There are those moments when the body suddenly switches to stubborn. Your legs get heavy, your head goes blank and all you can see is a grey haze. Completely grey. Anyone who trains a lot is familiar with this state - and knows that it can be dangerous when you're standing somewhere between the supermarket, the bakery and the last climb of the day. But that's exactly when you decide whether you'll roll home in a reasonably controlled manner or whether the session will end in a tough fight for survival.
What really helps in such situations is surprisingly unspectacular. The supermarket becomes a life raft, the bakery an emergency room for athletes. Anything that provides sugar quickly is now worth its weight in gold: a chocolate roll, a croissant, a piece of yeast plait. Even a dry bread roll can work wonders if you wash it down with a cola or an apple juice spritzer. If you prefer something a little more sporty, reach for bananas, muesli bars or those small, inconspicuous squeeze bags from the children's shelf - they work faster than you think.
And if it's Sunday, a public holiday or everything is closed, there's always the petrol station. They rarely have haute cuisine, but they do have exactly what you need right now: Sugar, salt, liquid. A cold soda, a Snickers bar, a sandwich, a few pretzel sticks if necessary - it's not about perfection, it's about combating a lack of energy. The body demands immediate energy, and here it gets it straight away.
Only one thing is important: don't wait too long. If you drive completely grey, you have missed the moment when you could still take countermeasures. But even then it's not too late. A short stop, a quick reach into the shelf, a few minutes break - and suddenly the colour returns. Not completely, but enough to make the last few kilometres home without the day slipping away for good. However, if you don't feel better after a few minutes, don't be afraid to call 112. No training is worth jeopardising your own health!
Lukas Niebuhr
Working student
