Leki Trail running poles - Ultratrail FX.ONE
I finally bought some running poles, here's a quick recap
Trail and running poles
If you follow me, you probably remember that I started trail running recently (end of 2021).
I initially ran short distances (30 to 35 kms), so running poles were not really needed.
However I started increasing the distances:
- X-Trail Correze - 53 kms (09/2022)
- SainteLyon - 78 kms (12/2022)
- Trail du Petit Ballon - 53 kms (03/2023)
I suffered a lot because of my harmstrings muscles at the end and after the trail in Correze, as it was quite hilly and the uphill and downhill sections were very intense and kept repeating themselves. Driving back home the day after proved to be challenging, and I felt like a cowboy when walking at the services stations :)
For SaintéLyon, I suffered again at the end of the race (starting at km 50) from my harmstrings. Surprisingly though, I had no pain walking right after the race or the day after - which I think was because of the elevation profile, a lot easier and mostly downhill after 20 kms.
Need!
I knew I would have to buy trail running poles, and initially wanted to do it after my trail in Correze, but since poles are forbidden at SaintéLyon, I decided to wait.
Buying them
I wasn't specially looking for buying them, but still I had discussed with my buddies Eole and Matthieu, who were both using Leki foldable, carbon models. I did my own research but decided to stick to that brand.
I wanted to buy them online, but as I explained in that article,
when in Chamonix at the end of last year, I went
to a running store and saw some Leki poles - I went for the Ultratrail FX.ONE.
I tested them... and adopted them.
Training with them
My plan was to use them on my first trail race (March 2023), which meant I had to train a bit with them.
It's mostly flat where I live, but there are a few spots with a bit of elevation, so that's how I trained: running down and uphill with the poles and the Salomon Custom Quiver, to get used to the poles and how to get them from the quiver, and put them back.
I did that only two times, but got comfortable very quickly so I didn't train more than that.
Using the poles during the race
I did a more detailed review of this trail in another post, but to sum it up:
- I used the poles starting ~ at KM 20,
- initially to help me uphill,
- but then at ~ KM 40, I used them a lot more downhill and also on flat, as it reduced the pain and helped me "running" a bit less slowly :)
- I didn't fold/unfolded them/put them back in the quiver that much:
- when I knew that I would use them soon, I ran with them, unfolded,
- only when it was flat for a while did I fold them and put them back in the quiver.
Conclusion
I'm glad I bought those poles:
- they're super light,
- easy to fold/unfold,
- pleasant to run with (as in: you barely notice them after a while),
- the gloves/strap system is very well done and easy to use.
Of course, since those poles are made of carbon, they're a bit expensive (~150€), but on the other side, you're (normally) supposed to keep them for a few years before changing them!
Lending them to a running friend
Vincent, a friend of mine at the local running club, was running a trail race 2 weeks after mine, and wasn't sure whether running with poles would make a difference, so I suggested to lend him my poles and quiver, so that he doesn't buy them for nothing.
He used them on a 40km race, a bit hilly, and this also helped.