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Giving blood and its effect on running
tonyp2604
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Hi there fellow runners,
I am a regular blood donor and two days ago made a donation. This evening I went out and did a little under 8 miles. Although I went at a fairly steady/fast pace (what I cnsider to be steady/fast by the amount of effort I put in), it was about 1 and a half minutes slower than I expected. I felt like my effort didn't amount to a lot of output. I know there are other factors to consider (like the fact it is humid and I had a slight tightening in my right leg) but does anyone know whether giving blood has a direct effect on running performance. "Conventional wisdom" says tht it should as a proportion of red blood cells carrying oxygen has been removed from the body. Anyone in the know? or any pointers towards any research? Help appreciated - thanks.
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Comments
The biggest affect of giving blood for a healthy person is dehydration. Drink plenty of water afterwards.
It takes about 4 weeks to make up the lost cells (at a rate of millions of cells a minute) but this shouldn't have a significant affect on your performance.
I once went out for a short (5k) run about ten minutes after giving blood and didn't find any difference but I suspect the impact will depend on a lot of factors.
- the blood volume is replaced after a couple of hours / within 24 hours
- the red blood cells take several weeks to be fully replaced (a couple of sites say this)
- two other blood sites advises donors to wait 9 weeks or 16 weeks between donations to make sure everything if fully back to normal
I would wait two days before running 'hard'.
Expect slightly below par performance for at least two weeks.
Don't race for 3/4 months!
Thanks folks.
So it looks like there may be some effect in the short term (a few days/couple of weeks) but not significant. I am aware of the dehyrdation issue and the advice from the National Blood Service is nothing strenuous for 24 hours after donating. However, as I am a regular donor (three times a year) I'm not sure about about no races for 3/4 months - I have my first half marathon lined up for the end of this month!
Wow, that's impressive that you went out at all the same day. I've given blood a few times but it always makes me feel like shit! The most I can manage the same day or day after is climbing the stairs! I sometimes pass out too (there's always one...)
does anyone know if donating platelets would have the same effects (as it doesn't remove RBCs presumably oxygen carrying capacity is unaffected?
Hi I hope you dont mind me popping up here. I wonder if anyone has had problems actually being able to give blood as a result of running. I went to donate a few weeks ago after a couple of long runs and was told I had a low count. I was refered to the doc and now I cant donate for ages.
As for recovery it takes me a good few days to feel normal running after giving blood. Last time I did an 8 miler two days after and felt awful and breathless on a slow paced run.
I used to give blood until I realised that it absolutely knackered me for days and it was a great effort to get much less than a pint out anyway. The BTS people advised that I shouldn't bother anymore, especially as I did not have an unusual blood type
John
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Recently started blog
JB...I think that is a sensible approach. When I used to give at work I used to see too many 'martyrs' who used to have all sorts of problems and were probably more trouble to the staff then they were worth, yet they used to go time after time. I think they looked on it as gaining brownie points
I don't have any problems giving blood, from any arm and I pretty much bleed when they want me to and stop when they want me to. The actual giving part usually takes ten minutes...so I continue to give.
BTW Sometimes you can have a common blood type but still have more valuable blood. CMV negative blood for instance that can be given to babies.
Yet
Must remember not to donate the week before a race again DOH! what a wally
When I first started donating 5 years ago I used to bounce right back, donate in the evening & then be back in the gym the next morning.
Now I'm *cough* getting older, I'm noticing it's taking longer to get over, normally after a few days though I'm back to my normal self.
This time seems have totally wiped me out though. My training was fine before donating on the Thursday. Tried to go out on the Sunday & struggled to complete 3 miles. Thought I'd give myself a rest before my next race on the Friday & it was like running on a flat battery.
Done another couple of races & a few training sessions since then but still struggling, with my energy levels. Been feeling a lot more light headed. Just about managed to complete a 10k today when before an 8 miler was easy
What hasnt helped matters is I'm coming down with something at the moment, sore throat, headaches & a cough.
Can giving blood lower your immune system? Why is it taking me so ling to recover when it's never been this bad before?! So frustrating!!
Probably because you've caught a virus. Happens to most of the population regularly
Seriously you may have had the virus for a few weeks and now your body has recognised it and is fighting it hence the symptoms.
The easiest way to catch a virus is to mix with crowds in another part of the country where they'll have their own variations on them.
Thanks Tony. I have started taking a supplement now and am having regular checks at docs for my iron levels so that I can go give blood again.
My next donation will be in August but after feeling like I have from my last session im thinking of cancelling.
I know some people on this thread are/have considered stopping donating but please consider carrying on. If you really feel rough after donating you should speak to the doctor at the donation session - they can advise you of the best course of action. I feel strongly that more people should give blood - my wife works in the NHS as do some of our friends and it is universally acknowledged that stocks do get too low too frequently. I also try to encourage other people to think about donating if they don't do so already.
BTW - I did a "dry run" 13.4 mile run (for my half marathon at the end of the month) today (five days after my donation) - felt ok generally but it was warm and windy here in the West Midlands. Knackered at the end but done in 1hr. 48 mins so quite pleased...
The story goes that when they brought some equipment left from previous unmanned missions back from the Moon on one of the last trips, they examined them for bacteria and viruses. Not only did they find them (lab technician had a cold) they were also able to bring them back to life. That was after three years in temperatures of between -200C or so and +200C in a fairly sterile environment.
So three and a half weeks living in a nice warm human being should be no problem.
I used to give regularly, but have now developed a condition which means I am not allowed to and feel guilty that I hadn't given more times!
Whole blood saves lives, as does the platelets which they can extract, and you never know when you need them. (wish I had more platelets!)
A Doctor I used to work with used to suggest upping your Iron intact a few weeks before a planned session and keeping them higher for a few weeks after.- either choose and iron rich diet or take a supplement.
This is often good advice for runners anyhow as it has been shown that after long runs (HM and longer) the Iron levels in the body drop, due to ongoing repair work!
Just another thing - if anyone is considering donating - see http://www.blood.co.uk/
I only have problems with low blood count if I try to give after a long hard session which would tie in with what mobilekat states above...........
I just take it easy for a few days afterwards................as runners are amongst the fittest people in the country ...it would be a shame if they didn't give blood just because it might mean that they re not on full power for a couple of training sessions..................just avoid giving before a race and no problems............
its amazing what they can do from just one donation of blood................