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Kong Running Leki Poles Course

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Sunday 16th March 2025

Bookings Open
Sunday 1st September 2024
Bookings Close
Saturday 15th March 2025 at 12:00
Booking Fees
Booking Fee   £50.00   
Contact
Course Organiser - Nicola
Phone
07976949488

To book you must first Log In or Register your Details with SiEntries.

HIKING HIGHS meets KONG RUNNING for A Leki Poles Workshop

Date: Sunday 16th March  2025
Time: 10:00 - 14:00
Location: Kong Running, Keswick
Equipment: Leki demo poles will be provided to use and try before you buy (no obligation to buy)
Kit List: See Below

  • Heading for a long distance event?
  • Want maximum efficiency in the fells?
  • Love long days out & want to go further/faster?
  • Need to protect your knees / hips?
  • Strengthen core/pelvic floor muscles...
  • Increase cardiovascular / Aerobic fitness...
  • Get the poles bug & learn to love the hills...

Tick any of the above and this is the course for you!

Workshop Plan:

2 Hours basic techniques - begin with fundamentals of efficient use of poles, and how this changes the way your body moves once it becomes a quadruped (2 legs / 2 poles!). 
2 Hour hike/jog will follow moving onto hill techniques for both uphill and downhill and over technical ground with ease.
We will have fun with our poles, even learning to skip for strength and fitness too.

You need to learn to walk before you can run - literally!

Our coach will teach you how to:

  • Increase uphill speed by ⅓ with correct posture and pole plant
  • Use 90% of your muscles, by using upper body equally as hard as lower body
  • Strengthen lower back and core muscles - use these correctly and the rest of the body will just work alongside them with your poles
  • Lift pelvic floor, essential for everyone, this is where the power for our shoulder/arm strength originates in the body
  • Alleviate pressure on knees/hips/ankles on the descents
  • Additional balance techniques/protection for speedy descents
  • Manage your poles over technical and rough ground, to give confidence, allowing constant speeds where otherwise one may be hesitate
  • Have excellent ‘pole etiquette’ around other walkers and runners, no one likes poles flying everywhere at gates/stiles or when not being used
  • Understand when to use your poles, which will be different for everyone, depending on your goals
  • AND most of all have fun in the fells with 4 legs!

Please note that this session is all about technique and not about a hike or run, you can head off to practice after your course.  Course distance: 10km max.

Our Leki Poles Coach - Nicky Merrett 

Nicky Merrett founder of "Hiking Highs" and formerly "Nics Nordic Walks" in 2015.  She has taught over 1000 hikers and runners to move efficiently with Leki poles in the Lake District Mountains, and she prides herself on clients achieving a great technique by the end of a session.  Nicky also delivers guided hikes and is a navigation coach, sharing these tools inspires folk in the Lake District Mountains to share her passion for exploring and pushing boundaries whatever their age or fitness level.
Nicky has worked alongside Leki since the beginning of her outdoor career in 2015, and partners up with Leki for national outdoor events and also races, to demonstrate techniques and advise on which poles and which length is right for their customers.
Living at the foot of Helvellyn, it's Nicky's playground all year round. Using poles in the fells and also teaching their magic is Nicky's passion.

KIT LIST REQUIRED for all Hikers heading into the fells with HIKING HIGHS guides/instructors:

  • Rucksack/running vest for your kit for the day, lunch, and spare kit

  • Boots or trail shoes/approach shoes with good trail grip

  • Walking Socks, or Waterproof socks if weather not in our favour

  • Waterproof top with hood - taped seams essential, so fully waterproof

  • Waterproof bottoms with taped seams, so fully waterproof

  • (waterproofs essential even on dry day, as these are your emergency layer)

  • Spare midlayer/jacket for emergency that you don't intend to wear for the walk

  • Hat

  • Gloves, or waterproof gloves if due to be wet 

  • Lunch & snacks that are easily accessible in your pack

  • Cold drink

View the Course Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.

View the Course Cancellation / Refund Policy.


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Course Location
Kong Running, Keswick