Definition
Sudden fatigue and performance collapse during endurance exercise, typically from glycogen depletion or dehydration. It's less romantic than it sounds.
Example Usage
Around mile 15 of my run, I bonked hard and had to walk the last three miles.
Origin
Endurance sports slang; etymology unclear but in use since at least the 1970s.
Fun Fact
Cyclists call it 'hitting the wall'; the experience is similar across endurance sports.
Source: Endurance sports vernacular
Related Terms
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See “The Bonk” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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