How to Beat the Bonk

I was on a long bike ride yesterday when it happened - I bonked.  Bonking is the cyclist term for when you run out of energy during exercise or racing.  Runners call the same thing, "hitting the wall."  

Bonking can happen many ways.  Mine was because I was outpacing the calories I was taking in.  Eventually, the body reaches a minimum threshold of energy stores where it basically says, "To heck with all this, I'm going home." and throws in the towel.

This is quite common, and shouldn't really be considered a major problem.  The actual problem is if you don't handle the situation correctly.  You can either give up OR you can master a trick to get back on track and continue your workout.  Of course, the correct answer is the second option.

An inexperienced athlete will completely quit the workout and give up, feeling beaten and underqualified to be even trying this whole "endurance thing".  But, if you slow your pace way down, up your fuel intake by a good margin, you will give your body the chance to catch back up.  In about 30 to 45 minutes, you will be feeling fine again.  But this time, you will be more careful to keep your burn rate at or below your fuel intake.

This is a great trick to learn. It teaches you that you are in control of what your body does and how you feel.  It improves confidence and the experience gives you the knowledge to beat it next time.