Runner's wall

No I'm not referring to the dumbass runner smacking right into a wall after being suitably distracted by other attractive trail runners (though that happens too). I'm talking about the much dreaded physiological wall that most amateur runner's hit when their body literally runs out of fuel. Before I get into that- a mild diversion to better understand the context.

For most runners, there has been that perfect run. I'm talking about those long runs where it feels like nothing can go wrong. The sun is warm with a gentle cool breeze tickling every sweat inducing pore. You are running fast but you just feel like you can keep going on and on and on. Your lungs breathing with perfect rhythm, much like a locomotive cruising through. Your body is in complete cruise mode and your mind is elated and free to wander about filling itself with happy thoughts. Your legs are like powerful springs, rebounding the moment it touches the ground and springing your body into air for that brief moment as it sails forward until your other leg touches the ground but only briefly as it recoils and springs forward for another powerful sail through the air. Yes, nothing can go wrong.

Now to understand what it feels like when you hit the runner's wall- imagine the exact other end of the spectrum of the above run. The weather is either too hot or too cold, never right. Every step is slow and you feel like your plodding through. Your back is hunched and your body is overheating. You either feel dehydrated or you feel nauseous. Your legs are all cramped and every time the feet lands on the ground, the muscles are unwieldy and stone hard and as it tries to flex and absorb the shock, a sharp pain registers in the foreground of your mind. Happy thoughts? you must be kidding. It takes every ounce of your will power to keep moving.

Now what exactly causes this? Here is a clip from wikipedia:

Carbohydrates that a person eats are converted by the liver and muscles into gylcogen for storage. Glycogen burns quickly to provide quick energy. Runners can store about 2,000 calories (KCalories actually) worth of glycogen in their bodies, enough for about 30 km or 18-20 miles of running. Many runners report that running becomes noticeably more difficult at that point. When glycogen runs low, the body must then burn stored fat for energy, which does not burn as readily or as fast as glycogen. When this happens, the runner will experience dramatic fatigue. This phenomenon is called 'Hitting the wall'. The aim of training for the marathon, according to many coaches, is to maximize the limited glycogen available so that the fatigue of the "wall" is not as dramatic. This is in part accomplished by utilizing a higher percentage of energy from burned fat even during the early phase of the race, thus conserving glycogen.

Well today after a long long time, I experienced hitting the wall again during my 18 mile run- which after some unexpected cramping and nausea was cut short to about 17.2 miles. Good thing is that hopefully my next week's run will be easier. Phew!