Bonking in long training run

what was your question again?

can you already bonked in a long training run ? (five weeks before your goal marathon, for instance)

can you have a bad workout and then have a good race? Of course. So why not the same thing on a long run? So you bonked. Re fuel and figure out where you need more fluids, eat better before and get at it.

Just because you bonked and had a bad long run doesnt mean your marathon is shot. I cant believe you are asking that question.

as you should be aware, training is when you find out what works and what doesn't. your training doesn't just give you the fitness to accomplish your goals, it prepares you for anything you may encounter when you race. you certainly just found out what didn't work for you. now figure out what "it" was and make sure it doesn't happen again. you've got five weeks to work it over and be ready. you'll be fine. don't sweat one bad workout.

thank you guys

i am really depressed

Years ago, when I started running, and later when I started Marathons seriously, someone must have forgotten to inform me that once you have a bad run or long run its over. If they had I would have given up a long time ago.

Are you really running a marathon? Are you truly asking this question? Havent you had some bad days then run good later?

Some bad days are a result of hydration, food intake the 3 days prior, your level of training the previous week, etc. And then there are days when you just dont have it and have to accept that. They arent that often but sometimes it happens. Be happy it happened on a long run and not your marathon. Get over it and you will do well. Dwell on it and you only have another thing to worry about. Good luck.

only need to hear you, real runners, my heroes. feeling better, i dont have anyone to talk about in my lost city down here in south america.

If you haven't been, use gels on your long runs. Make sure you hydrate well. You'll be fine, just more prep work.

Good work LetsRun crowd. This thread could have easily turned into a flame fest. Could it be things are getting better around here????

AND YES... bonking in a workout is not a big deal. I once lost in 11 miles into a 20 mile easy run. HAd to walk/run nine miles home. The next day I went out and ran 20 near marathon pace and felt great. I'm all for trying to figure it out but there was no logical reason. Sometimes the stars are just not lined up. The one thing you should be sure about is your preparation, If you've put in the time and quality there is nothing that should stand in your way of your goals. You may just encounter a detour here and there.

Barney:

Good post you mande! A friend of mine in preparation for the Twin Cities Marathon ran over 8:00 pace for a 22 miler about 3 weeks prior to the race. He struggled the whole way. Normally, he would run about 7:10 pace give or take a little on his long run. He couldn't figure out what was wrong. I asked him about his training. He said he had been running a lot of miles. I said, "Man, you're just depleted. You'll be fine in the race because you'll carb up." Sure enough, his race went well and he set a p.r. of 2:56 and change. Good luck, Tinman

Agreed. It takes a lot of experience and confidence in yourself to understand and accept all of this. That is why it is nice to have an experienced coach or advisor. On several occassions I depleted completely a week before a marathon. I started with a hard run. Then for three days I ate absolutely no carbohydrates. After the three days, I literally could not jog a half mile and felt horrible. After three days of nothing but carbs, I was able to run a very good marathon (for me). The only thing I found wrong with followilng that diet as stricly is I did is the mental state that goes along with it.

dont worry about that. it happens frequently and any runner has a bad day sometimes

LIVE STRONG !!!

Bad long runs happen. Put it out of your mind, and focus on the good workouts. Hopefully you have at least one more 20+ mile training run to revive your confidence. I bonked on a 21 mile training run once, but came back and crushed a 22 mile workout a few weeks later. Still don't know what happened on the 21 miler (probably dehydration), but it was far from my mind on race day. Good luck with your race!

Hi Orville, how are you? Tinman

Bill, tomorrow is a new day. Go there and kick ass.

you have ALWAYS to eat a lot of carbs since three days before your long run

Thnak you guys. Nothing like one week after the other ... I had a great long run yesterday. 20 miles, withou problems, feeling really good.

Great, Rob.

Don't let one bad run scare you off of hard training or racing!

Although you may have lost out on some training miles, it's probably nothing that will drastically affect your race at this point, especially if you're putting in solid miles the rest of the week and not just in your long run.

It might even do you some good. I don't have the experience to back it up that some people here do, but I can say that 4 weeks outside of my first marathon I bonked on what I wanted to be a 22-miler. After 20 I was absolutely cooked (probably because I took no gels and was too excited, cruising almost at race pace). It got to the point of weaving around and basically shuffling by the same the joggers I usually breeze by. I ran through it (sort of) for a while, and then walked in the last mile or so. It was a bit depressing at the time, but when the race came I knew more about what to expect and more about how to handle it, and my body knew more about that bad place, too.

I think that you should chalk this up as good learning, and good training. Good luck, and tell us how it goes.!

Oh, and try some gels.

Some people say it's a scam to get rich joggers' money, but I've had good results with them.