to stop while I continued on. I got to use her poles and it changed my outlook.
I’ve never used poles, but there have been PLENTY of times where I’ve thought about how handy they would’ve been… Hindsight’s always 20/20, and then I still forget to order some!
I bought my first ever pair of poles a week before my first “grad course” 100 miler. I was so out of my league to be attempting the 2015 Leadville Trail 100 and when someone told me that I was crazy to not use poles during it, I immediately went out and bought a new pair of…..believe it or not…..Leki poles! I did what you are never supposed to do: try something for the first time during a race. As a flatlander from PA, I didn’t even know about poles at the time. But I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them during the steep climbs and descents those two days in Leadville. But there is one thing I am absolutely SURE of: I would not have finished the race under the 30 hour cutoff without them. I finished in 29:30 and when I think about how much longer my climbs up Hope Pass (twice!) would have taken without poles, I know that those Leki poles were the difference between a Leadville finish and a DNF. So thank you poles!!! And Leki!!!
After many years of hiking and trail running without poles, I first used them climbing Kilimanjaro. They helped lots, including with the 8” of snow on summit day.
Like a lot of people I started using poles for hiking, backpacking and for long approaches in the mountains. Then I trained with them for running R2R in the Grand Canyon. I’m glad I did as I turned an ankle approaching the river coming down south Kaibab. Without poles I might have been SOL but with them I managed to keep going. My ankle eventually recovered and I completed the journey. Now I use them trail running whenever there is a significant climb or technical section. I still wonder why poles are discouraged or even banned for many ultras in the U.S. They are a boon for us mid or back-of-the-pack runners