Melon Bowl

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Today is an exciting day!  Meghann, Ashley, Kelly, and I are leaving for Croom’s Fools Run, a 15-mile / 31-mile trail race in the middle-of-nowhere Florida.  Obviously, I am in the 15-mile group… no ultra marathons for me quite yet.  :) 

 

We did the same race last year (race recap), and Croom’s holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first race in which I bonked.

 

Ever bonked before? It’s “a condition caused by the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, which manifests itself by precipitous fatigue and loss of energy” (source)… AKA hitting the wall.  It is not pretty.  But I’m better trained and more experienced this year, so I’m hoping it will just be fun, fun, fun!  I love any race that requires a hotel stay!

 

But first….

 

Tons of work to plow through, and I have to take my car into the mechanic’s.  So, breakfast shall be quick:

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I made a melon bowl filled with 1/2 a cup raw oatmeal, flax, and pineapple Chobani.

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The flavors went so well together!

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See you for lunch.  I have another fun race-related topic to discuss.  🙂

 

Have you ever bonked?  What did it feel like?  What mistake did you make that led to the bonk?  For Croom’s, I think my bonk was mostly because I was under-trained for 15 miles on the trail. 

{ 63 comments }

 

  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete April 2, 2010, 7:54 am

    Oh yes. I’ve bonked a few times. You just feel like you can’t move your legs anymore, and all your energy is gone! Lack of proper nutrition was the cause of my bonks a.ka. not enough calories on the run or ride. I need to eat more while I’m working out, but my stomach is so sensitive which makes it a balancing act!

  • Evan Thomas April 2, 2010, 7:54 am

    Yum! I definitely want to get my hands on lots of canteloupe bowls this season, because they look tasty.
    I don’t know if I’ve “bonked”. There have definitely been a few runs(on the treadmill no less) that I pushed myself to stupid degrees and felt awful

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs April 2, 2010, 7:55 am

    HAHA at ‘bonked’! In England that means something quite different 😛
    I am yet to hit the wall though, and I hope I never do..especially in my first marathon later in the year!
    Love your melon bowl – way better than a normal bowl 🙂
    Have a good day!

    • Caitlin April 2, 2010, 7:58 am

      hahah i know… ironic, huh?

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg April 2, 2010, 7:55 am

    I “bonked” on one of my 12 mile training runs for my first half. It was so strange, because I’d run 11 miles the week before with no problem! I’m still not sure what was up with me that day…maybe I was dehydrated?

    Trail runs are so fun! Good luck!

  • Christine @ Grub, sweat and cheers April 2, 2010, 8:03 am

    This happened to me in a long run last week. Was coming down with a cold, figured I’d do my long run anyway and kept having to stop. I started wanting to do 12 miles, brought it down to 11, then 10 and had to stop at 9. The gas tank was empty. I had nothing. Bizarre and rather disconcerting feeling.

    My mistake was not listening to a tired and getting sick body – figured I should stick to my trainng schedule instead. Duh.

    So I’ve taken this week as a complete rest week and hope my body will be raring to go again in a couple days!

    Enjoy your race!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite April 2, 2010, 8:04 am

    I bonked a long time ago when I was doing an 18 mile training run… it was awful!

    What a great breakfast idea!! I can see how the flavors would be perfect!

  • amanda @ fake ginger April 2, 2010, 8:04 am

    Mmm, that looks so good! Melons always look amazing but I just don’t like ’em much.

  • Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly April 2, 2010, 8:06 am

    Thankfully I haven’t ever bonked! Knock on wood! Have fun and goodluck on the race! 🙂

  • Madison April 2, 2010, 8:11 am

    Good luck in your race. That melon bowl looks super tasty!

  • Marisa (Loser for Life) April 2, 2010, 8:17 am

    I haven’t bonked, but now I’m scared!

    Have a great race! Can’t wait for the recap 🙂

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is April 2, 2010, 8:18 am

    That breakfast looks awesome! Can’t wait til our melons here get a little more in season!

  • Andrea (canyoustayfordinner.com) April 2, 2010, 8:19 am

    I love the melon bowl. What a fantastic idea! Do you think the pineapple chobani is one of the best?

    • Caitlin April 2, 2010, 8:21 am

      yes, definitely. pom is good too though!

  • Whitney @ Whitinspired April 2, 2010, 8:22 am

    I bonked on Tuesday for the first time. I don’t really know why it happened either…I had plenty of water. I just couldn’t physically go any further. I had an awful cramp in my rib area and it hurt to breathe. It was not pretty.

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin April 2, 2010, 8:28 am

    Ohh love the idea of a melon bowl! Luckily I’ve never bonked, but the longest race I’ve done to date is 10K… i have a 10 miler coming up next weekend and a half marathon later this year so hopefully it won’t happen then either!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers April 2, 2010, 8:37 am

    Good luck on your race!!!

  • Colleen April 2, 2010, 8:47 am

    I’m sorry I never comment much anymore, I’m so busy with school and work full time. BOO 🙁

    So excited to hear about the trail run – I know your race will be EPIC!!! 🙂

    • Caitlin April 2, 2010, 8:53 am

      It’s ok colleen! I love to see your sweet comments whenever they come!

