Read an article over on Xtri that got me thinking, and wondering…
What are the physiological reasons for that lean we see athletes do when they are totally cooked at the end of an IM marathon? Or, that bow legged “I am trying to run, but my body will not” that we see?
For me, it was that I really really really needed to go “big potty”…but was unwilling to use the terribly messy porto-potties on course…was thinking it was gas…was not going to risk it…
I suspect a loss of running form at the end of an IM is the result of fatigued core muscles not being able to hold good running form. Both swimming and biking are going to wear out your core and leave you with nothing left for the run. Friel had a really good blog post talking about the importance of core muscles in maintaining good form and how this can prevent injuries.
I’m talking about the just about to fall over, leaning way to the side, gonna fall on yer face kind of lean that many have when in trouble at the end of an IM.
Like this very extreme example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w
I’m talking about the just about to fall over, leaning way to the side, gonna fall on yer face kind of lean that many have when in trouble at the end of an IM.
Like this very extreme example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w
Cramping, fatigue, and complete depletion of glycogen. The body in order to try and keep the brain functioning will start “shutting down” extraneous systems to keep the blood sugar to the brain going. This is why you see the drunken stagger, disorientation, etc etc.
John