If you’ve got ultra-distances or Lakelend, UK based or Alpine peaks on your running horizon, a good pair of poles should be your new best friends. Learn to use poles 'the right way', and you will transform yourself from struggling biped to energy-efficient quadruped: move efficiently, improve your stability, and cross that finish line in good form and in your best time.
What To Expect:
Stronger forward propulsion; better balance and efficiency; reduced leg fatigue; improved cardiovascular fitness; better muscle tone; increased upper body strength; faster fitness gains … The benefits of walking and running with poles are immense, more than just better race results.
Running trail, mountains and ultra-distances whilst using poles go hand in hand (pun intended!), so if you want to maximise your efficiency in your next long run, race, or challenge, then this is the session for you. It’s not hard to get started with poles, but getting the style, gait and positioning right is a true skill – this is where our expertise comes in. We’ve been using poles for as long as we can remember, and over the past 12 years, we’ve taught countless others to do it too: some of the UK’s best ultra runners have trained with us. Get to grips with your poles, and you will reap the benefits next time you hit the trails or mountains.
On this shortened session you will learn:
- Which poles are best to use, and why
- Why it's more efficient to use poles over ultra distances
- How to walk with poles (remember you can't run before you can walk!)
- The correct style and gait to use when running with poles.
- When to run with poles and when to walk
- Different methods and techniques that you can use when running with poles, including guidance on and which methods are most efficient, and why.
Who Is It For:
This workshop is designed for anyone who is new to running with poles, or who has started to use them already and needs to iron out bad habits or learn the ‘correct’ techniques.
Come on your own, or bring your friends. Max group size: 6.
What's Included:
- Welcome and ‘pole chat’
- Learn to Nordic Walk with poles (this provides the basis you will need to run with them)
- Learn to run with poles in the most efficient way
- Head out onto the trails to put your new skills into action
- Loan of a set of Leki poles: the best kind for mountain, trail and ultra running
- Cost of workshop refunded against the purchase of Leki poles or VJ shoes on the day.
Where:
- Start and finish at The Climbers Shop, Ambleside, Lake District.
What To Bring:- Waterproof jacket & trousers (taped seams please)
- Spare L/S base layer, Primaloft layer or similar (no cotton please)
- Hat or buff
- Gloves
- Survival Bag
- Whistle
- Hill food/Snacks
- Race Vest/Small Pack to put it all in.
- Aggressive-soled running shoes suitable for mountain terrain. You will be able to test a pair of VJ shoes at the same time should you wish.
Please be aware that we might be moving at slow speeds at some points during the workshop: please account for this in your clothing selection. Check the weather forecast in advance of the course and come prepared.
Who Are Mountain Run:
Mountain Run has been delivering Nordic Walking and Running with Poles courses for over 12 years. Charlie Sproson, the founder of Mountain Run, was lucky enough to be on skis since he was 4. He then developed and honed his skiing skills on his home mountains in the Lake District. Learning to use poles for Nordic Walking in 2005, he quickly took his XC and Ski Touring pole skills and combined it with Nordic Walking and started using poles to win events on the Mountain Marathon scene back in 2005. He developed a coaching model in 2013 and has been teaching runners of all abilities the delights of using poles ever since.
This course will be run by his right hand man - Sean Bolland who is looking forward to sharing his expertise with you.
This workshop is part of TCS Demo Days — a series of events taking place in April and May 2026. More info:
https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/the-climbers-shop-shoe-demo-days