Did i bonk?

[Dogtrousers]

A lot of endurance events go on in the mind. It's quite possible to convince yourself that you are exhausted - especially if you think things like "I've got four hours more of this to go ... that hill is impossible" and become despondent, rather than breaking the event down into achievable milestones. Similarly, I guess the reverse must be true where you convince yourself you can do what you cannot - which is where pushing yourself into genuine hypoglycaemia probably comes from.

Interestingly some of those symptoms (esp the mental ones) are the similar to the symptoms of hypothermia.

It's never happened to me, either as a cyclist or a runner. But then I do like to keep within myself, and be a bit cautious.

 

[ayceejay]

Something else that should be pointed out 'hitting the wall' and 'bonking' are two different phenomena in my opinion.
When you 'hit the wall' it is like dogtrousers says above, the brain doubting the body can go on and is usually inaccurate and dehydration is often the cause.
The 'bonk' is when the brain doesn't have the fuel it needs to continue functioning as it should.

 

[Drago]

If your body doesn't make a 'bonk' noise at it smacks the floor, then technically you ain't bonked.

 

[ColinJ]

I reckon THIS also was bonking, although magnesium depletion seems to have been the most serious problem, putting him at risk of a heart attack.

Yikes!

I recognise the stupid determination to go on, and kid oneself that all will be ok. I was the same when I was ill. I just could not believe that I was as bad as I actually was!

 

[nickyboy]

I'm much better at handling long and strenuous rides these days but looking back I've had the hunger knock a few times but a full-on bonk only once.

Hunger knock; able to maintain usual cognitive functions but almost complete loss of power

Bonk; as above, but loss of cognitive functions too

The bonk was on a 60 mile super-grimpeur audax after only 4 months of cycling. 8000ft of climbing. I got back to the finish and had to call my wife to pick me up. When she arrived I couldn't figure out how to get the bike in the car, she had to do it for me. Just a case of taking the wheels off and sliding it in the boot but it was beyond me. 10 mile drive home I didn't speak, just stared out of the window.