What Happens When The Wheels Come Off?

By Coach Matt Russ

What actually causes fatigue and for an athlete to shut down is still debated.  There are many theories or combinations of theories. One of the more viable to me is "central governor theory" of CNS fatigue (Central Nervous System) that states the body has a "central governor" that utilizes the nervous system to shut the body down as it is under increasing stress. The very nature of endurance sports is to prolong this stress which creates a constant battle between the unconscious central governor and the conscious will. One thing to note is that the brain is the only organ that regulates its own blood sugar and it is considered a "glucose pig." When hypoglycemia sets in it is logical that the central governor will be active in shutting the body down as the all important command center is not getting what it needs to function properly. What are the implications? You have likely experienced them yourself; loss of focus / concentration, fatigue, shakiness, dizziness, and an ability to hold a pace. You may no longer be racing but just trying to finish and end the struggle. This is not to say the central governor is not active in the presence of adequate blood sugar levels. In ultra distance events the tug of war continues to the finish as the brain says stop but the will says go.

I like the central governor theory and believe it can help you with your racing. When the wheels do come off form is one of the first things to go. I have often observed an athletes form at the beginning and at end of a race, and it may look like two different athletes! On the bike cadence slows and the athlete may slide forward to gain leverage, begin mashing, and tensioning the upper body. Stride rate also slows on the run and the athlete may begin over-striding. Posture slumps and shoulders tension. Most of this can be mitigated by being consciously aware of your form and monitoring it throughout the bike and run. Cadence on the bike is easy as you have (or should have) a cadence sensor in front of you. On the run listen to your foot falls, try to stay relaxed and upright, and feel how your foot is landing under you. If you are feeling the ground contact the outside heel you are over-striding. These are the internal things you should be focusing on and monitoring; not the external. By staying internal and performance form focused you can gain valuable time by maintaining economy and win the brain battle.