Sport Today

Definitely not a certainty (not sure what the actual percentage has
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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good luck to you. 21 marathons, and I've hit "the wall" only once. the last
one, Avenue of the Giants, I felt that I was running too fast for several
miles. but the competition got to me and I had to try to catch the guys
ahead of me. after 21 miles, I was in 9th (out of about 400) with a
possible PR going. the wall for me involved exteme dizziness. I felt that I
was going to pass out if I didn't slow down. the remaining few miles were
horrible, but I jogged through about 12 minutes slower than I should have.
I still consider it one of my better ones because of those great 21 miles.

Portland Marathon next sunday!

Clive writes ::

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. <<

        Clive - I've heard that the body stores enough glycogen to run 20
miles, if you run at  the correct pace you burn some fat along with the
glycogen and have enough energy to finish the 26.2 miles - if you go too fast
you'll hit the wall. I ran my 1st marathon on a couple of 16 milers and one 20
miler, wore a HRM, listened to it and finished strongly within 2 minutes of my
goal time. I did hit the wall once at Boston at 13 miles !! - I don't know why
but even though I was running at a long run mile pace my heart rate was about
10 beats too high - I ignored it and my energy faded along with the noise at
Welsley College....................
       Good luck, take it easy and you'll finish fine.

Mick Evans

Hi,
This is from "Runner's Handbook" By Bob Glover:
...Ken Young's theory states that training mileage over the previous six
to eight weeks sets the limit on how far you can hold a fast pace. The
limit is about three times your daily average. If a runner averages 6
miles a day, he or she can expect to "hit the wall" at about 18 miles...
I first encountered this 'Law' in a book called Target26 about 3 months
ago and asked about it here at rec.runners but didn't get a clear
answer. I understand that this Law is more than 20 years old now, and
even if it is true, it is maybe time to rediscover it again. Or maybe it
is as obsolete as carbo depletion technique for carbo-loading. I have
not seen anything about it in newer books.
I am training for my first marathon now, so I decided to increase weekly
mileage from 67 to 100K a week (according to the 'Law' this must be
enough to complete 26.2 mi before hitting the wall). Have been doing it
for a couple of months. plan to check on that wall during a marathon in
about 3 weeks. so we will see.
Good luck with your marathon.
Michael

I read about this some years ago but the source is unknown.  I remember
some folks collected this info in a questionnaire form after a very
large marathon and this proved to hold true in large numbers.  In my
early marathons I found this to be true for me.  I understand that
averaging hides facts especially over large numbers but it is an interesting

data point to map against one's bumping into the wall.

Please let us know.

--
These Opinions Are Mine!

Does this include eventually training beyond the 20 mile mark?

--
GK

FrodoJRR at Interaccess dot

 I would say, "Yes".  I've only run 12 marathons, so I'm certainly no
expert.  There are people on this list who have far surpassed that mark
and know much more about it then I do, but for this 50 year old runner I
found that I needed to go beyond 26 miles to be able to run a "good"
marathon.  I have done the best when I've put in two or three 30 mile
training runs.  I realize that some people can't do this without getting
injured, but some can.  So I think its a case of finding out what works
for you and not being tied in to any one traiing philosophy.  Good luck.
Bob

I disagree. I've certainly hit the wall in marathons and ultras. Now,
however, I <never> hit the wall, thanks to appropriate choice of fuels.

--
George Beinhorn

"HOW TO RUN YOUR FIRST 50-MILER"
http://www.oceansofenergy.com

   Ultrarunning o Yoga o Weight Loss
Fitness o Drug Recovery o Photography
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If you really want to hit the wall, use drinks that contain fructose:
Gatorade, Hydra Fuel, Ultra Fuel, etc., etc. The people who design these
drinks believe the lab reports that fructose accelerates
stomach-emptying. (In what--rats?) This, despite subsequent studies
which show that fructose <inhibits> stomach-emptying. Hence, the bloated
feeling and abrupt drop in energy at mile 18.

I can get through any marathon without hitting the wall, simply by
choosing the fuels that work for me. I use Sustained Energy from E-Caps.
See:

http://SportToday.org/#energy

Works exactly as claimed: no bonking, no stomach upset, ever. I mix it
in high concentration and carry it in 4oz plastic bottles that I buy at
the cosmetic section of the ***tore. Or, I use Hammer Gel bottles
(also from E-Caps).

--
George Beinhorn

"HOW TO RUN YOUR FIRST 50-MILER"
http://SportToday.org/

   Ultrarunning o Yoga o Weight Loss
Fitness o Drug Recovery o Photography
       Business + Spirituality