  • Kim April 2, 2010, 8:47 am

    I bonked once during a 16 mile trail race. I had trained well and normally ran 13 or 14 miles with just water (but not on trails), so I didn’t pack any calories during the run, and they only offered water. Big mistake. I was exhausted, weak, and had blurry vision. I had to keep walking in between bouts of running. Ugh.

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels April 2, 2010, 8:47 am

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that term before.

  • Carolyn @ lovinlosing April 2, 2010, 8:50 am

    I bonked on a run last week. Kept having to stop to walk. Wasn’t dressed properly for the weather, i.e. didn’t realize how warm it was and wore long pants and a long sleeve shirt.

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday April 2, 2010, 8:50 am

    Good luck with the big race!

  • Britt @ Runnerbelle April 2, 2010, 8:50 am

    I totally bonked the first time I ran the Boston Marathon, I hadn’t qualified so I was at the way back of the pack. I wasted a ton of energy zig zagging around slower runners trying to get to a place where I could run at comfortable place. By the time the half way point I had totally exhausted myself and the second half was not pretty. I also might have high-fived a few too many kids along the way. Now I know to say hi to a few but pull myself into the middle and focus on my running. Lesson learned.

  • Jenn @ LiveWellFitNow April 2, 2010, 8:52 am

    Bonking is such a crummy feeling! I haven’t actually experienced it during running but I have during other exercise.

    It all came down to proper calories for me. When I would try to play the “low carb” role my workouts would suffer more than anything! I felt horrible, didn’t truly lose any weight that I didn’t put back on AND I was miserable! Carbs + glycogen = fabulous workouts! Lesson learned. 🙂

  • Mary April 2, 2010, 8:53 am

    oh boy. i’ve bonked before for sure! it was while I was training for my last half that I was out for an 8mile run where I live in Durham. I was just by Duke hospital where I work on the way home, and I felt TERRIBLE! I had to go inside the hospital and throw up and sit down for a minute! then I got home and rehydrated and I felt tons better.

    Good luck on your race this weekend! 🙂 cant wait to hear about it!

  • Jess April 2, 2010, 9:00 am

    I definitely bonked during my first marathon. I think it was a combination of several things including being injured, a bit under trained due to the injury and lack of proper nutrition. I was definitely not eatting enough calories to sustain the amount of exercise I was doing during training. I learned my lesson for sure!

  • Kara M. April 2, 2010, 9:05 am

    I bonked once during a bike ride. It totally took me by surprise and it felt awful! Plenty of water and fuel for me from that point on!

  • Katie April 2, 2010, 9:11 am

    I’ve never run further than 5 miles so I don’t think I’ve ever bonked.

    I did hit a non-running wall once in a class at the gym. I hadn’t eaten very much at all that day. Midway through the class I got really nauseous and absolutely couldn’t do another rep. It was really embarrassing to walk out in the middle of class.

    • Caitlin April 2, 2010, 9:12 am

      i’ve walked out of many spinning classes!

  • Kelly April 2, 2010, 9:12 am

    Oh I totally bonked at mile 7 of the Broad Street Run last year, I couldn’t even imagine how I was going to get through 3 more. Awful. I loveee cantaloupe.

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee) April 2, 2010, 9:27 am

    I don’t think I’ve bonked yet, but I am trying to build up distance and speed this year while running, so I am trying to take preventative measures.

  • Lori (Finding Radiance) April 2, 2010, 9:38 am

    I bonked once while biking. We were biking to breakfast, and I figured it was only 8 miles, so I didn’t have a snack first. Ooops. Then I raced my husband up a hill when we were almost there. 2nd oops. After we topped the hill, I started to get a cold sweat and get very shaky. Then I felt so weak I barely made it to breakfast, good thing we were very close! I learned that proper fueling is important.

  • Stephanie @ See Stephanie Run April 2, 2010, 9:38 am

    No bonking here, good luck tomorrow, I know you will rock it!

  • Trish April 2, 2010, 9:46 am

    Good luck with the race! I actually live in the next town over – Spring Hill. It’s like a world away from Brooksville. If you’re looking for civilization (places to eat and all) that’s where you’ll find it. It’s not a majorly built up area, but we’ve got Carraba’s, Outback, Starbucks, Panera Breas, Chilli’s, Rub Tuesdays – several major chains. I saw the place you all ate at last year – yikes!!! There’s much better options right down the road. FYI! 🙂

    • caitlin April 2, 2010, 12:24 pm

      thank you!!! hahah we definitely needed this advice last year. we’re bringing food this time.

  • Jenny April 2, 2010, 9:48 am

    I feel like I am right now:(

  • Gracie @ Girl Meets Health April 2, 2010, 10:05 am

    Melon filled with a yogurt mess is GENIUS!! I’m like, in awe. haha

  • Matt April 2, 2010, 10:08 am

    Sadly, I have bonked before. Its not fun. It has never caused me to quit, but the rest of the run/race was very interesting to say the least.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) April 2, 2010, 10:20 am

    i never have, thank god, that sounds pretty drastic! hope you ladies have a blast and i can’t wait to see the pictures 🙂

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) April 2, 2010, 10:35 am

    I don’t think I’ve bonked yet! Well… (mind in gutter) 😛
    Have a fun day!!!

