Bonking

The word "bonk" means something very special to marathon runners:

"In endurance sports, particularly cycling and running, bonk or hitting the wall describes the condition when an athlete suddenly loses energy and becomes fatigued, the result of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles becoming depleted."  [Wikipedia]

I have bonked many times in marathons, and often in training.  In fact, bonking in ordinary training makes us better prepared for what usually happens at about Mile 20 in the marathon. I expected to brush up against the dreaded "wall" at least two or three times during my marathon training, but not during Week Five during an easy four-mile run.  Looking back, I can see that I did not manage things well.  This was the fourth day of running without no rest day, and we had been showing real estate all day - lunch was a veggie patty at Subway, and not many carbs during the day other than that.  And I was dehydrated.  So, suddenly, there I was halfway through a four-mile run, desperately trying to keep up with everybody else and make it back to my car in the parking lot. 

Well, I did make it, mostly by asking myself, "Are you going to bag a four-mile easy run?  What are you going to do when it really gets tough!?"  I remember Martha running her first marathon and hitting the wall and saying to herself, "I haven't come this far to quit now!"  So I cursed myself and angrily charged up the Sixth Street hill, as a puzzled Billy Brooks caught up beside me and wondered what had brought on this sudden acceleration, angry frown, and gritted teeth.

Saturday, I ran 13.1 miles, with no problems.  I ate energy blocks, I drank Gatorade, and I circled back for water frequently.  And then I went home, mowed the lawn, and worked on my folly - my "other" folly - until it began to rain.  A good day! - and no bonking.