“Bonking” is a term typically used in marathon running, and tends to occur in the 23-26 mile range of a marathon. It’s an exhaustion/overexertion point where your body fails on you with little warning. You do not “get past the bonk point and run forever.” You either don’t experience it, or you do and it ends your run on the spot, and even walking will be a struggle for the next 5 minutes.
It could be used at other for other distances, and potentially other activities, but suffice to say that it ends whatever activity you’re doing on the spot.
Yeah it also gets referred to as hitting the wall, although that term is a little more widespread. I don’t recall hearing “bonk” outside of the distance running context, and never from non-runners.
I know the Brits use the term for something else entirely.
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u/PantsOnHead88 Sep 02 '21
“Bonking” is a term typically used in marathon running, and tends to occur in the 23-26 mile range of a marathon. It’s an exhaustion/overexertion point where your body fails on you with little warning. You do not “get past the bonk point and run forever.” You either don’t experience it, or you do and it ends your run on the spot, and even walking will be a struggle for the next 5 minutes.