  • ari April 2, 2010, 10:36 am

    so just now as i was typing “healthytippingpoint.com” into my browser, i accidentally missed the “h” and just started with “ea”. “eatliverun” came up instead of your blog, which made me realize you can’t be healthy without eating! HAH.
    idk weird, thought i would share.

    • Caitlin April 2, 2010, 11:36 am

      hehe cool!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing April 2, 2010, 10:39 am

    The melon bowl is too cool!!! I bet that is delicious. I can’t wait for fresh melons around here!
    I’ve never hit the wall before. The most I ever ran was 10 miles though.

  • kalli@fitandfortysomething April 2, 2010, 10:49 am

    bonking is awful…..usually it happens to me if i am under fed and under watered…..and it almost always happens on the bike!
    have a great run! you will do great!

  • Angharad April 2, 2010, 10:53 am

    I think I “bonked” (as BritGirlRuns said…can’t wrap my head around that word!!) during my 10 mile race last October. I was running up a gradual hill for about 5 miles and I just thought I was going in slow motion and that I was going to die! Haha. Hopefully I’m better prepared for things like that now :Z

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit April 2, 2010, 10:54 am

    I’ve never heard of bonking… at first I thought you meant throwing up! Good luck with your run 🙂

  • eatdrinkandbemerrynyc April 2, 2010, 11:16 am

    Last time I hit a “wall” was my second half marathon. I definitely did NOT strength train enough which is not a commonly thought of but critical component to half marathon running!!!

    GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!
    Sara

  • Shannon April 2, 2010, 11:28 am

    I haven’t bonked, but I’m getting nervous seeing that some people have done it for 10-milers and halves, haha! Good luck with the race Caitlin!!

  • Christina (MINDFUL LIVING) April 2, 2010, 11:30 am

    My first marathon- philadelphia marathon 2009. I did very well- even BQed!!! but at mile 20 I hit the dreaded “WALL”. I was feeling great, loving life, and then all the sudden I felt like I was running with chains tied around my legs! hahah no amount of sport beans or gatorade could help. it was all mental at that point. I managed to trudge along for the last 6.2 miles…but it was painful to say the least!

    • Caitlin April 2, 2010, 11:39 am

      impressive that you still BQed!

  • Lisa April 2, 2010, 11:44 am

    I’ve definitely “bonked” but it was usually right after I finished what I was doing (running/hiking/biking) and the exhaustion just hit me.

  • Lizz (leadingthegoodlife) April 2, 2010, 11:46 am

    I hit the wall once – but luckily it was during a training run. It was the 20 miler before my marathon, and I just couldn’t move anymore! I think I was severely dehydrated. At one point I actually sat down and nearly cried. I wanted to hit 20 miles so badly that day, but luckily I was able to convince myself stopping at 19 was much better than injuring myself just a few weeks before the race. I wasn’t prepared to get so emotional about it!

    The marathon itself was great – I was practically skipping miles 20-26 because I was just so happy to be doing it!

    • caitlin April 2, 2010, 12:02 pm

      ohmigod thank goodness that didnt happen during the marathon!

  • sirenjess April 2, 2010, 11:53 am

    I’ve never hit the wall at a race. I have hit the wall on a training run and it does suck!!!! Your mind is telling you to move but your body just can’t do it. I had decided that day to not fuel up during the run because I thought I could make it….never again!!! Good luck on your race tomorrow. I would love to run a trail race. I went trail running once and totally tripped over a rock or root. I was bleeding and scraped up. Did I stop running….no because there is something seriously wrong with me.

    • caitlin April 2, 2010, 12:02 pm

      major LOLs

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion April 2, 2010, 12:46 pm

    I looove the melon bowl and have not done that is sooo long. MUST MELON BOWL SOON!

  • Lauren April 2, 2010, 12:49 pm

    What an exciting weekend! 🙂

    Have a wonderful time girl!

  • Ashley L April 2, 2010, 12:58 pm

    That looks delish. Send some fresh melon up to Illinois would ya!

  • Lauren @ Running Examiner April 2, 2010, 4:27 pm

    I’ve never bonked while running, but *definitely* have while cycling. I used to always (mistakenly) fuel for cycling the same way I did for running – not smart. Turns out I wasn’t eating nearly enough calories to sustain my rides.

    Bonking is not a pretty thing!

  • Katharine April 2, 2010, 4:49 pm

    I need to start writing down all the yummy breakfasts I see – and this melon ball will definitely be on the list! Good luck with your race! I’m sure there will be no bonking this time. 🙂

  • John April 3, 2010, 1:25 am

    I’ve bonked before. Not sure why it was awhile ago. It wasn’t fun though because it was half way through my run and I was going around a big 10 mile “block”. So I still had to get home meaning a long 5 mile walk home as I had no cell on me to call for a ride!

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