Iron & Endurance

FrenchMob

I've been borderline anemic all my life....every blood test I've had my hemoglobin number has been 1-2 point below the lower limit.

I found this article and will discuss supplementing with my Dr. I can only imagine how my performance could be if I had adequate iron levels.

http://pfitzinger.com/labreports/iron.shtml

bstamps12

Interesting. I was anemic at age 12 as a swimmer and had to take pre-natal vitamins to keep my iron levels up even though I regularly ate several of the foods listed in that article.

I haven't had a blood test in a few years now, so I don't know if I'm still lacking my iron or not...makes me curious to go find out!

hkulbacki

I notice a marked improvement if I've been feeling tired and start taking my iron. I'm usually good for awhile with the supplements, then start to slack a bit.

About a year or so ago my doctor did just a routine blood test and found not only my iron count to be low but also the size of my red cells were small. I was running regularly and donating blood platelets every couple months. I had been taking an 18mg iron supplement once a day... my doctor switched me to 65mg, twice a day! for a month or so (sent me for another blood test to confirm my counts were back up) and forbid me to give blood if I was going to continue running as much as I do.

If you have a history of being anemic and are doing alot of running, it probably wouldn't hurt to ask your doc to have a blood test done at least yearly at your annual exam.