The Expedition Journals

Earlier this year, I travelled to one of my favourite spots – the Dolomites. These Italian mountains are one of the best locations in the world for road cycling, mountain biking, hiking and trail running. I was there for hiking this time, but I saw dozens of super fit individuals training for mountain ultra-marathons, such as the UTMB, and every one of them was using poles. That got me thinking, and researching...  Lightweight carbon fibre poles have been popular with hikers for a decade or more, but it is only in recent years that they have really taken hold in the trail running world. In the mountains, running with poles, particularly uphill, can have several advantages: it can help to increase your speed, decrease the strain on your joints, and help support you on unstable terrain. Are there any disadvantages to running with poles? There is a small weight penalty, and a possible increased trip hazard, but on the whole poles can be a great benefit. The video below shows you...