> ... Is it likely/100% for sure
>that I will hit the "wall" at some time during the marathon? What exactly is
>the wall and what causes it? I've read that it has something to do with the
>depletion of sugars in your *** but I also believe it has as much to do
>with the psychological aspect of running as it does the physical part.
been - would make an interesting study). As someone else mentioned,
there's not enough glucose/glycogen to last more than several hours,
so if you're running more than two or three hours without replacing
your glycogen stores you can use up what you've got and you'll hit
the wall. This happened to me at the end of my first race (a half
marathon that I wasn't properly trained for) - not fun to suddenly
not be able to lift your legs and even find walking a chore.
But, if you've trained long and somewhat slowly, you've taught your body to
use fat (which all of us have plenty of) as well as glycogen, and you can
extend the point of running out. If you go out too fast at the beginning,
your body will revert to primarily using glycogen and your chances of
hitting the wall are greatly increased.
Another factor is glucose/glycogen replacement - if you're drinking
sports drinks and/or taking gels during the race, you're replacing the
glycogen you've used up and again extending the time to the zero point.
(As many folks have noted here, though, don't try taking these for the
first time during the marathon - it's better to be walking than sitting
in the portable toilets :-)
Other factors, such as carbo-loading before the race, can make sure that
you start with a full supply of glycogen. If you put all of these factors
together (carbo-load, slow start, ingesting sports drinks/gels during
the race), there's a good chance you won't hit the wall.
I've heard anecdotal evidence that groups training for marathons who
haven't been made aware of the wall have a lower incidence of hitting
it, but this is hearsay. Anyone know more on this, pro or con?
Paul
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* University of Minnesota *
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