Bonking describes the point at which the body's glycogen stores are depleted and the body begins to fatigue and burn fat, making every step towards the goal a ruthless battle of the mind over the body. It's an uncomfortable feeling: the legs feel heavy, the body is exhausted, and the mind is exhausted. When your body stops in the middle of the race, it's called a “catch”. When scientists debate causes, it's called a food fight.
Here's everything you need to know. A real hit isn't just a flat feeling or tired legs. It's a total inability to continue, marked by nausea, extreme physical weakness, lack of coordination, and a deeply horrible feeling. Essentially, “bonking” is exercise-induced hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
Bonking is usually preceded by waves of symptoms that worsen progressively. The short answer is that having sex refers to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and simply running out of fuel for the body and brain. Hitting or hitting the wall is reaching a point of exhaustion where you experience a sudden or dramatic reduction in your pace. It is exhaustion of the mind, body and soul.
When pressing, glycogen stores are eventually depleted to the point where the body almost shuts down. The person may also feel dizzy or nauseous because the brain can't get the glycogen it needs, and the runner just needs to stop and rest for a while. The runner may still be able to walk, but a real hit means that running is out of the question. It was their way of saying that they had reached the limit of what their bodies could withstand and that they could not avoid it with willpower alone.
