The news desk
On October 1, 2026, Canadian Running magazine reported that Virginia coach Elisabeth Scott pointed out that stair climbers can serve as a serious running training tool. She said stair climbers can improve aerobic capacity and running-specific strength under low-impact conditions, and training effects can be achieved in a short time, making them especially suitable for runners preparing for hilly road races, trail races, or mountain events. Currently, this view is coach advice; the report did not provide a specific training plan or research data.
Virginia coach Elisabeth Scott says stair climbers build aerobic fitness and running-specific strength with less impact than another run, and you can get a serious workout in a short window. The machine is especially useful for runners training for hilly road races, trail races or mountain events. Four workouts cover steady climbing, progression, moderate intervals and longer uphill efforts.