UKC

What’s the general opinion on running poles? I used to hate them, then started using them for longer, hillier races and thought they were great, make a huge difference in speed and minimising fatigue.

Ive recently gone back to not liking them in races, particularly in busy races like the marathon du Mont Blanc, they are a menace! Can’t overtake as the poles take up extra width and space behind making it hard to get in a good position to move on narrow trails, and seem to get stabbed in the legs a lot by people with no awareness of their surroundings!

what does everyone else think about poles? Should they be allowed in races? Should there be a handicap for using them?

If they're allowed they're allowed, if they're not they're not, no need to create some sort of halfway house.

I don't much care either way.

However, having been disqualified from a race for using them when there was nothing in their rules about it I think organisers do need to be crystal clear!

There's some interesting research here:

https://freetrail.com/climb-the-mountain-when-to-run-hike-or-pole/

TLDR - they are only worth it >20% slopes and provide no pace benefit on the flat or downhill - but might help reduce longer term fatigue and stop you falling over (that's the main benefit to me!).

Personally the only reason I can see for banning them is the race crowding.  I imagine the performance benefits are less than wearing super shoes. 

For talented runners I imaging the data for and against are marginal. However for the dabbler they do make a considerable difference even if the mechanism is unclear. I have a well-trodden 30k loop on trails with 1000m ascent. On a standard low tempo loop I'm 3:15 without poles and 3:00 with. Every metric on the watch is the same and both are relaxed runs. I would also suggest for the heavier runner (my 100km weight is 100Kg) the benefit on hills kicks in much, much earlier on less steep hills. The weight on a large upper body is inconsequential and with training the upper body exertion is a welcome break for the legs. Additionally on the steep or stepped downhill poles can be used a a shock absorber for tired quads, particularly if you are above average weights. Lastly I'm simply less stiff after a 50 miler if I used poles. 

Initially I found them a faff but have adapted my (trail) running and now use them throughout the race regardless of gradient or surface.