Does Donating Blood Effect Your Running?
This morning I donated blood, something I do as regularly as I can. Since I’m generally a very healthy person, I feel that’s it’s one small thing I can easily do to benefit the community. Not to do too much of a sales pitch to those of you that don’t regularly donate, but it’s a really easy, quick, and fairly painless process. The total time I spent on the donation process this morning was less than 20 minutes, and my pint of blood might end up saving 3 lives.
Anyway, since this blog is about running, you might be wondering how donating blood effects my - or more importantly, might effect your - training.
Well for me, today was a recovery day, and my schedule called for 2-6 miles at recovery pace plus a strength workout. I did my workout (2 miles) about 8 hours after this morning’s blood donation, and I noticed no weakness or other problems. That said, because I sometimes lack common sense, I have tried to run interval workouts in the evening a few times after donating blood in the morning. On those occasions, I definitely noticed that I wasn’t able to keep up my normal interval paces. However, after waiting a day, I’ve never had a problem.
So, although everyone is probably a little different, what can you expect? According to Dr. Marvin Adner:
. . .blood donation should not be a concern for active people who are not world-class athletes—as long as they are not iron deficient. He notes that though hemoglobin values will be lower than normal a few weeks after donation, blood donation does not erode fitness effects. –The Physician and Sports Medicine
How about you? Do you donate blood? Why or why not? And if you do, have you noticed any impact on your running?
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January 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I used to give blood, but I haven’t done lately cause I’ve been trying to BQ and i really don’t like the thought of missing out on training due to loss of red blood cells. In the past, I’ve found that my runs will suffer for the week after the donation, but I’ll be back to normal, two weeks after the donation.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Fran,
Good luck hitting that Boston qualifying time! What race are you targeting for your next qualifying attempt?
January 24th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I haven’t donated since July, but I’m scheduled to again in February. Some advice to other runners and bleeders: drink plenty of fluids the week before, eat a good breakfast the morning of, and don’t workout beforehand. I didn’t do any of these things the last time I gave blood and it was the hottest day in July, and I was sick the rest of the day.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Excellent advice Sarah Jo, thanks.
I’d also add you should also be especially careful to drink plenty of fluids after you donate, especially later that same day, but also the couple of days following.