This is a family forum. ;)

Anywho, yeah, bonking (tri-related) is what happens when you don't fuel properly. I feel dizzy, chilled, shaky stomach, headache, tired, self-pity, clammy, and just generally like a huge physical and emotional minus sign. I've had it happen while running with just 1.5 miles to get home and was genuinely not sure how I was going to cover that distance. Slowing down and eating is the best cure. Some cyclists will go the route of a Coke and a candy bar. But prevention is a far better strategy.

Holy cr*p I thought it was just me who knew that word meant something else.

Okay folks thanks for the responses. Forgot to eat at 4 pm and at 11am today, only been average 5 hours sleep the last 3 or 4 nights, went for a run at 645pm in 30 degree heat. Barely made it home, got all stupid about putting one foot in front of the other, vision blurry, stomach flying, managed to get home and collapse on the sofa could even lift my glass. I thought I had bonked before but this was big time.

I just lay back and took on all the protien and carbs I should have taken on before. ...

It's taken me a pint of liquid with whey protien and fruit juice, half a pint of energy drink, a coffee, a double serving of spinach and two hand sized steaks, ..........
I am still feeling weak but my brain is back in gear.

Yup. That's a Bonk. Sounds like a good one too. You also put forth something interesting.
I have always felt the the lack food and liquids were not the only thing that could lead to a bonk. I've found that training on a lack of sleep can also lead to the same feelings. Toss in a bad food/ no fluids day and MAN! you're heading for a, what I call, "The Nuclear Option Bonk" Where you end up on the couch.... Bonks too don't always happen on the long stuff either, but also on shorter workouts if you're tired and un-fueled.
They make for a great self-taught lesson!

..

Hmm reading this kind of describes crew practice in college!

Anyway, good to know about it. I think I've come pretty close to dehydration a few times but the extreme sidestitch usually stops me!

Are there any good ways to avoid and/or remedy a bonk? Is it one of those tsk tsk moments where you should have prepared yourself before the race!?

Bonk, my nemesis. The total shut down of humor, and most other vital body functions due to lack of fuel. This happens when I'm and idiot and don't bring calories, electrolytes and water. What do I do? Cry mostly, and hammer gel. If all goes belly up I limp home and nurse cans of Swansons Chicken broth or miso soup. Oh it makes me hurt just thinking about it.

Yep a great self taught lesson, that came out of nowhere. It's absolutely crazy in fact. I have run that stretch hundreds of times, ......I can't believe it happened until I look back and I realise what was going on, I really need to listen more. I didn't stop for water when I could have, I am wondering would it have made any difference as the bonk seems to be energy carbs glyogen stuff and not anything to do with H2O?

When I've bonked I go right for the carbs and keep the protein light. As I understand it, bonk is when your glycogen level gets so low that your brain starts shutting everything down to save itself. So you need fuel that will recharge that quickly - sugar. The problem then is that your insulin will spike and all that sugar will exit the blood and go to your starving muscles. I've done a lot of research on this...there must be a scientific answer, right? I can't find a good one. For me what has worked is getting lots of carbs and a little protein to smooth out the blood sugar peaks - but heavy on the carbs and keep em coming.

Protein is great, but it takes a long time to turn into glycogen which is what you need.

is this STILL triathlon related?!
I've bonked by a water fountain on my running trail. I was standing still, as I was trying to fill a bottle, my bike tipped over, and I went down with it....I am sure to the delight of all the passers-by on the street.

middle of the woods about 6 miles from my truck in either direction on what was supposed to be a 6-6.5mi run. Ran out of everything; water, gel, temporarily lost motivation, everything. You know its bad when the scummy puddles start to look appetizing. Hmm water and semi-solid stuff, that may work... Man it was bad. All my fault, completely avoidable but it happened and that endurox witha pb&j sandwich never tasted so good.

maybe next season, when I am training for a full IM...until then, you'll just have to live with my double entendres and my bonking stories :)

Hey where I come from the first time a bloke said he bonked on his bicycle we all thought about hairy mary from around the corner, it wasn't till he said he was alone we figured out what was going on. Who in their right mind used this word in the first place, there are so many other that could be used...

Crashed, shot down, slide out, dropped, plumeted, appled, fruit treed, blew out, drooped, kamkazied, doped, crapped, collapsed, sugared out, snapped, melted, disolved, sunk, burst, dripped, no bagged, roped, hard relaxed, shot in the head, front braked, bar tossed, .................fell over.....( which could be kitkatted.......sorry kat, just a joke), exploded, submarined, bottomed out, firewalled, fizzeled out, squibed, glooped, etc;
None of those are fun, but bonk? Well just ask jtrimom ;-)