Who has truly bonked? (Page 2)

I’ve bonked once - didn’t realize that’s what it was that the time, but that’s what it was. I was hiking in Canyonlands National Park about two years ago doing an 8 mile loop that started at the rim - descended 2,000 feet or so and then looped back up to the rim. Temp was supposed to be 80’s and overcast. It was 95 and sunny - with a planned 6 hr hike. It was overcast at the start - but by 11 the sun had come out. I had a sandwich, tuna kit, some fruit and about 4 liters of water. The first five miles were fine. Then I started up. I was only about halfway up when I had less than a liter of water left, no food, and a squirt of sunscreen. Hadn’t seen anyone on the trail all day and ended up climbing the final 1 ½ miles in 3.5 hrs. There were times I stood at one marker, and looked for five minutes trying to find the next one - only to discover it was 5 feet above me! Knew I had to just keep going or there'd be no rescue. Finally emerged at the parking lot - 9 hours later where I drained ½ gallon of water, a pack of crackers, and some canned salmon. The good news is I always am far more conservative on my nutrition needs now.

My first time was only a few weeks ago... 4 hour ride... didnt start eating til a couple of hours in... and then only a muesli bar...whoops... having not ridden that long I really didnt know what I was up for!!!

The last 6ks of the ride I was emotional, could not change my pace and just stay upright... when I got to the tiny rise to the end of the ride... I was distraught - just couldnt face it.

It didnt help I was riding with a cycle freak who is great to ride with as he makes me ride faster than I do solo and who is teaching me all sorts of tricks like going uphill - but I didnt account for the fact I would be burning a lot more energy probably as a result!

Got off my bike, ate some jelly snakes, ice cream, coke... got home and slept/ate for the next couple of days.... definatley took a few days to feel like I was ready to go again!

JorgeM - 2009-03-12 8:51 PM

tkd.teacher - 2009-03-12 10:56 AM

btw, we are all having a bit of fun with this, but on a more serious note:

The reason that you get dizzy, can't move, stagger, etc. when you bonk is that your body has run so low on glycogen that it is shutting down external/peripheral systems to preserve the last of the glycogen to keep the brain running. It can be pretty serious.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled hilarity/flashback montage.

 John

that also happens when you boink! well, that's what I've heard

This does raise an interesting question:

Who has bonked while boinking?  Who has boinked while bonking?

I was doing a 6 hour mountain bike race and had no clue about nutrition.  The race was from 6 PM to midnight.

I had chicken fajitas for lunch.  I had a MetRX shake for dinner right before the race.  I figured it was a good source of carbs.  Wrong!!

About half way through the race, the only time I could ride was downhill because I could sit on my bike and coast.  I walked the ups and the flats.  At one point I thought something was stalking me in the woods.  I got on the far side of the bike from the noise and figured if it came for me, I would just fall over and smash it under my bike.

When I finished, I sprawled out across the nearest picnic table.  My teammate declared me ready for a 24 hour race.  I thought he was insane.  We did it a few weeks later and I had a much better nutrition plan, except on my last lap I was so tired that when I cam eto a tree that was in the middle of teh trail I told myself, "Right.  No, left."  Bam!!  Right up the middle into the tree.  Endurance mtb races are fun.  No 'shrooms required for halucinations.  

That is the funniest thing I have read in quite a long time. Bonk monsters at mtb races are the harshest! 

I'm so sorry for your bonk, but you tell a hilarious story and I'm sorry but I'm laughing out loud with tears in my eyes and down my face ! You have just cracked me up "Shrub named Steve".......... best laugh I've had in days !

Heh...you go right ahead and pass, make it early in the race, maybe on the bike....Heh, go fast....see ya at the finish line!!!

Yes, eat and drink during your exercise.

Thise will not prevent massive cramping if you simply push beyond your limits of training/racing, but it will avoid complete glycogen depletion and the dreaded "bonk."

The only way to avoid the cramping and muscle spasms is to race within your limits and not push too hard.

 This sounds more like you just pushed too hard for your level of training. It would be very hard to bonk in an Olympic distance race especially at mile 1 of the run, unless you had been starving yourself before the race.

From what you say about the pain in your legs that is more like you paced the race incorrectly.

I haven't seen the NYC tri finish, but I very much doubt a pro would bonk in an 1 hour 50 minute race. He probably was pushing beyond his limits and collapsed at the end  from that.

A bonk is your liver and muscles completely running out of glycogen leaving you unable to do anything. Like someone mentioned before it's like a switch has been flipped.

That's why I started this thread. Many people overestimate when they think they "bonk" "hit the wall" etc, confusing muscle fatigue and cramping for bonking.