Printable View
when do you use them though? Just on uphills - what about level?
I found that using sticks took more energy in total, albeit saving the legs and being quicker up slopes of more than say 15 degrees. do you put them away for descents/level or do you carry them? I find them a bit of a pain to carry.
Sticks are quite common on the continent, and it's not unknown for them to be banned there in some mountain races over there. If you train to use them correctly, they certainly are an advantage - a good runner who is an expert with these has effectively got four good limbs which can make progress easier and quicker both uphill and downhill - with distinct advantages on rough traverses.
Whether they are a good or a bad thing for fell running is a bit of a moot point. We already have specialised footwear - so why not hand "wear" too?
Mind you, you do have to work at it. They won't instantly improve your running overnight - without the right kind of training, they'll just end up as a "pain in the arse" to carry, as somebody else has already said!!
In the Dolomites Sky Race, many competitors used them on the big climb to Forcella Pordoi and then discarded them to be returned to the finish by the organisers (presumably).
Half way up the climb I was employing my usual bent coat-hanger posture as I laboured upwards when some Italian decided to impale my foot with his walking pole. This didn't hinder me unduly but he then expended far more energy than the poles were saving him by saying breathless "scusi"s the rest of the way up the climb... :D
Personally, I hate the things. Since I have only one arm I could not get any advantage out of them so why should anyone else.... :p
followin on from the sticky subject of poles at races...I wonder if an off-road version of a shop-mobility scooter would be acceptable for disabled persons wishin to tek part in a fell race?:rolleyes:
Hiya,Quote:
Originally Posted by Full Moon Addict
Yeah - this is quite a big subject to cover everything on a blog post. Briefly though - I run with them on gentle climbs, speed walk a lot too instead of running (less tiring on legs for moving at the same speed), walk the steeper climbs & don't use them much on the flat (should always be running that at a pretty good pace - but different if you were walking though) & never on the descents (again - asuming running that pretty quick, but different if going slower or knees shot).
I used to have raidlight ones which folded up, so it was easy to just stash them straight onto a bumbag with some bungee cord - but the raidlight poles aren't that strong (ie you can't push as hard as you like or they'll bend) + I finally knackered them on the ultratrail last year, so the won't fold up anymore in any case.
So I've just bought a new pair of fixed length carbon fibre ones, which are miles better than the raidlight poles & I've rigged up a system for carrying them across my back when running (a bit like carring a bow & arrow). They are light enough to just carry in one hand, but it's better for your speed and running rythmn to get them straight out of your hands if you don't need them for a while.
It's training + technique that makes them properly useful though. On any really rough ground, assuming you can run that kind of terrain well, just get rid of them & run as it's always quicker!
cheers al
what weight are your poles. I have some carbon fibre ones which are quite light but nowhere near as light as those raidlight ones. bow and arrow device sounds a good idea. I'll try that out. while injured with shin splints last year I did a lot of poling locally. I felt a bit of an idiot in the lanes, but like you say, when you get in to the swing of things you can power up the hills.:)
Mine weight 120g/pole & are made by Komperdell - model is 'Featherlight Bamboo' The detachable wristloop weighs another 20g on top of the pole weight, but as I say much better than the Raidlight ones.
You can by them in the UK here:
http://www.walkingsport.co.uk/index....opic=equipment
For racing, I went for 5cm longer than suggested length & that seems about right. Sabine who sells them lives in Ilkley + is v happy for folk to go over & try lengths before buying.
Carrying rig: I sewed a mesh 'sock' onto one side of my bumbag, then a bit of tape with a plastic carabiner on the end to the waist strap - this goes up across your chest to clip onto the poles at the opposite shoulder. It's all still 'in development' - but I've added a bit of tensioning elastic to the tape + some shock cord to hold the pole handles firmly in the 'holster' etc
Yeah, I train up on the Chevin above Otley with them - usually as late as possible, or preferably in the dark!
I thought if a race is ran under UKA guidelines then poles are banned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Twister
I thought the WHW race had some rule which specified that they were banned for that reason?
Pretty sure that older Scottish Hill Running calendars had a few rules in them including one that said poles/ice axes etc. were not allowed.Quote:
I thought the WHW race had some rule which specified that they were banned for that reason?
The UK:Athletics. Rule 21 AssistanceQuote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Quote:
Originally Posted by UK:Athletics. Rules for Competition
Blimey - out go technical fabrics then; if yer shorts or yer vest are made of technical fabric they are surely technical devices, and as for shoes... :eek:
Wahay, this paves the way for a return to the good old days of naked fell races! :D
They've banned ice axes! what a cheek ;):DQuote:
Originally Posted by jmacewan
Hunted out a copy of the Scottish Hill Runners Association calendar 1993, under the safety rules is:
"Additional rule: The use of sticks, or other similar implements, as a form of aid during any section of a hill race is not allowed."
Back in those days I don't think 'p***** poles' had made it up here so thats maybe why I was thinking of ice axes. :D
Apart from it being a laugh the first time please give me 3 reasons what would be 'good' about the return to 'naked fell running'?Quote:
Originally Posted by Trundler
Is there anything 'bad' about naked fell running?Quote:
Originally Posted by invalidpassword
summer or winter
Wet or dry? Is it raining in Whitehaven? I'm off out in a minute and just wondered what not to wear.Quote:
Originally Posted by twilk
Okay, loads to choose but I'll mek a start of the list...Quote:
Originally Posted by invalidpassword
No more getting into bother from t'missus by filling upt'washing machine with reet mucky kit ...
Don't you start on the Yorkie lingo - one is bad enough!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stick
Just a couple of observations:
Snowboarders have proved beyond doubt that sticks aren't necessary for going fast down hill (they aren't so good going uphill though are they?).
Now that runners with boingy things attached to their erstwhile real legs can compete in races against able limbed folk, I don't see why poles are such a big deal.
Bring on the pogo sticks I say, and the space hoppers (who had one when a kid?). I can see it now - "and here we can see Simon Bailey on his space hopper having a slight problem with the descent off the bad step, but Joss Naylor a little further back is making remarkable progress as he pogos through the field at an alarming rate"
It needs serious discussion at committee level.
re: "It needs serious discussion at committee level."
Sorry. Am I on the wrong website?
I thought this was 'serious discussion'.
And that's another thing, having run with Trundler, he should be banned for not carrying the requisite number of arms! Its nothing short of cheating!Quote:
Originally Posted by Trundler
;)
I know.... some people will do anything for an improved power to weight ratio. :D
... it's just a pity the available power is so pathetic :(
Came across this nearly-decade old gem of advice so thought I'd say 'thanks', AlP.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlP
I'm an 'outsider', a long-course triathlete, who thought poles might be useful after doing a race in Chamonix last summer. Similar to Triathlon X, for those who know Mark Blackburn's Lake District event, but even hillier with different terrain to UK. I thought my 'swimmers shoulders' might help my tired quads (after climbing 5000m over the course of 180km on a bike) but hadn't considered the training necessity and the UK terrain effect. Am happy to discover there's no point spending money on more clutter :)