Bonk on long run question

It's fine if you bonk. I wouldn't worry so much about it. Just go out there feeling light. I would suggest eating something small a couple of hours before (granola bar, gummy bears). Your long run is supposed to deplete glycogen, but you're not supposed to help it do that by focusing on what your eating (or not eating) beforehand. Just eat healthy, nutritious food day in and day out and don't eat too close to the run. A combination of controllable and uncontrollable things can make different days better or worse running wise. You're over thinking this whole thing. Relax, enjoy your running, and have confidence in yourself.

If you really have a lot of bonking/cramping issues, try fixing it with an extra gel or 2 in your marathon and even a couple salt capsules (salt is usually the main factor in cramping, assuming that you're fit enough to be racing the distance). I think there is some merit to riding the line of bonking in long runs as forcing your body to metabolize fat in training will make it more efficient with metabolizing fat during the race, but it sounds like you're trying to go way beyond that. IMO, you'd be better off just eating normally before your run, getting your runs in properly, and taking a little more during the race.

Yeah. i have not had issues before besides in my previous (my first) marathon. I've done many long runs between 19 and 21 miles without any problems. this was the first time i simulated the feeling of my bonk in my first marathon.

i can understand that actually bonking might not be the best thing. the day after my legs were gone as if i had raced, even though the pace was very moderate.

You are looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear, instead of realizing you are running to fast to complete the run.

ajh wrote:

You are looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear, instead of realizing you are running to fast to complete the run.

I ran this 18 mile run at an averago of 7:12. It was supposed to be a 22 mile run. My first mile was around 7:45 and then i ran the rest right around 7:00.

Last week i ran a 20 mile run at 6:40 pace average. same route. felt fine. my first 10 miles were around 6:55 pace and my last 10 miles were between 6:05 and 6:10 (MP). 7:12 pace was not "too fast" for me. it was a fueling issue.

this week was supposed to be a longer but easier pace.

Not going to bother reading any of this, but yes. I'd bonk on a long run. She'd have to be cute though.

redux wrote:

Not going to bother reading any of this, but yes. I'd bonk on a long run. She'd have to be cute though.

What country are you from that "bonk" is a euphemism for having sexual relations. If there are no previous examples of people actually using this word in that way, you had no place in "cleverly" abstracting this word from the title.

BONK! I thought it said BOINK! Hahahahahaha! Oh, Friday! The games you play on the mind.

Ah fock it. I was being a hardass. Bonk works well enough. It sounds funny

*high five*

Falling 8 seconds off your pace is hardly bonking. Sometimes you feel worse than you actually are. You should have kept going until you really bonked, when you were 30 or 45 seconds off pace and were another 2-3 miles down the road.

On the other hand, don't sweat it. Occasionally, for no obvious reason, your body will rebel and you simply will not be able to get out of it what you wanted. On those days, take what it'll give, then soften your training over the next few days to allow some recovery.

BTW I don't believe salt is the main reason for cramping, muscular fatigue is.

Been There Ate the Dirt wrote:

Falling 8 seconds off your pace is hardly bonking. Sometimes you feel worse than you actually are. You should have kept going until you really bonked, when you were 30 or 45 seconds off pace and were another 2-3 miles down the road.

On the other hand, don't sweat it. Occasionally, for no obvious reason, your body will rebel and you simply will not be able to get out of it what you wanted. On those days, take what it'll give, then soften your training over the next few days to allow some recovery.

True. I guess I had been running closer to 6:55 or 7 flat in the miles right before that though so 7:20 seemed like it was heading the wrong way fast. But true, it's not that far off. Something to consider.

Still, the next day i had to cut my run short after 1.5 miles because my quads were wasted from the long run.

In any case, I see what you are saying and agree. I'll take it as a positive as i move forward and recover.