effects of giving blood?

[naillij]

so I don't know if this was smart, but I gave a pint of blood yesterday for the bloodmobile. obviously I felt like crap on my run, like my legs were burning and I was breathing really hard and stuff, and I only went three miles slow. Same thing happened today. I am a girl and I weigh about 115 pounds, and my question is, how long is it going to take my body to return to normal? Is it a good thing to give blood during the season like this? ...I didn't really think about it until after I gave. Should I do anything special or just attempt to continue training like normal? My run today sucked too.

[PT]

Sorry, to tell you but it wasn't a good idea. Although giving blood is always a good thing. I belive it takes 6 weeks for all of the blood to be fully replenished. You won't feel the same on runs for a while. You have so much less oxygen. Our coach has warned us for the last few years about this. Don't let it get you down to much, because that blood is going to save a life.

[scar]

from what i have heard, it sets you back about 2 weeks in your training, dont know how true it is, but it deffinatly has an effect on most people

[sjm1368]

Sorry, but bad move. You're looking at about a month for you to replinish all that you lost. WIth losing all that blood, your bodies ability to carry oxygen to the muscles becomes severely limited. Thus severely limiting your performance.

[naillij]

ok so im an idiot. but if i keep training like i would have, will I be at the level in a month that i was at a week ago or can i improve still? should I train harder? will it make a difference? what should i do now? sections are in a month.... :(

[Peter-man]

I think you should just give me your phone number. :p


But seriously, I gave blood last January, and I never got my endurance back for the whole season. I also ran 45 minutes after giving blood. Good luck to you.

[naillij]

does anyone have any more advice that might help?
please....

[Maverick22]

it probably wasnt the best decision. blood stays in your body for 120 days, now this doesnt mean that for 120 days you will be feeling the affects of this. probably for a bout a month this will affect you, but it will continue to better and better. just like training when you first started running, it will get easier with time.
the problem with giving blood and runners is that we need oxygen in high supply. we push our muscles to the limits of the circulatory system and beyond producing lactic acid. your problem now is that not enough oxygen is getting to your muscles sooner than before. my guess is that before it took a lot to make your legs hurt badly on a run. now that lactic acid is being produced sooner producing soreness and the "wall".
my advice is to take it easy until the important meets, talk to your coach and lay it out. start with really short runs and progressivly get longer as your body allows. this will give you a better shot at racing well later in the season. this will also let your muscles rest up and repair microtears that have accumulated over the season. best of luck with your season!